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In July 2026, following almost two and a half years of work and nearly two decades as a Faculty, we became the College of Intensive Care Medicine: an independent charity with our own Board of Trustees, governance and voice. Reaching this point has been a significant achievement. Now comes the next chapter: building an organisation that is genuinely independent, financially sustainable and equipped to lead the specialty for the future.
This role sits at the heart of that transformation.
Organisationally, we are creating a College from what was previously a faculty function – establishing our own culture, values, policies, systems and operating model while managing a careful and constructive separation from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), our long-standing host and continuing close partner.
Financially, we begin with an established income base, derived predominantly from subscriptions and examinations. The Executive Director will lead the development of a more diverse and resilient financial model, strengthening income and ensuring long-term sustainability without compromising our charitable purpose, governance or commitment to members.
For our people, we need to build our own workforce and operating model while supporting colleagues through a genuine change in employer and organisational identity. This will require clarity, empathy and strong leadership – alongside an unwavering focus on maintaining the services that almost 5,000 members rely on.
THE ROLE
We are therefore looking for an Executive Director who has successfully led organisations through significant transformation; who understands how to build financial sustainability and diversify income; and who can bring people with them through complex and meaningful change.
You will bring the strategic and financial credibility to earn the confidence of our Trustees and partners at the RCoA, alongside the emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership needed to unite staff, members and the wider clinical community behind the College’s future.
This is a rare opportunity to shape a new professional College at the moment of its creation: establishing its identity, culture and operating model while building the foundations for long-term independence and impact.
TIMELINE
Closing date: Monday 19th October 2026
Preliminary interviews: w/c Monday 2nd and 9th November 2026
Final Panel interviews: w/c Monday 7th December 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
At 2makeit our vision is to be part of a criminal justice sector in which creativity plays a vital role in reducing the risk of reoffending.
Our mission is to help rehabilitate those with lived experience of the criminal justice sector via mentoring coupled with creative expression through programmes in music, art and writing.
We currently work in 5 prisons - support begins with activities to establish trust and confidence. We aim to develop a trusting relationship with participants to raise their self-esteem and confidence to prepare for release and continued through-the-gate support. In the community we deliver programmes in 5 locations in partnership with the NHS, HM Prison and Probation Service and other charities to improve the life chances for some of the most excluded and vulnerable individuals in society.
As CEO you’ll lead an organisation with a plan for growth: developing new projects in prisons and in the community alongside opportunities to showcase the work of the charity and its beneficiaries.
Position: CEO
Responsible to: Board of Trustees through the Chair of the Board
Location: Remote; SE England
Salary: £45,000–£50,000 per annum
Annual leave: 28 days (not including bank holidays)
Job Purpose
Working closely with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive will:
- Provide leadership and direction to the organisation in the development and achievement of its vision, mission and values
- Take overall responsibility for implementing the agreed strategies and achieving the business plans of the organisation, by effectively managing and developing the resources available to the organisation
- Represent the organisation externally by building and maintaining strategic relationships with senior prison and probation managers, partners, networks, and other charities.
The post holder will be the lead senior executive with overall responsibility for the operation of the organisation.
How to apply: Click the CharityJob Apply button below. You’ll be asked to submit a CV and answer a few short screening questions about your relevant skills and motivation. In your letter of application please show how your experience and skills match the requirements of the role in the full job description and the essential criteria listed in the person specification.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 29th October in Central London.
Closing date: 16th October 2026
N/A
2makeit helps rehabilitate those with lived experience of the criminal justice sector by using creativity to inspire more positive lives.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Executive Assistant to provide dedicated support to the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
This is a pivotal role at the heart of the College, providing confidential, high-level executive support that enables the President and CEO to focus on leading the College and delivering its strategic priorities. You will be a trusted partner, managing complex schedules, coordinating key activities, and acting as a central point of contact for a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
Key tasks and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
- Managing complex diaries, meetings, travel arrangements, and competing priorities on behalf of the President and CEO.
- Coordinating correspondence and communications, ensuring timely responses and effective stakeholder engagement.
- Preparing agendas, briefing papers, presentations, reports and other documentation to support meetings and decision-making.
- Monitoring actions and commitments, ensuring follow-up and completion within agreed timescales.
- Building strong relationships with senior leaders, members and external partners.
