Strategic development officer jobs in Manchester

About Us

We are an environmental charity with science at our heart. We help people to take action to protect the nature around them; by connecting them with it and giving them the tools they need to do so. We passionately believe in citizen science and are leaders in it. Our current focus areas include helping to create nature-friendly urban spaces, growing the impact of internationally known citizen science programmes such as Freshwater Watch, developing early career scientists and sharing learning internationally, and working with partners to advance the science, tools and thinking behind citizen science.

Role purpose:

To drive the growth of income from businesses, local authorities and public sector funders by identifying, developing and securing strategic partnerships. The role will build high-value relationships, generate new funding opportunities, and lead the development of compelling proposals, working closely with colleagues across Earthwatch to convert opportunities into longterm partnerships and sustainable income. This role will focus on building connections and opening doors, working closely with the Director to convert opportunities into funding to meet organisational targets.

Key deliverables:

Partnership Management and Development

• Lead on building and maintaining positive relationships with existing contacts in businesses, local authorities, and other partners in line with organisational priorities.
• Carry out excellent stewardship and management of partnerships, overseeing delivery plans, strategic activities and routine partnership activities.
• Lead all aspects of the partnership development process, including prospect research, proposal development and pitching, ensuring a seamless pathway from opportunity identification to funding secured.
• Cultivate relationships with other charitable organisations to expand Earthwatch’s network of partners and collaborate on joint environmental initiatives.

Proposal Writing and Project Development

• Lead the preparation of compelling funding proposals, tailored to meet the specific interests and priorities of potential partners.
• Ensure proposals are timely, impactful, and demonstrate clear outcomes.
• Work closely with the Finance team to develop accurate project budgets, ensuring all proposals are cost-effective and financially viable.
• Manage a portfolio of prospects and funding opportunities, contributing to agreed annual income targets. 

Sector Awareness and Marketing

• Monitor plans and strategies from businesses, local authorities and government bodies with a view to spotting opportunities for partnership working.
• Collaborate with the Communications teams to create high-quality marketing materials that support partner engagement and public relations.
• Represent Earthwatch at partner and networking events. 

Monitoring and Reporting

• Oversee the end-to-end grant management process, including timely submission of progress reports and financial narratives to ensure full compliance with donor requirements.
• Maintain a comprehensive reporting process via the CRM, providing accurate income generation updates, dashboards, and pipeline forecasts.
• Monitor environmental and sustainability issues in the media including emerging policies, trends and the performance of organisations with whom we have relationships. 

Collaboration and Team Support:

• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation, particularly the Income Generation, Programmes, Communications, and Finance teams, to ensure that funding proposals and reports are aligned with Earthwatch’s programs and objectives. 

In undertaking these roles, the postholder should also have regard to:

• Acting as an ambassador for the work, vision and values of Earthwatch Europe.
• Ensuring continuous development of skills and knowledge required for the post, undergoing training and performance review as required.
• Working within all the policies and procedures of Earthwatch Europe, ensuring compliance with health & safety policies and all legal and contractual obligations associated with the post.
• Collaborating with other Earthwatch teams to ensure effective delivery of partnership programmes.
• Carrying out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the postholder’s line manager.

Please see the full job description attached.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Earthwatch is unable to support visa applications. 

Earthwatch is committed to making any adjustments we can for short-listed candidates, to facilitate participation in our interview process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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. 

Do you believe communities are central to preventing violence and creating safer neighbourhoods? Salford CVS is looking for a Development Worker (Violence Reduction) to support a community-led programme in Little Hulton, working alongside young people, residents and local organisations to identify priorities, shape solutions and drive positive change. 

You'll build relationships, facilitate community engagement and co-design activities, amplify youth and community voices, and help local partners deliver initiatives that address the root causes of violence. If you're passionate about working with young people, strengthening communities and making a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you. 

