Strategic lead jobs

Join a movement transforming how communities create lasting change. This isn't a typical charity role—it's a chance to shape the future of place-based working across the UK and help lead a growing organisation.

Place Matters is a small, entrepreneurial charity punching above its weight. We work at the intersection of communities, public services, funders, and policymakers to tackle the root causes of inequality and create changes that communities want to see. Our approach? Empower communities to lead change in their own places, learn from what works, and influence the systems that hold them back.

Why this role matters

This is a senior position on our Executive team, reporting directly to a co-CEO. You'll play a leadership role in developing our organisation—shaping strategy, building our team, and deepening partnerships. We're looking for someone colleagues and Trustees trust to make sound decisions on behalf of our mission.

Learning and practice development is at the heart of everything we do. You'll design and lead learning partnerships that build the capabilities of communities and organisations to work differently. You'll capture insights from the ground and turn them into accessible tools, frameworks, and resources that make place-based working more effective for everyone.

You need to be a team player, confident and with strong opinions, but low ego and collegiate

What you'll do

• Lead the development and delivery of Learning and Practice Development Partnerships
• Initiate, convene and participate in ‘field-building’ efforts that aim to influence the broader place-based change sector, bringing together community organisations, public sector organisations, policy makers, foundations and businesses to build broader support for community centred place-based change
• Develop Place Matters thought and practice leadership
• Draw together the themes and patterns from learning into regular blogs and publications to make the learning as widely accessible as possible and influence key policy makers and funders
• Initiate and convene field-building efforts to influence the broader place-based change sector
• Build a wide network of place-based practitioners from all sectors
• Play a key role in business development, securing new partnerships, fundraising, and improving organisational efficiency

See job description (JD) for full details

What makes this role special

• Executive leadership: Part of the leadership team shaping organisational direction
• Real autonomy: Lead your own projects, design new partnerships, represent Place Matters externally
• Learning culture: We practice what we preach—continuous learning and innovation are built in
• Flexible working: Hybrid arrangement, negotiable location, with UK travel (up to 50 days annually)
• Competitive salary: £65,000-£75,000 (negotiable based on experience)

Practical details

Ideally 37.5 hours per week (flexible) but we'll consider part-time. UK travel required, including occasional overnight stays and some evening/weekend work.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from disabled people and people from diverse backgrounds.

We'll conduct interviews on 19th and 21st January.

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

Kinship is undertaking a major feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of Kinship Connected. This is aligned with recommendations set out in the Kinship Care Practice Guide published by Foundations (2024) and builds on evidence from the Kinship Navigator intervention of support for kinship carers in the USA. 

This feasibility RCT is a complex, multi-partner programme involving: 

• An active funding partner 
• An independent evaluation team 
• 5 participating local authorities (to be confirmed) 
• Internal delivery teams and cross organisational services 
• Kinship carers and lived experience subject experts

This role leads and supports the staff team delivering one-to-one navigator-style support to kinship carers as part of the Kinship Connected feasibility randomised controlled trial. You will ensure the team provides consistent, high quality, relational support that reflects Kinship’s values and trauma-informed practice. 

You will work closely with the Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager and will share responsibility for ensuring high quality performance across the feasibility trial. You will both work closely with the core project team and partners. 

The Programmes Manager leads practice quality, staff development, safeguarding and relational delivery. The Mobilisation and Delivery Project Manager leads operational quality, systems, processes, data and compliance. Together you make sure the trial is delivered ethically, consistently and to a very high standard.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the day-to-day practice and relational delivery of the Kinship Connected (Navigator) support model.

• Support Kinship Family Workers to deliver high quality, trauma-informed and strengths-based support to kinship carers.

• Ensure clear case management, boundaries, risk management and reflective practice.

• Embed the delivery approach set out in the Intervention Protocol and Kinship Navigator Service Manual.

• Ensure equity, accessibility and inclusion in all aspects of delivery, with particular focus on minoritised ethnic kinship families. 

• Maintain delivery tracking and operational dashboards.

• Provide high quality line management, reflective supervision and pastoral support to Kinship Family Workers

Essential knowledge and experience includes:

• Strong experience leading frontline delivery teams providing emotional, relational or social care support.