- Providing high-quality secretariat and administrative support for leadership meetings, governance activities and key projects.
- Identifying opportunities to improve processes, systems and ways of working to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Upholding the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality at all times.
About You
You will be an experienced Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant, or Senior Administrator with a proven track record of providing high-quality support to senior leaders in busy, fast-paced and demanding environments.
Highly organised and adaptable, you will be skilled at managing competing priorities, coordinating complex workloads, and maintaining exceptional attention to detail. You will be a confident communicator who can build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, and take a proactive, solution-focused approach to your work.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, together with the ability to quickly learn new systems, is essential.
The Package
This is a full-time, permanent position with a competitive employee benefits package, which includes (but is not limited to):
- 26 days of annual leave, plus bank holiday
- 1 additional paid day of leave for the purpose of celebrating your birthday
- Healthcare support through Benenden Health
- Up to 12% pension contribution
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Wellbeing hour once a week
- Cycle to work and employee discounts schemes
- Training and development opportunities
- Access to Mental Health First Aiders and Employee Assistance Programmes
About the College
The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) is the professional body responsible for the specialty throughout the UK. We are the third largest medical royal college in the UK by membership. With a combined membership of more than 24,000 Fellows and Members, we ensure the quality of patient care by safeguarding standards in the three specialties of anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine.
At RCoA equality, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our culture so it is important to us that this is reflected in everything that we do. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, marital status, or parental responsibilities to ensure we actively embrace an inclusive and representative culture that encourages, supports and celebrates our differences.
Please note that the closing date may be brought forward should we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide individual feedback to external candidates. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted following the closing date.
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be resident in the UK at the time of application.
No agencies please.
In your cover letter (maximum 500 words), please tell us:
• why you are interested in this role;
• an example of supporting a senior leader through competing priorities; and
• what attracts you to working for the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Lead a respected counselling charity and help shape the future of mental health support in our community.
If you're an inspiring leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, this is an opportunity to make a lasting difference. As our new Head of Centre, you'll lead an established, BACP-accredited charity with an excellent reputation for delivering affordable, high-quality counselling and professional training across West Kent and East Sussex.
For almost 40 years, The Counselling Centre has been committed to ensuring that everyone can access professional counselling, regardless of their financial circumstances. We are now looking for an exceptional leader to build on this legacy, strengthening our financial sustainability, developing new partnerships and expanding our impact to meet the growing demand for mental health support.
Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership across the organisation. You'll work closely with our dedicated staff, volunteers and trustees to ensure we continue to deliver outstanding counselling, training and community services while identifying opportunities for growth, innovation and long-term sustainability.
This is a varied and rewarding leadership role. You'll oversee the day-to-day running of the charity, lead financial planning and income generation, develop relationships with funders, commissioners, businesses and community partners, and act as an ambassador for The Counselling Centre across the local area. You'll also champion our values, nurture a positive organisational culture and ensure we continue to meet the highest standards of governance and professional practice.
We're looking for someone who brings senior leadership experience, commercial awareness and a genuine commitment to improving mental health. You'll be an excellent relationship builder with experience of developing partnerships, generating income and leading organisational change. Most importantly, you'll be motivated by our mission and excited by the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of our organisation.
Why join us?
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Lead a respected charity with an outstanding reputation built over almost 40 years.
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Make a genuine difference to the lives of people in your local community.
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Work alongside a committed Board of Trustees, experienced staff and dedicated volunteers.
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Help shape the future direction and growth of an ambitious organisation.
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Enjoy a flexible part-time role (21 hours per week) with hybrid working.
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Competitive salary of circa £50,000–£55,000 per annum pro rata, contributory pension, 25 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, and Christmas closure.
If you're looking for a leadership role where your strategic vision, commercial skills and passion for community impact can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is a rare opportunity to lead and grow an established, high-performing fundraising team, shaping the next phase of Teens Unite's growth as we enter the most ambitious chapter in our history.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will lead the delivery of an ambitious five-year income strategy that broadens and deepens relationships with major donors, philanthropists, corporate partners and leads the charities capital appeal. You will redefine how the charity approaches modern philanthropy, creating innovative partnerships that generate shared value while increasing both impact and income.
Who we are:
Teens Unite is leading the way in youth cancer support.