Main purposes of the post

To support the delivery of the community-led violence reduction programme in Salford, working with young people, communities and VCSE partners in Little Hulton. 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit worked with 10GM, other VCSE providers and local communities to co-design our approach to a community-led violence reduction programme. The programme is one of the Violence Reduction Unit’s flagship projects across Greater Manchester and is in line with the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Strategy and Public Service Reform programme to involve communities to identify priorities, problem solve and direct investment and interventions accordingly. In Salford, the programme will be delivered within Little Hulton.

Hours: Part-time, 18.75 hours per week.

Days: To be confirmed (core hours are worked between 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday).

Contract: 1-year fixed-term contract, subject to the successful completion of a 3-month probationary period.

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles and within Little Hulton.

The Benefits of Working for Salford CVS:

• 28 days’ holiday - rising to 30 days (after five years), plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Enhanced company sick and maternity pay, subject to terms and conditions of service
• Pension scheme - with 7% employer contribution (and 1% mandatory employee contribution)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Membership of the Hospital Saturday Fund via an employer subsidised scheme (optional and non-contractual)
• RHS family membership (optional and non-contractual)
• Development opportunities - we support and encourage our staff to progress in their careers (including formal training)
• A supportive working culture - we respect and support one another to do the best we can

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer, Living Hours Employer and Living Wage Funder, ensuring not just our staff are paid the ‘real’ Living Wage but also that any projects we fund can do the same.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the ‘apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Wednesday, 26th August 2026.

Interviews: Tuesday, 8th September 2026 - in person at Salford CVS’ offices.

Right now, Gaza is one of the hardest places in the world to be a child. As of July 2026, UNICEF reported that more than 21,000 children had been killed and around 44,500 injured since October 2023. Over 58,000 have lost one or both parents or primary caregivers, while around 700,000 have missed almost three years of formal education.

Established in 2024, Children Not Numbers (CNN) is a medico-legal charity committed to the health, safety, education and rehabilitation of Gaza’s children. Working alongside colleagues in Gaza and more than 100 volunteers worldwide, including surgeons, medics and lawyers, the charity provides medical care, medical evacuations, education, psychological support and international advocacy. Within its first year, CNN evacuated more than 300 children and their companions, supported over 650 children through its multidisciplinary clinical team, delivered maternal healthcare to more than 600 women, educated over 350 pupils through its primary school, provided holistic care for 71 orphans and distributed more than 1,000 food aid baskets.

Reporting to a Co-Founder and Director, the Senior Communications Manager will lead Children Not Numbers’ social media strategy and day-to-day digital communications, using ethical storytelling to grow audiences, strengthen supporter engagement and help drive fundraising. Building on the charity’s established communications strategy, the postholder will also support website content, campaigns and brand development, working closely with colleagues in Gaza, the fundraising team and external creative partners to ensure the charity’s work is communicated with accuracy, sensitivity and dignity.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to help shape the next phase of Children Not Numbers’ growth, bringing fresh ideas, creativity and strategic thinking to a charity where communications plays a central role in fundraising and advocacy. With a collaborative ‘yes’ culture, the freedom to think differently and the autonomy to turn ideas into action, the successful candidate will have real influence over campaigns and storytelling.

As Senior Communications Manager you will:

• Lead Children Not Numbers’ social media strategy and day-to-day digital communications, creating compelling, ethical content that grows audiences, strengthens supporter engagement and helps drive fundraising
• Line manage the Marketing & Communications Officer and Gaza-based Video Journalist, while overseeing relationships with external creative and PR partners
• Work closely with colleagues in Gaza, the fundraising team and senior leaders to develop content and campaigns that communicate the charity’s work with accuracy, sensitivity and dignity
• Support digital content creation across the charity’s website, working with an external website agency, supporting the development of campaign landing pages and ensuring consistency of messaging and brand
• Create and/or review written content, including thought leadership pieces, fundraising materials, impact reports and organisational publications
• Monitor performance and emerging opportunities, using insight and creativity to continually strengthen the charity’s communications and digital presence

About you

This role will suit a strategic doer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is motivated by seeing the impact of their work. While hugely rewarding, the role is also highly reactive and, at times, harrowing, requiring sound judgement, resilience and the ability to adapt quickly as priorities change. The organisation has an embedded mental health and wellbeing programme in place to support staff – please ask for details.