• Proven track record ensuring high quality casework, assessments, boundaries and risk management.

• Experience delivering strengths-based, trauma-informed and evidence-informed approaches.

• Substantial experience in line managing practitioners, delivering reflective supervision and supporting wellbeing.

• Experience leading high performing dispersed teams with confidence, consistency and compassion.

• Experience managing change and supporting staff through shifting delivery requirements.

• Strong background in safeguarding decision making, case discussions and organisational safeguarding culture. 

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time). We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.

Key dates:

Application deadline:  11.59pm, Sunday 4 January 2026

First interview: Friday 9 January 2026 (online)

Second interview:Wednesday 14 January 2026 (in-person, London)

How to apply

Respond on CharityJobs to these 5 questions, along with your CV:

1. What is it about Kinship’s mission and values that motivates you to lead the delivery of relational support for kinship carers, and how would these values shape your approach as a Programmes Manager?

2. Describe a time you led or supported a team delivering emotional or relational support. How did you ensure consistent, high-quality practice?

3. Give an example of how you have developed or supported practitioners through reflective supervision, coaching or managing difficult practice situations. What approach did you take and why?

4. Describe a situation where you had to make or support a safeguarding decision. How did you balance risk, judgement and support for staff?

5. Tell us about a time you worked with a local authority, commissioner or another external partner to resolve a challenge or improve delivery. What did you do?

We are looking to fill this role quickly and reserve the right to close a recruitment campaign earlier than the advertised where we have received sufficient applications so please apply early! 

Summary

The NCIs are embarking on a strategic initiative to plan and scope a new SharePoint solution. We are seeking an experienced SharePoint Project Manager to join on an initial 6-month Fixed Term Contract to lead the discovery, design, and early planning stages of this business-critical project. This role sits within the Technology Services department, reporting to the Head of IT Portfolio. We are a busy and close-knit team, working across the NCI's to deliver IT solutions and services, as well as project and programme delivery.

This role is central to designing a SharePoint framework that aligns with the needs of multiple departments-each with distinct workflows and operating models. Success will depend on tailoring the solution to these differences to drive adoption and deliver tangible business benefits.

As a Project Manager we expect you to plan, develop, deliver and implement IT and Business Change projects to time cost and quality through the whole project lifecycle. This will include business case and requirements definition support, extensive project planning, financial/budget management, project controls, governance tasks, monitoring, resource management, scope, procurement, 3rd party and stakeholder engagement, people management, reporting, facilitating project teams and project Boards and compliance with change operating models.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, scoping, and documentation phases of a new SharePoint solution across multiple business units.
• Conduct stakeholder engagement activities to gather business requirements, current pain points, and operational nuances.
• Design a SharePoint solution blueprint that accommodates bespoke needs of each department while remaining scalable and manageable.
• Develop a roadmap that includes phased implementation, adoption strategies, and business change considerations.
• Ensure alignment with best practices in information governance, data retention, and security compliance.
• Drive business buy-in by clearly communicating the value and day-to-day benefits of the new solution.
• Work closely with technical teams to define system architecture, integration needs, and data migration requirements.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, change managers, and internal comms teams to support culture change and adoption.
• Report regularly on project progress, risks, and dependencies using a variety of project toolsets.
• Embed change management principles to support successful rollout and long-term sustainability.

• A market rate salary, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario and if this fits within the department's needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK's leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity

As our HyPE Manager you will set up, embed and lead the implementation of Voyage’s Horizons Youth Programme for the Environment, a pioneering employability, mentoring and wellbeing programme combining a weekly Job Club, renewable energy and green-skills training, construction pathways and embedded therapeutic support linked to employment opportunities delivered in partnership with Repowering London, New city College and Talking Quest. 

The postholder will oversee recruitment, delivery and progression impact and outcomes for young people (16–21) from New City College, PRUs, Youth Offending Teams, courts, social workers and local schools, ensuring they are supported into education, apprenticeships, training or work. We are currently exploring expansion possibilities for the long term unemployed, as an alternative to custody and for refugee communities. We seek someone who can help embed the programme in the community college and assist our plans to expand.