We’re an energetic, ambitious and dynamic charity improving the lives of 13-24-year-olds living with, and beyond, cancer. We’re not here to cure cancer. We’re here to empower young people to rebuild their lives and thrive beyond a diagnosis.
As we approach our 20th anniversary, we are entering the most exciting and ambitious chapter in our history.
We have bold plans to treble the number of young people we support, grow our income beyond £3 million per year and open the Home of Teens Unite, England's first purpose-built retreat for teenagers and young adults living with and beyond cancer.
To help us achieve this vision, we are looking for an exceptional fundraising leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Head of Fundraising & Philanthropy.
This is a rare opportunity to join a charity with a proven model, strong foundations and ambitious growth plans. You'll inherit an experienced and successful fundraising team whilst playing a leading role in shaping the next phase of our development.
Most importantly, you'll help ensure thousands more young people affected by cancer can access the support, experiences and opportunities they deserve and build a facility that will support generations to come.
The role:
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Head of Fundraising & Philanthropy will provide strategic leadership across all fundraising activity at Teens Unite.
You will oversee and develop our income generation strategy, ensuring existing income streams continue to grow whilst creating new opportunities for transformational support.
A key focus of the role will be philanthropy, major donors and capital fundraising.
You will build meaningful relationships with major donors, high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, trusts, corporate supporters and strategic partners, creating opportunities for significant investment in the future of
Teens Unite.
You will also play a central role in securing funding for the Home of Teens Unite, a transformational project that will create England's first dedicated retreat and support centre for young people living with and beyond cancer.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to wider organisational strategy and help guide the charity through an exciting period of growth and development.
Key Responsibilities:
We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with exceptional relationship-building skills. Someone who can inspire supporters, lead a talented team and deliver ambitious growth.
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of Teens Unite's fundraising and philanthropy strategy.
- Develop plans to support the charity's ambition of becoming a £3 million income organisation.
- Identify opportunities for sustainable income growth across all fundraising streams.
- Provide regular fundraising performance updates to the Chief Executive and Board.
Philanthropy & Major Giving
- Build and manage a pipeline of high-net-worth individuals and major supporters.
- Cultivate, solicit and steward significant gifts and long-term philanthropic partnerships.
- Create high-quality donor engagement plans and stewardship programmes.
Capital Appeal Leadership
- Play a leading role in securing funding for the Home of Teens Unite.
- Develop and manage a pipeline of prospects capable of supporting the capital appeal.
- Create compelling cases for support linked to the project.
- Deliver significant philanthropic investment in support of the appeal.
Team Leadership
- Provide strategic oversight, management and support across all income streams.
- Create a positive, high-performing and collaborative culture.
- Ensure individual fundraising strategies align with wider organisational goals.
- Responsible from growing current annual income for £1.4million per annum to £3million per annum over the next 5 years.
Why this role is different:
This isn't a role where you'll inherit a struggling fundraising programme and spend your first year fixing problems. You'll join an organisation with:
- A strong reputation and clear purpose
- A committed and experienced fundraising team
- Existing successful income streams
- Significant growth opportunities An ambitious capital appeal
- Clear board and leadership support
- A vision capable of inspiring major supporters and philanthropists
- You'll have the opportunity to build a major donor programme from the ground up, shape the future fundraising strategy of the organisation and play an integral role in delivering a truly unique national project.
Who you are:
We're looking for an ambitious and relationship-focused fundraising leader who is excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of a growing charity.
You may currently be working as:
- Head of Fundraising
- Senior Philanthropy Manager
- Major Donor ManagerSenior Fundraising Manager
Most importantly, you'll bring:
Essential
- Significant experience in major donor, philanthropy or high-value fundraising.
- A proven track record of identifying and securing five and six-figure gifts.
- Experience managing and developing fundraising teams.
- Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
- Experience building and managing fundraising pipelines with high-net-worth individuals.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- The confidence to engage and build relationships with senior stakeholders and major supporters.
- Experience of capital appeal fundraising.
Desirable
- Experience within youth, health, cancer or social impact organisations.
- Knowledge of trusts and foundations fundraising.