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience developing and/or implementing social media strategy within a charity or NGO settings
• Track record of creating engaging digital content and using ethical storytelling to build audiences and strengthen supporter engagement
• Strong understanding of the role communications and social media play in successful fundraising, with experience developing and delivering integrated digital campaigns that support fundraising, advocacy or wider organisational objectives
• Experience managing people, or demonstrating equivalent leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, develop and support others
• Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to tone, accuracy and detail
• Strong understanding of social media platforms, digital trends, audience engagement and analytics, with experience using insight and data to inform strategy and optimise performance
• A confident, collaborative leader, with the ability to work at pace, respond to changing priorities and make sound judgements under pressure
• An understanding of, or genuine interest in, the Gaza and broader Palestine context, humanitarian issues, and the importance of ethical storytelling
• Strong content creation and visual design skills, including experience using Canva or similar design tools

Desirable:

• Experience in the humanitarian or international development sector
• Experience working with photographers, videographers or content creators in international or complex operating environments
• Experience of influencer engagement, partnership development or community-building campaigns
• Knowledge of Google Analytics, Buffer (or similar social media management platforms), SEO and digital performance reporting

Interviews will take place on a rolling basis, therefore please apply ASAP.

To apply, please upload a copy of your CV ensuring alignment with the person specification. A cover letter is not required, however if you wish to include notes to help clarify alignment between your experience and the person specification, please do so.

While this role is primarily aimed at candidates based in the UK, CNN will consider exceptional applicants based in countries with a time difference of no more than one hour from the UK. If you are applying from outside the UK, you will need to clearly specify your location and the time difference in the Notes section of your application to be considered for the role.

Please note that we will only be able to reply to suitable applicants. 

The development officer supports World Physiotherapy’s global development programmes and initiatives, working closely with the development programme manager and senior development officer. The role contributes to projects that strengthen the physiotherapy profession worldwide through programme development, donor engagement, grant support, project administration, stakeholder communications, and the coordination of meetings and events.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly organised and proactive individual interested in global health and international development. The postholder will work with a diverse range of partners, including member organisations, donors, consultants, academic institutions, and international agencies, helping to advance projects that improve physiotherapy education, practice, and professional development around the world.

Duties and key responsibilities

The development officer will:

• Support the development and delivery of programmes that strengthen physiotherapy globally.
• Provide administrative and operational support to the development programme manager and senior development officer across a range of development initiatives.
• Assist in the identification, design, and development of new programmes and projects that support the establishment and growth of the physiotherapy profession.
• Monitor and track funding, partnership, and development opportunities relevant to World Physiotherapy’s strategic priorities.
• Support donor engagement activities and contribute to the cultivation and maintenance of donor relationships.
• Assist with the preparation of grant proposals, concept notes, reports, and other fundraising materials.
• Support the coordination, administration, and monitoring of existing development projects and programmes.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, records, and databases, ensuring compliance with organisational requirements.
• Coordinate meetings, webinars, workshops, and other activities related to membership and development programmes and partnerships.
• Manage membership and development-related enquiries and assist with follow-up communications with stakeholders and partners.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including member organisations, partners, funders, and consultants.
• Contribute to the preparation of project updates, communications, presentations, and reports as required.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the role and level of responsibility.

Education and qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy, international development, global or public health, or related field
• Commitment to ongoing professional development in governance or non-profit management.