The Senior Evidence & Evaluation Manager sits within the Impact & Evidence directorate at the heart of Youth Futures Foundation.

You will play a central role in building the evidence base on what works to support young people into good jobs.

Working with three Heads of Evaluation, the Deputy Director and the Director, you will help ensure our evaluations are designed to generate credible evidence of what works.

• You will work closely with independent evaluators and delivery partners and colleagues in our Programmes & Grants and Policy & Communications directorates, you will assess the evaluability of interventions, and lead the design and delivery of large-scale, complex impact evaluations.
• You will manage a portfolio of projects, leading some directly, and overseeing others while supporting more junior colleagues.
• You will also contribute to strengthening our ‘evaluation architecture’, leading projects that enhance data infrastructure and access to administrative datasets, and set standards for methodological rigour in the sector.

This role can be based at our Birmingham, Leeds or London hub. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information on this role, please download our recruitment pack.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

This is a very special role with huge potential for the right candidate to deliver transformational impact in our communities in Somerset.

The Opportunity

There is significant potential for growth, particularly through gifts in Wills, working in partnership with professional advisers and growing high-value fundraising. We’re also broadening our appeal to a wider range of donors and partners having launched our Collective Giving Funds, which offer a compelling way for anyone to give strategically to the causes and places they care about in Somerset

As our Philanthropy and Marketing Director you will be at the forefront of this ambition. We’re looking for a strategic leader who can balance vision with execution to deliver great results. You’ll need to be a credible, emotionally intelligent and authentic relationship builder, adept at building trust, genuinely passionate about our mission and have strong alignment with our values.

This senior leadership role also holds strategic responsibility for marketing and brand positioning, enabling us to unlock the full potential of philanthropy in Somerset to drive change in our communities. We’ve recently invested in the growth of our Philanthropy and Marketing Team, and have welcomed a specialist marketing Trustee on to our Board.

We’re looking for an experienced and inclusive manager, confident at providing a balance of coaching and mentoring to help our talented team to develop and shine. And as an active and engaged member of our Senior Leadership Team, you’ll share our passion for continuous improvement, help to drive organisational growth and development, and provide expert advice and guidance to our Board of Trustees.

The impact we make as a charity is achieved largely through our funding programmes. You must have an appreciation of the role that community-led charities and groups play in creating positive change locally. And the role we, as a place-based funder, can play to support that work. You do not, however, need experience of working for a funder previously.

Download the recruitment pack to see the roles full responsibilities and required skills, knowledge and experience.

About Somerset Community Foundation

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) (charity no.1094446) is a grant-making charity that helps build strong communities where everyone can thrive. We do this by funding local charities and facilitating local giving.

We provide simple, rewarding and impactful ways for donors to give locally, guided by research and our unrivalled local knowledge.

For small, local charities, community groups and social enterprises, we provide vital funding and support to help their organisations flourish. We raise and distribute between £4 million and £5 million of funding to local groups every year. We’re also building an endowment for long-term investment into our communities, which is currently valued at around £11 million.

By inspiring local giving and funding social action, we support local communities to drive change and realise their dreams.

SCF is part of a network of 47 Community Foundations operating throughout the UK. Together we are one of the largest funders of communities across the nation.

Help us inspire supporters and transform the lives of animals in need.

Raystede is one of Sussex’s most loved and respected animal welfare charities. Every day, more than 400 animals depend on us for rehoming, rehabilitation, sanctuary and a second chance. We are entering an exciting period of growth — investing in our people, systems and supporter relationships — to secure our impact for decades to come.

We’re looking for a passionate and data-savvy Individual Giving Fundraiser to lead and grow our Individual Giving programme. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who loves creating engaging campaigns, improving supporter experience and using insight to drive results.

About the Role

As Individual Giving Fundraiser, you will:

• Deliver and continuously improve Raystede’s Individual Giving programme.
• Plan and manage multi-channel campaigns including regular giving, cash appeals, digital fundraising and stewardship journeys.
• Use data and insight to segment audiences, test approaches and optimise performance.
• Oversee supporter journeys to ensure communications are timely, engaging and emotionally compelling.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing and external agencies to deliver joined-up campaigns.
• Produce campaign reports, forecasts and actionable insights to support income growth.
• Line-manage a small team, supporting their development and wellbeing.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys both creativity and analysis and thrives on delivering high-quality campaigns that inspire people to give.