Reporting to: Chief Executive
Direct reports: Trusts & Grants Manager, Events & Challenges Fundraising Team and other fundraising staff as the charity grows
What We Offer:
- Performance-related bonus
- Hybrid and flexible working
- 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
- Christmas office closure
- Pension contribution
- Professional development and training
- Recently refurbished offices with free on-site parking
- The opportunity to help shape a nationally significant project and positive change the cancer care landscape for young people.
- Direct access to the Chief Executive and Board
Summary of Key Milestones
We will commence the first round of interviews from Wednesday 30th September
Should a suitable candidate be found prior to the closing date, applications will close early.
Teens Unite empowers young people aged 13-24 living with and beyond cancer to rebuild their lives, thrive beyond diagnosis and reach their potential
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Finance Director, Ark UK Programmes
About The Role
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We are looking for a strategic finance professional to join the senior leadership team of Ark UK Programmes and support the sustainable growth and development of our traded programmes. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong commercial experience who is passionate about our mission and motivated by how different funding models and blended finance can enable us to create social impact at scale.
Within this role you will work closely with the Group Finance team, which is responsible for all the group financial processing and reporting, and supported by a group financial controller. We are looking for someone who will bring a firm understanding of the drivers of income and expenditure to support effective decision making across our programmes, ensuring that financial sustainability and mission impact are considered together and influence every part of the organisational strategy. The Finance Director will own all the financial modelling underpinning this, managing forecasting and budgeting, and providing rapid and reliable assessments of the financial impact of business decisions.
This role requires a curious and commercially minded approach, using a strong grasp of the economics of our ventures to identify risks and opportunities and deepen organisational understanding of key metrics such as subscription renewals. Working closely with the Group Finance team, the Finance Director will ensure management reports provide an accurate view of performance and will oversee spend and income risks, ensuring corrective action is taken where needed. The role will also work closely with the Managing Director to develop new ventures, ensuring their underlying economics are sound.
Reporting directly into the Managing Director of Ark UK Programmes, this role will also have dotted line reporting into the Group CFO who oversees all Ark’s financial activity, to ensure consistency and management of risk throughout the Ark Group.
The Finance Director will report into Managing Director, Ark UK Programmes. This role is currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office on a permanent basis working full time.
1st round interviews will be taking place in person on Wednesday 21st October 2026 with 2nd round interviews taking place in person w/c 2nd November 2026.
Key Responsibilities:
Key Requirements:
- The financial performance of Ark UK Programmes, highlighting risks and issues to the Managing Director to ensure effective commercial decisions are promptly made
- Developing the strategic plans for Ark UK Programmes including forecasting and budgeting
- Developing a fully auditable, flexible financial model able to provide rapid and reliable answers about the impact of different decisions on the financial performance
- Working with the Managing Director and product strategy team on developing new ventures, conducting robust financial analysis to support decision making and fundraising applications
- Working with the Group Finance Business Partner responsible for Ark UK Programmes to obtain relevant and accurate monthly Management Accounts in a format that supports sound financial management
- Present Management Accounts to the Ark UK Programmes senior leadership team
- Responsible for compiling and presenting the quarterly report to the AC+ Programme Board
- Work with the Group FD, FC and group finance team in making sure financial processes are efficient, processing is accurate, and that we make the most of the use of available technology
- Work with the Managing Director of Ark UK Programmes to develop a fully auditable flexible financial model able to be interrogated to provide financial insights into the impact of different decisions on the financial performance and long-term sustainability of the ventures, and to use this to advise on proposed changes such as pricing, contractual terms and programme structures
- As part of the senior leadership team, contribute to organisational direction and priorities that maximise long-term impact, ensuring financial sustainability is central to decision making
- Right to work in the UK
- Professional Accounting Qualification, with a preference towards CIMA
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior finance role in complex organisations or start ups
- Understanding the importance of strong financial modelling and experience building and interrogating models
- Strong commercial management and project experience, including financial management experience in organisations that depend on trading income in highly competitive markets
- Strong numerical and analytical skills including confidence in analysing large data sets and presenting important findings clearly
- Experience operating at a leadership level, with the ability to work independently and to structure and lead complex projects
- Strong relationship skills with enthusiasm for working in an entrepreneurial environment
- Confident and highly credible with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels
- Able to juggle multiple priorities and enjoy an environment which is constantly changing
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Benefits
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- Our flexible working model offers the best of both worlds, balancing in person collaboration, either in our state of the art West London office or through visits to our schools, with the flexibility of remote working
- In addition to flexible working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
- Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
- Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
- As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to
- Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
- Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests
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About Us
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Ark Curriculum Plus is a not-for-profit education venture set up by the Ark Multi Academy Trust to improve subject outcomes. We’ve now been going for over ten years, using what we learn in Ark to support over 1,000 schools nationally. Our mission is to empower teachers to give every young person, regardless of their background, the subject knowledge and skills that will allow them to succeed.