Essential experience and skills

• Experience within the health, education, regulatory, international development sector highly regarded.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience coordinating projects and supporting committees or governance processes.
• Experience in fundraising and/or writing grant proposals.
• Ability to work independently within a hybrid environment.
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders.
• Experience in Microsoft suite/excel.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the physiotherapy profession and the role of professional associations in advancing healthcare and rehabilitation.
• Experience working with international professional associations, non-governmental organisations, or health-related organisations.
• Experience engaging and collaborating with stakeholders from diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds.
• Understanding of global health, rehabilitation, or international development programmes.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Spanish or French (highly desirable) or another language in addition to English.

Personal attributes

• Highly organised, proactive, and detail oriented.
• Strong integrity and commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and skilled in stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a practical, solution-oriented mindset.

Impact of the role

The development officer will support programmes and partnerships that strengthen the physiotherapy profession globally. Through assisting with programme development, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and project coordination, the postholder will help World Physiotherapy deliver initiatives that build workforce capacity, support member organisations, and improve access to high-quality rehabilitation services worldwide.

Amputee Network Development Officer – South West

Fixed term 12 months from starting date with potential to extend

Ensure that no amputee need cope alone

The Limbless Association is seeking a proactive, creative and resourceful Development Officer to enable the charity to extend its reach across the south west.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting individuals and their families experiencing amputation, through their rehabilitation, recovery and life beyond limb loss.

The Amputee Network Development Officer will play a pivotal role in the LA realising its outreach aims in the region. This role will build capacity across a range of outreach support activities, working closely with the Regional Development Manager (South), Services Development Lead and Volunteer Coordinator, to realise increased multi- stakeholder engagement, project reach, awareness of the charity and its services as well as working with the team to realise regional financial support of the LA’s work.

We’re looking for someone who:

· Is passionate about building strong outcomes focused relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

· Enjoys turning ideas into meaningful opportunities and actions.

· Can think strategically whilst remaining practical

· Understands the importance of lived experience and co-production

· Has a strong geographical knowledge of the south west of England.

· Wants to make a genuine difference

If you are motivated by improving lives with purpose and compassion, we would love to hear from you.

Fixed term 2 years from starting date with potential to extend

Shape services that change lives.

The Limbless Association is seeking a passionate and experienced Services Development Lead to help shape the future of community support for amputees across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing high quality, user-led services that support people through rehabilitation, recovery and life beyond limb loss.

You’ll lead service improvement, impact development and innovation across the organisation, ensuring services remain responsive, inclusive and evidence based.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about service quality and impact 
• Enjoys turning ideas into meaningful actions and services 
• Can think strategically whilst remaining practical
• Ability to scope and scale 
• Understands the importance of lived experience and co-production 
• Wants to make a genuine difference

If you are motivated by improving lives and developing services with purpose and compassion, we would love to hear from you.

Grade: NJC Point 23 - £34,434 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (excluding a 30-minute break each day)

Days: Monday to Friday (core hours are worked between 8am – 6pm)

Contract: Full-time, 12-month contract (possibility of extension subject to funding)

Responsible to: Grants Manager

Place of work: Based at Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN, and in community settings

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Salford CVS to support our grants and investment programmes.

We are looking to recruit a full-time (37.5 hours per week) Grants Development Worker on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

You will assist the Grants Manager and Grants Co-ordinator in the development and delivery of a large grants and investments programme, aimed at voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and schools, in excess of £2m per year and largely focused on addressing health inequalities in the city of Salford. The role will be based in both the office and community settings.

To be successful, you will be able to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, from small community groups to large charities, schools and public sector commissioners. This will include tailoring information, advice and guidance to the needs of the VCSE sector.

The Benefits of Working for Salford CVS

• 28 days’ holiday - rising to 30 days (after five years), plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Enhanced company sick and maternity pay, subject to terms and conditions of service
• Pension scheme - with 7% employer contribution (and 1% mandatory employee contribution)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Membership of the Hospital Saturday Fund via an employer subsidised scheme (optional and non-contractual)
• RHS family membership (optional and non-contractual)
• Development opportunities - we support and encourage our staff to progress in their careers (including formal training)
• A supportive working culture - we respect and support one another to do the best we can

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the ‘apply’ button.