About You

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Experience in Individual Giving or fundraising/marketing campaign delivery.
• Strong project management skills and confidence managing multiple deadlines.
• Good CRM/data skills and experience using insight to guide decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to support and motivate others.
• A compassionate, supporter-centred mindset and genuine interest in animal welfare.

Desirable:

• Experience of Regular Giving programmes, email marketing and digital fundraising.
• Experience managing agencies, budgets and reporting processes.
• Relevant fundraising or digital qualifications.

Why Raystede?

• Join a warm, mission-driven charity full of passionate people.
• Play a key role in shaping our future fundraising strategy.
• Work in a unique 43-acre site surrounded by animals and nature.
• Benefit from training, development and a supportive culture.

If you’re excited by the idea of growing supporter relationships and helping secure a better future for animals in Sussex, we’d love to hear from you.

Driving Mobility seeks an inspiring, strategic leader to guide its UK network and champion independence for people with restricted mobility.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 12th January.

Driving Mobility is the national charity that coordinates a UK-wide network of driving and mobility assessment centres, supported by the Department for Transport. Together, these centres help thousands of people every year – including disabled, older and newly injured individuals – to drive safely, access suitable vehicles and maintain their independence.

We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the Charity into its next phase of growth and influence. This is a pivotal moment for Driving Mobility as it strengthens its national voice, expands digital and outreach services, and deepens collaboration across government, health and the voluntary sector.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and inspirational leader, capable of balancing operational oversight with external advocacy.

You will bring experience of partnership working at a senior level, strong financial and organisational acumen, and a genuine commitment to improving mobility and inclusion for all.

If you are motivated by purpose, partnership and impact, this is a rare opportunity to shape the future of accessible transport and independent mobility across the UK.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 12th January.

Are you an exceptional fundraiser who excels at cultivating high-value relationships and securing transformational gifts? Do you enjoy working with senior volunteers and philanthropists who are deeply committed to changing children’s lives?

Step into a pivotal role within one of the UK’s leading philanthropy teams as you lead our flagship Tick Tock Club appeal — inspiring major donors and volunteers to drive extraordinary impact for seriously ill children.

Salary

The salary for this position is £52,526 per annum and we operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. 

In line with our EDI strategy and Total Reward policy, we calculate our salaries based on benchmarking data across the charity sector. To ensure fairness for existing staff and new joiners, we do not offer salaries above the advertised rate.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver a personal fundraising target of £1.5m+, securing six- and seven-figure gifts and multi-year commitments from high-net-worth individuals and charitable trusts.
• Lead the £20m Tick Tock Club appeal, shaping strategy and driving one of GOSH Charity’s flagship philanthropic initiatives.
• Recruit, inspire and collaborate with senior volunteers, campaign boards and influential supporters to accelerate high-value fundraising.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, using insight-led approaches to build long-term engagement and maximise impact.
• Oversee campaign events, communications and tailored proposals, ensuring activity aligns with income targets and delivers an exceptional supporter experience.
• Provide motivating line management to a small team, fostering professional development, wellbeing and high performance.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A strong track record of securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts.
• Experience partnering with senior volunteers and campaign boards on major fundraising initiatives.
• Strategic leadership skills with the ability to galvanise a team around ambitious goals.
• Exceptional relationship-building, influencing and presentation abilities.
• A creative, solutions-focused mindset with resilience under pressure.

Please refer to the full job description below for more information.

About the team
 

You’ll join our sector-leading Philanthropy team — recognised as one of the most high-performing and respected in the charity sector. We partner with some of the most generous and committed philanthropists in the UK and beyond to transform the lives of seriously ill children.

Our talented and supportive team of 20+ works closely with colleagues across fundraising, clinical, and research teams to create inspiring, high-impact opportunities for supporters. In partnership with senior volunteers and committees, we drive landmark campaigns including the £300 million Build It. Beat It. appeal and the Tick Tock Club, with exciting plans for a major new research-focused campaign on the horizon.