We now have subject excellence programmes in English, Maths, Science and Geography, at primary and secondary. A team of subject experts work with partner schools to empower teachers to achieve subject excellence using an ambitious curriculum combined with CPD, teaching and assessment resources.
Our programmes, including Mathematics Mastery and English Mastery, have been shown to have measurable impact in evaluations by the EEF, FFT and The Brilliant Club.
Diversity and inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.
Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.
Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.
Ark works to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life.
The Executive Director will provide strategic, operational and financial leadership for East London Dance, working in close partnership with the Creative Director & CEO to deliver the organisation’s vision and business plan, strengthening its position as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. The role leads people, culture, finance, governance, risk, operations, fundraising and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, well-governed and equipped to deliver high-quality artistic and community programmes.
As a senior ambassador, the Executive Director builds strong relationships with funders, partners, trustees and stakeholders, while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and values-led culture. The role creates the conditions for a thriving team, turning creative ambition into organisational reality and supporting East London Dance’s long-term success.
We’re looking for someone who can help turn our ambition into a sustainable, thriving future – building the relationships and the funding that will carry us forward, and doing it alongside a team that already cares deeply about the organisation.
If you’re someone who loves building things, who knows how to bring people and money together, and who wants to help shape what east London’s cultural life looks like for years to come – we’d love to hear from you.
Job requirements:
Must bring substantial senior leadership experience, ideally Director, Deputy CEO or equivalent level, with evidence of strategic planning, organisational growth and performance management. Must have a proven track record in fundraising, business development and income generation, including securing funding, managing funder relationships and identifying new commercial or partnership opportunities; experience leading high-performing teams, managing change and strengthening organisational culture; strong financial acumen, including understanding budgets, balance sheets and financial decision-making; knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and risk management frameworks; experience working with Boards of Trustees. Must demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, be confident using Microsoft Suite, and have knowledge of ACE funding and reporting requirements.
Job Responsibilities:
Provides strategic, operational and financial leadership with Creative Director & CEO. The role translates the Business Plan into action, leads staff, freelancers and consultants, and develops an inclusive, high-performing culture. Key responsibilities include workforce planning, recruitment, HR compliance, performance management and staff wellbeing. The role oversees organisational systems, administration, IT and the operation of Talent House, including health and safety, compliance, venue hire and stakeholder relationships. They co-lead budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow monitoring and audit processes, while driving fundraising and income generation across grants, trusts, partnerships, sponsorship and earned income. The role also leads governance, risk management and business continuity planning, supports the Board of Trustees, develops strategic partnerships, represents the organisation externally and strengthens its profile, impact and long-term sustainability.
Apply via the East London Dance Website by Thursday 8 October, 12 Noon
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About School of Hard Knocks
School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.
The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.
90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.
Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.
We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.
“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”
- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO
The Role
The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.
Strategy and Direction
● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador
● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team
● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals
● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan
Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact
● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people
● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention
● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement
Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations
● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events
● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy
● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile
Leading People, Culture and Operations
● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team
● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values
● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence
Governance and the Board
● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees
● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting
● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements
About You
Essential
● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees
● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative
● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams
● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors
● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level
● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery
● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders
Desirable
● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds
● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience
● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape
● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities
Personal Attributes
● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage
● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks
● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it
Terms of Appointment
Contract type
Full-time, permanent
Location
Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff
Salary
£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP
Reports to
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Direct reports
Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations
Travel
Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events
Trustee meetings
Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Active Essex Foundation is a successful and growing charity dedicated to creating the conditions for young people and communities across Essex to thrive. Our work focuses on three core areas: improving young people’s mental health, reducing vulnerabilities to youth crime and exploitation, and strengthening communities through trusted relationships and positive engagement.