Closing date: 9am, Monday 17th August 2026.

Interviews will take place in person at Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles on Thursday 27th August 2026.

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. We are looking for a proficient and motivated individual to help drive it forward.

About the Role

The Development Officer will support the delivery of the Association’s income generation and partnership strategy, helping to diversify and grow funding streams across corporate partnerships, philanthropy, grants and strategic collaborations. The role exists to support the identification, development and stewardship of partnerships, with a particular focus on outreach to secure private finance and build long-term relationships with partners, investors and philanthropic funders alike. You will play a key role in supporting the full partnership lifecycle, from prospecting and engagement through to proposal development, account management and delivery.

This role is for an enthusiastic and proactive development professional, who is looking to grow their experience in partnerships, fundraising and income diversification within a purpose-led organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Outreach and pipeline development: Support proactive outreach to corporate partners, funders and investors through research and identification to build a strong pipeline of opportunities that are successfully managed through a tailored engagement approach.
• New business and proposal development: Support the development of high-quality partnership proposals, drafting compelling narratives and supporting materials aligned to potential funder interests and organisational requirements.
• Partnership and stakeholder management: Support the management of existing partnerships, ensuring strong relationships are developed and maintained and that outputs are delivered as agreed, assisting in monitoring, comms and impact reporting.
• Events representation, networking and engagement: Attend and represent the Association at events, conferences and networking opportunities, helping to raise the profile of National Landscapes as an investment opportunity within the nature and environmental sector.
• Income diversification trend and insight monitoring: Support the exploration of new income streams and partnership models, including private finance and blended finance approaches, monitoring market trends, funding opportunities (both corporate and philanthropic) and competitor activity to inform strategy.
• Team support and collaboration:Work closely with the Head of Partnerships and Fundraising, the Development Team and wider Association Team to deliver programme priorities and contribute to a collaborative, supportive and high-performing team culture.

See the role description for more information, including the person specification.

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 experience working dynamically alongside experts across the UK, and help shape the future of our most valued landscapes.

This role will join an ambitious programme developing the capacity of the Libraries Connected public library networks. We want to help them evolve as strategic partnerships able to deliver social impacts at scale and to secure resources and investment from national, regional and sub-regional government. Be key to the development of libraries as essential social infrastructure, and help them secure the resources they need to make an impact. 

The role is part of a small team of two Regional Managers, supported by an Administrator. 

By developing our existing regional networks into formal, resourced structures we can enable the regions to: 

• Secure investment for the service and for the libraries from regional and devolved / combined authority funds.
• Create unique regional offers to meet specific needs across and within the regional areas.
• Deliver at scale. For example, the Yorkshire & Humber regional network has 15 library services, and 348 library buildings. 
• Create opportunities for cost saving – through joint procurement and shared / collaborative services. 
• Share good practice and experience on a formal and integrated basis. 

We have 9 regional networks in England, covering all library services and ranging in size from 9 to 33 services. Within each region they provide hundreds of library branches, thousands of staff, and serve millions of service users.  They have a long tradition of working together as peer support networks and to deliver activities such as festivals, marketing, and staff training. 

Please see the attached job description for a full description of the role, including person specification. 

Frequent travel within the UK may be required for the role.

About Libraries Connected 

We are an independent charity that supports, promotes and represents public libraries. Our work is driven and led by our membership, which includes almost every library service in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man).  

Across the areas we serve there are 176 individual library services with around 3,000 library branches serving over 61 million people. 

Our unique approach is to bring these services together to share experience, expertise and evidence – driving innovation and impact across the public library sector.

While senior library leaders sit on our board and committees, we work with library staff at all levels.

As well as providing practical support, training and advice to libraries, we represent them to government and raise their profile in the media. We also develop and lead national library projects with cultural, academic and corporate partners.  