A defining feature of our approach is our network of more than 100 Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) across Essex. These community-based organisations are at the heart of our delivery model, providing trusted relationships, local insight and direct support within the communities they serve. Working closely with our LTO network enables us to reach those who may be least likely to engage with traditional services and ensure support is tailored to local needs.
Through partnerships with our LTOs, we deliver programmes that use physical activity, mentoring and community support to build resilience, improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities. This role will play a key part in developing and strengthening these relationships, helping our LTO network to maximise its impact and deliver positive outcomes for young people and communities across Essex.
Everything we do is shaped by the real experiences of the people we serve, ensuring our interventions are meaningful, accessible and rooted in what communities tell us they need.
Active Essex Foundation works to improve life chances for young people and communities across Essex by focusing on three core areas: mental health, youth crime prevention, and strengthening communities. Through our programme structure, we co-design community-led initiatives that use physical activity and positive engagement as tools to build resilience, improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities.
The Sport for Development Officer will play a key role in supporting the delivery and growth of these programmes. Working closely with our programme leads, locally trusted organisations (LTOs), and community stakeholders, the postholder will help strengthen organisational capability, and ensure high-quality delivery across our mental health, youth crime prevention and community strengthening work. The role will also contribute to the leadership of workstreams aligned with our strategic Outcomes, supporting the Foundation’s mission.
The ideal candidate will bring strong relationship-building skills and experience of working collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders. They should demonstrate a track record of delivering impactful projects or initiatives at local or county level, applying a systems approach to complex community issues, and using strengths-based methods to build resilience and capacity within local organisations.
The post holder will work with AEF staff across the business to deliver the duties and responsibilities set out below.
On a mission to highlight the transformative power of physical activity and sport!
Harris Hill is delighted to be working with Citizens Advice St Albans District (CASTAD) to recruit its new Chief Executive Officer.
CASTAD provides free, confidential, impartial and independent advice to help people overcome their problems. We campaign on the issues that matter to them when their voices need to be heard.
We want to see a world where no one suffers through ignorance of their rights and responsibilities, or an inability to pursue them; and where the underlying causes of people’s problems have been eliminated.
As Chief Executive, you will:
- Deliver high-quality client services to approximately 9,000 users per annum.
- Ensure financial resources are in place to run the service.
- Work with the Trustee Board to define and lead the future strategy and sustainability of CASTAD.
- Execute the agreed strategy by ensuring a detailed and measurable Business Plan is in place, regularly tracked, and reported on.
If you are inspired and excited by what CASTAD does, we’d love to hear from you.
Job title: Chief Executive Officer
Salary: circa £50,000 - £55,000 p.a.
Contract: Permanent / Full-time
Location: Citizens Advice St Albans and District, The Civic Centre, St Peters Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3JE. (Flexible working will be considered.)
How to apply: Please review the Recruitment Pack for further information about CASTAD, the CEO position and for details on how to apply.
Closing date for applications: 9am Monday 19 October 2026
Both CASTAD and Harris Hill operate an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
After two years of incubation within BD Giving, we’re seeking a visionary leader to take BD Collective to the next level and help transition it into a strong, independent organisation, and build a team who embodies our core principles to Connect, Collaborate and Change.
You’ll bring strategic thinking, operational expertise, and a passion for community-led impact, with a proven ability to navigate complexity, build trust across diverse stakeholders, and turn ambition into action. Committed to equity and participation, you’ll thrive in ambiguity and inspire a team to deliver bold, member-driven change.
Salary: £45,000–£50,000
Closing Date: Saturday 26 September 2026
Location: Barking & Dagenham | Hours: 4-day week
About BD Collective
At BD Collective, we believe in thinking outside the box to find solutions and challenge existing structures. As our Strategic Director, you won’t just be shaping an organisation, you’ll be shaping a community’s future.
BD Collective is a social infrastructure organisation dedicated to strengthening the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in Barking and Dagenham. We create the space for people to connect together, collaborate, and build a better future—bringing people together to imagine bold solutions and challenge the systems that hold us backk.
Originally founded as a network of networks, we’ve evolved into a member-led Co-operative CIC, where our community collectively shapes priorities, decisions, and resources through democratic governance. In the past year alone, we’ve facilitated over £2.5 million in collaborative funding and built active networks across the borough. Now, we’re entering a new phase of growth—and we need a Strategic Director to lead us forward.