We work to a strategic plan that runs until 2027, organised around four themes: drive, grow, connect and engage.  

We generate income from membership subscriptions, commissioned services, events and grants. As an Arts Council Investment Principle Support Organisation, part of our core funding in England comes from the Arts Council to help embed their Investment Principles across the library network.   

Our values 

• We are supportive. We respond to the varied, emerging needs of our members and their communities to enable libraries to learn from each other, and other sector leaders, so that they can safeguard and improve their services.  

• We are inclusive. We work with our members and partners to design and deliver our work and to determine our strategic priorities because we are committed to representing the diverse communities and libraries which we serve.  

• We are open. We are in constant communication with our members and partners on all levels to learn from their experiences, reflect on our practice and develop our services. We welcome challenge and new directions for our work.  

• We are ambitious. We believe that libraries are an essential part of the solution to a range of society’s needs. We promote innovation and collaboration to ensure that libraries are recognised locally and nationally.  

Working at Libraries Connected 

We are a friendly, collaborative team of around 20 staff based all around England and Wales. 

We value diversity and are committed to promoting an inclusive working environment. We strongly believe that inclusive and diverse organisations are not only better places to work, they are more innovative, make better decisions and are more successful. We value people who bring unique perspectives and knowledge to our team. 

We want to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To reduce bias, we shortlist candidates based on their responses to up to six application questions. These are designed to tell us about your values, experience, attitudes to work, and transferable skills. We do not ask for a separate cover letter or supporting statement. 

We offer flexible working as standard, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities. Many of our staff work their hours in different ways, including flexi time and compressed hours. We are open to discussing what would work for you and be possible for the role. 

All roles are remote and are open to applicants who live anywhere in the UK. We provide staff with a home office set-up including laptop, monitor and phone. There is the option to work from our central London office or use a co-working space if it is not possible to work from home. 

We welcome requests for adjustments to our standard recruitment processes for anyone who needs them. 

Scottish Mountain Rescue represents 26 volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams across Scotland, alongside Police Scotland and RAF Mountain Rescue services. Its highly trained volunteers respond around the clock, in all conditions, to emergencies across Scotland’s mountains and remote communities.

Scottish Mountain Rescue is now appointing its first Chief Executive Officer.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive will lead the charity’s operational functions, manage and support its staff team and help shape its future strategic direction. They will build strong relationships with member teams, volunteers, funders, government, emergency services and other national partners.

This is a significant leadership appointment during a period of organisational development and change. The successful candidate will combine strategic judgement with a practical, hands-on approach and will be confident working within a small national organisation.

Candidates should bring:

• Significant senior leadership and management experience
• Experience of strategy, operations, finance and organisational change
• Strong people management and Board reporting skills
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement and relationship-building experience
• Knowledge of Scotland’s policy, public sector and voluntary sector landscape
• A genuine commitment to Scottish Mountain Rescue’s purpose and volunteers

Applicants must be based in Scotland and have the legal right to work in the UK.

Application is by CV and covering letter, each no longer than two pages.

Closing date: Midday, Friday 21 August 2026
Interviews: Wednesday 9 September 2026, in central Edinburgh

All enquiries are being managed by Abeer Macintyre Consultancy. Please do not contact Scottish Mountain Rescue staff or Board members directly.

The Belay Foundation supports adoptive, kinship and special guardianship families raising children who have experienced early developmental trauma, often alongside neurodiversity. Founded in 2020 from lived experience, Belay offers something many families struggle to find elsewhere: practical, in-home support and expert guidance that’s genuinely trauma-responsive, delivered by people who understand what these families are living through.

Why now? - Belay has just spent a year strengthening its foundations - redesigning services, building organisational capacity and setting an ambitious growth plan. The groundwork is done. What we need now is a permanent CEO with the vision to take a small, high-impact charity and turn real momentum into lasting change - for families and for how the sector understands and responds to developmental trauma.