This is your chance to drive real, locally impactful systems change and establish BD Collective as the leading voice of the sector.
Apply now by sending your CV and a cover letter (no more than two sides of A4) telling us how you meet the person specification and particularly :
- What excites you about this role?
- How your leadership experience lends itself to leading in a complex, growing organisation.
- Your knowledge of Barking and Dagenham and the local sector
- Your approach to partnership building and nurturing successful collaborations.
- Building a new team
- What makes you the right person for this role?
We welcome applications from all candidates and are happy to make reasonable adjustments to support you. If you require any reasonable adjustments please let us know.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
Forever Young People CIC delivers relationship-led community programmes across Hertfordshire, currently anchored by our community youth projects and our Dot to Dot mum and baby group. We're part of the wider Forever Young People family, which has spent years building trust-based, relationship-first work with young people and families across the county.
We're at a turning point: our CIC has a real track record and real potential, but no one whose full-time job it is to lead it. That's where you come in.
The Role
We're looking for someone to take genuine ownership of the CIC — its strategy, its funding, and its future programmes — reporting directly to our CEO. You'll line-manage our Trusts & Foundations fundraising consultant, decide which funding opportunities to pursue, and build the relationships and programmes that take the CIC beyond what we've already started.
This isn't a role where you'll be handed a finished playbook. It's a role for someone who wants to build one.
You'll:
- Set the CIC's strategic direction, in partnership with our CEO
- Own our funding pipeline and manage our fundraising consultant
- Spot and develop new community programmes rooted in genuine local need
- Support our existing Programmes as they continue to grow
- Build the relationships — funders, partners, commissioners — that the CIC's future depends on
About You
You don't need to have done exactly this job before — but you do need to have done something like it. You're someone who can set a strategy and still get your hands dirty. You've probably managed a freelancer or consultant before. You've built relationships with funders or partners when resources were tight, not abundant. And most importantly, you actually want to build something — not just keep an existing programme ticking over.
Experience with trusts and foundations fundraising, youth or family support work, or a background moving from a founder-led organisation toward distributed leadership would all be a bonus, though none are essential.
The Details
- Hours: 3 days/week to start, with planned growth in days as the CIC's income and pipeline grow
- Salary: £26,000–£30,000 FTE, pro-rata for 3 days/week, depending on experience
- Reports to: CEO, Ashley Howard
- Manages: Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Consultant; future CIC staff as the team grows
- Contract: Senior staff role — not a statutory company director
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
A little bit about the role
Contract: Full time, fixed term
Salary: £87,632.09 (incl London Office Allowance) plus competitive pension
Location: Hybrid- 2 days per week in London Office
The Culture and Operations Director (COD) ensures Frontline is a high-performing, well-governed charity with a strong culture of freedom and responsibility - a place people can do their best work to achieve Frontline’s mission.
They have strategic responsibility for charity-wide planning to ensure Frontline’s operational functions, effectively support teams to navigate challenges whilst maximising new opportunities. The successful candidate will join Frontline at a pivotal moment and play a key role in driving the next exciting step of our growth.
The COD will ensure high-quality operational support is available to all teams. Working closely with Frontline’s Leadership Group (Heads and Directors), to make sure that the appropriate and timely information, tools and guidance (e.g. HR, IT and finance) are available to managers and teams as needed. This includes working alongside other members of SLT, to:
- Confidently support Frontline through a period of growth and structural change
- Embody the culture of freedom and responsibility, leading by example, and implementing strategies which improve efficiency and quality
- Maintain Executive oversight of Frontline’s finances, working with Head of Finance and Finance Audit and Risk Committee (FARC) Chair to ensure budgeting and financial decision-making is robust and strategic, to support the ongoing stability of the charity
- Maintain clear communication across teams, ensuring a connected and informed workforce who collaborate effectively. Oversee the success of key events such as annual all-staff away days, monthly gatherings and leadership stocktakes
- Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders including Frontline trustees, partner organisations and the Department for Education (DfE)
- Effectively lead teams to maintain Frontline's strong track-record of meeting legal/regulatory requirements, to minimise risk to the charity
Key Responsibilities
The COD will lead teams delivering on operational priorities in line with freedom and responsibility, to ensure we remain high performing:
Change management:
- Lead the coordination and project-management of an organisation-wide restructure, ensuing the charity is well-positioned to deliver on contractual obligations whilst diversifying to further amplify our impact and that teams are kept well-informed and feed into structural changes
- Support Frontline teams to work collaboratively and deliver plans to broaden the scope of Frontline's work, extending activity beyond current areas of focus whilst maintaining a strong, shard commitment to Freedom and Responsibility.