About the role - You’ll provide strategic and financial leadership across a small team, working closely with an exceptional Board and Belay’s Founder, who remains closely involved as Services Director. You’ll lead fundraising and income diversification, shape Belay’s public voice and ensure the organisation’s trauma-responsive, DDP-informed model continues to deliver real impact as it scales.

This is a rare chance to take the helm of an organisation with an innovative model, a loyal community and genuine room to grow - and to leave your mark on how the UK supports some of its most vulnerable children and families.

Please see the CEO Application Pack for further details, including the full job description and the application/ interview process.

Lead change. Shape policy. Amplify the voices of bereaved families.

Child Bereavement UK is looking for an accomplished Head of Policy & Research to lead our evidence and policy agenda at a pivotal time for the charity.

You'll bring a strong track record of leading policy and research activity, developing influential partnerships, and translating evidence into meaningful change. With an established understanding of the policy landscape and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders across health, social care, government and the voluntary sector, you'll play a key role in shaping policy and practice for bereaved families across the UK.

You'll lead our research programme, develop evidence-based positions, build strategic partnerships, and ensure the experiences of bereaved children, young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child are reflected in policy and practice across the UK.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience and established networks in policy and research.
• Can translate complex evidence into compelling recommendations for change.
• Is an exceptional relationship-builder, communicator and strategic thinker.
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for bereaved children, young people and parents.

This is a rare opportunity to shape national conversations, influence decision-makers and ensure lived experience is at the heart of policy and practice.

Join us and help create lasting change for bereaved families across the UK.

Team: Advocacy 

Location: Remote with regular travel. Approx. Once a month 

Work pattern: Monday-Friday, 35 hours per week. Flexible working options available 

Salary: Up to £38,918.33 per year 

Contract: Fixed-term contract until 30th April 2027 

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them. 

Will you join us and make life better for cats? 

Responsibilities of our Advocacy & Government Relations Officer - Westminster: 

- Support engagement with MPs, Government departments and key external stakeholders to influence policy and advocacy outcomes 

- Monitor parliamentary activity, legislation and policy developments, identifying risks and opportunities affecting cat welfare 

- Draft briefings, consultation responses, position statements and advocacy materials to support campaigning objectives 

- Conduct research and evidence gathering to inform policy development and charity campaigns 

- Develop strategic messaging and responses to legislative, regulatory and reputational issues 

- Coordinate and deliver Westminster-based events and stakeholder engagement activities 

- Work closely with teams such as Media, Digital and Web to maximise campaign impact 

- Build collaborative relationships across the sector to advance shared advocacy priorities and charity goals 

About the Advocacy team: 

The Advocacy & Government Relations team leads the charity in influencing decision-makers and those whose policies, practices and decisions affect cat welfare across the UK. The small, highly motivated team works to influence legislators (national and devolved governments), professional organisations and corporates. The team has successfully influenced the law on microchipping, pet theft and commercial kitten sales in England and worked with the Scottish Government to regulate cat breeding and rehoming activities. The team also runs digital campaigns as part of its strategy. 

What we’re looking for in our Advocacy & Government Relations Officer - Westminster: 

- Experience of advocacy, public affairs or influencing work, ideally in Westminster

- Experience of policy work and research

- Experience of dealing with high profile/ VIP individuals e.g. Ministers, MPs, MSPs, MLAs, MPs, Government Officials, Local Councillors and officers, etc. 

- Proven ability to multi-task and work independently on own initiative, accurately and under pressure

- Experience of effective use of social media and the internet in an advocacy/campaign context

- A confident communicator with good written and oral skills; and great people skills

- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable

- A passion for cats and cat welfare 

What we can offer you: 

- 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service

- A competitive contributory pension scheme and life assurance for peace of mind 

- Health and wellbeing support to help you stay well while working remotely 

- Flexible working options to support a healthy work–life balance

- Ongoing learning and development to help you build your skills and grow your career

- Financial wellbeing support, including access to Salary Finance

- Access to discounted pet insurance to help care for your pet’s health

Learn more about our full reward package

Application closing date: 5th August 2026 

Virtual interview date: 20th & 21st August 2026 

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. 