- Develop and adhere to tracking and monitoring systems ensuring annual priorities remain on track to achieve Frontline's mission and long-term strategy.
People and Culture:
- Manage the Head of People to identify new and creative ways to further strengthen and embed our culture and grow personal accountability
- Support the Head of People to ensure excellent HR administration, support and use of data (e.g. staff turnover, sickness levels and performance reporting) to inform future planning and decision-making
- Ensure the team design and deliver high-quality staff induction and training which support staff to thrive (e.g. personal leadership, managing effectively and radical candour)
- Maintain awareness of trends and developing technologies to support efficiencies, e.g approaches to recruitment and support to managers.
Finance and Governance:
- Manage Head of Finance and Compliance to ensure sound budget management (£25m annually), financial controls and clear reporting mechanisms are in place
- Work with the Finance team to ensure FARC and the board have the necessary information and confidence in the financial leadership of Frontline.
Charity Quality and Efficiency:
- Manage and support IT and System leads across Frontline, ensuring they have the resources and compliance mechanisms to ensure robust systems are in place.
- Support Contract Governance teams to negotiate and implement significant government contracts, ensuring outcomes are achievable and effective governance and commercially sound contracts are in place.
To make life better for children at risk of harm, by improving the services that support them.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Gendered Intelligence is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as its next Chief Executive. This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally respected, trans-led organisation with real influence on policy, professional practice and the lives of trans, non-binary and gender exploring people across the UK.
The next Chief Executive will inherit strong foundations: an experienced and committed team of just under 40 people, a distinctive and trusted public profile, and a range of services that reach communities, professionals and institutions across the country. With income of around £1.5–2m, the next Chief Executive will lead the organisation through its next phase of development at a time when that leadership matters enormously.
The role offers the chance to shape strategic direction, open new partnerships and income streams, and contribute to national conversations on trans equality and human rights, while working alongside people who are deeply committed to the mission and to each other.
We are looking for someone who combines strategic clarity with operational grounding, who leads with calm and consistency, and who understands both the privilege and the responsibility of this role. We will be honest with candidates about what the role involves, and we expect the same in return.
Full details of the role can be found on our website and in the attached recruitment pack.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Contract: 12-month FTC with potential for a permanent contract
Sebastian’s Action Trust (SAT) supports children with life-limiting conditions and their families. We help those families navigate the emotional and practical difficulties that come with caring for a child with complex needs and provide a place where they can connect, relax and make precious memories together.
With the planned retirement of the current CEO, we are looking for an experienced charity leader with a background in fundraising, to take the organisation forward into the next phase of its strategic development. This could be an opportunity for a senior fundraising professional to take the next step into a CEO role.
This role combines overall leadership of the charity with responsibility for income diversification and growth, with a focus on fundraising to drive stability and sustainability. The successful candidate will oversee the delivery of high-quality services, events and support provision, ensuring that the highest standards of health, safety and safeguarding are maintained. They will also nurture relationships with partner organisations and other local charities to explore opportunities for collaboration and efficiency.
This role will lead a small but committed team of staff and volunteers who are passionate about the work we do, so you will be comfortable combining strategic thinking with pragmatism and creativity.
The successful candidate will have experience of charity governance and financial management, and be confident working with a committed board and with partners and stakeholders to maximise impact for service users. They will also need to demonstrate hands-on experience of fundraising, with a track record of securing significant income from trusts, corporates and major donors.
This is a challenging but rewarding opportunity to make a real and lasting difference to families facing unimaginable difficulties. If this sounds like your next step, send your CV and covering letter or email to arrange an informal chat.
Please send your CV and covering letter or email to arrange an informal chat.
We provide a dynamic and evolving program of support for families with children who may die prematurely.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.