Sue Ryder supports people at the most difficult times of their lives

Are you an experienced fundraising compliance professional with a proven track record in developing and implementing strategic plans, along with creating supporting policies, processes, and training programs?

The Role
Reporting to the Head of Commercial Support and Governance, the role works alongside the Fundraising Supporter Services and Standards Manager, Retail Operations Manager and Retail Support & Projects Manager.
The Commercial Directorate incorporates Fundraising and Retail Operations alongside other Commercial activities such as the International Learning Academy at Sue Ryder. The role will focus predominantly on fundraising operations compliance and provide leadership and assurance guidance for other commercial operations.

You will lead the development and implementation of a compliance framework across all fundraising operations at Sue Ryder which includes, maintaining awareness of external legal and regulatory requirements, engaging stakeholders to review and update policies, work with subject matter experts to create compliance processes and training.
You will also build and maintain reporting and other mechanisms which clearly identify where assurance is available or where not, providing leaders with data to focus on improving compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the compliance framework, which includes creating an audit and assurance program for Fundraising, leading on audits where applicable.
• Review and update all compliance policies and procedures, recommending and gaining agreement with subject matter experts for appropriate review periods.
• Ensure adequate training resources are available for compliance related matters and ensure regular reporting to monitor compliance and inform managers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including the Junior Data Protection Officer, to update data protection processes. Regularly review consent statements ensuring these are appropriate and standardised, managing third-party consent documentation.
• Review, advise and agree sign off with subject matter experts on fundraising materials sent out across Sue Ryder.

Essential Criteria:

• Expert knowledge of the CAP code, General Data Protection Regulation, Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), Code of Fundraising Practice and other charity requirements set by the ICO, the Fundraising Regulator, Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Code of Practice and HMRC Gift Aid Standards.
• Proven experience of creating and reviewing policies and guidance in a fundraising or retail environment.
• Experienced in implementing reporting mechanisms (SLA/KPIs) using multiple data sources and systems and internal and external audit processes and risk management.
• Understand and have experience of project management processes.
• Excellent teamwork, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills.
• Capable of managing competing priorities to meet business need, balancing risk and commercial benefit
• Able to manage time, plans, projects, and tasks effectively.

Desirable Criteria

• Able to develop a network of relationships across the organisation to deliver objectives as a skilled negotiator able to influence and motivate others
• Proficient with various computer and communication software relating to fundraising, retail and/or learning and development environments.

Competitive Benefits Package

• 27 days holiday rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata if part-time)
• Company pension scheme
• Staff discount with thousands of retailers
• Refer a Friend scheme - £250 payment
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Healthcare Cash plan, to claim back costs of routine healthcare
• Death in Service benefit
• Staff discount of 10% on new goods online
• Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.
• Access to Employee support programme
• and lots more. Please visit our careers website for the full list.

Closing date: 11th Aug
Interviewing on a rolling basis - virtual interview plus a online skills test

**We reserve the right to close this advert prior to the closing date should we feel we have a sufficient number of suitable applications.

If you want more than just a job, we want you.
Join the team and be there when it matters.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

At Sue Ryder, we recognise that a diverse workforce allows us to provide the best care and support. We are committed to encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

We welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those living with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we’re proud to support the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme. This means we will offer an interview to all disabled applicants who best meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

We use inclusive recruitment practices including sharing interview themes or questions in advance, offering remote interviews where needed, and other accessibility support.

Once in post you’ll have access to staff and volunteer networks for LGBTQ+ colleagues, ethnic diversity and equity, people with disabilities, and women and non-binary individuals, plus an Inclusion Passport to record and carry your workplace adjustments.

Join us in creating a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive.

Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone. We are there when it matters.