In Spring 2028, the National Gallery will launch a new, public-facing Research Centre to facilitate and showcase our world-leading research in the history and science of painting. This will be a complex space sitting at the intersection of multiple valued research stakeholders both within and beyond the Gallery, including the Gallery’s own wide array of research-active staff, our Artists-in-Residence, specialist users of our extensive Library & Archive collections, and a research-engaged general public attending events and consulting materials.

We are now recruiting for a new role, a Research Centre Manager, to support in the creative planning and daily delivery of an exceptional experience at the Research Centre. The role-holder will provide vital clarity and consistency in the day-to-day running of this multifaceted space to ensure a smoothly functioning whole. This includes coordinating all aspects of the Research Centre operations, managing staff, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining the Research Centre facilities and administration. They will also think creatively about the Centre’s different spaces and, alongside Gallery colleagues, will help produce exciting research programming.

An ideal candidate will have experience in a comparable multifaceted role, and will bring to the Gallery strong leadership, excellent communication, creative programming, innovative problem-solving, and strong organisational skills to manage both day-to-day operations and strategic planning for the Centre.

This is a full time, permanent position and requires on-site working 5 days per week.

Applications closing date is 2nd January at 23:30hrs.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-impact voluntary sector charity at the heart of the Bexley community. You’ll be supported by a passionate and dedicated staff team committed to inclusion, collaboration and strengthening the local VCS. If you are a resilient, adaptable and empathetic leader with a strategic mindset and a deep belief in the power of communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

As the Chief Executive Officer, you will: 

• Lead strategy, vision, and organisational direction.
• Represent BVSC across local, regional, and national partnerships.
• Ensure governance, compliance, and financial oversight.
• Lead staff and senior leadership team; fostering an inclusive and supportive culture.
• Promote continuous improvement, service quality, and impact.
• Strengthen relationships with statutory partners, funders, VCS organisations, and communities.
  
  About you

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

• Experienced voluntary/public sector leader with strategic, operational, and financial expertise.
• Collaborative, resilient, inclusive, and adaptable.
• Skilled in partnership working, stakeholder engagement, and system leadership.
• Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and organisational values.
  
  Why join BVSC?

BVSC is a supportive, friendly team committed to strengthening the voluntary and community sector in Bexley. We offer:

• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays).
• An extra day off for your birthday.
• 6% employer pension contribution.
• Flexible working: one day working from home each week, with flexible start and finish times (8am–6pm, core hours 10am–4pm).
• Access to the Blue Light Card.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• A positive, inclusive team culture where your ideas are valued.

Head of Finance

Location: Bath (minimum of 4 days in the office)

Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours per week, Monday–Friday)

Salary: Up to £65K (dependant on skills and experience)

About St John’s Foundation

St John’s Foundation is one of Bath’s oldest charities, supporting individuals and communities for over 850 years. Today, we continue to make a lasting difference across Bath and North East Somerset by helping people to live independent, fulfilling lives and by working to build stronger, more resilient communities.

As we continue to evolve, we are investing in modern systems, governance and talent to ensure we can deliver lasting social impact with integrity, efficiency, and purpose.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Finance to join our team. This role will  play a pivotal role in ensuring the long term financial health and sustainability of St John’s Foundation and its trading subsidiaries.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will lead and take responsibility for our day-to-day financial operations and manage a dedicated team of finance professionals. You will ensure robust financial control, accurate reporting, and effective systems that underpin the charity’s strategic ambitions and operational delivery.

This is a senior, operational leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape our financial systems, guide a talented team, and contribute directly to our mission. You will also manage  the next phase of our finance system implementation.

What You’ll Do

· Manage the finance team, ensuring timely, accurate financial reporting and high standards of control.

· Manage all aspects of financial management — including cashflow, balance sheet integrity, and statutory reporting.

· Lead on the statutory reporting and oversee budget setting and management accounts.

· Manage the next phase of our finance system implementation, embedding process improvements and digital innovation.

· Support the Finance Director with governance, risk management, and strategic financial planning.

· Manage investment and endowment accounting, ensuring compliance and effective performance monitoring.

· Provide insightful analysis and reporting to the Executive Team and the Board of Trustees.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced senior finance professional who combines technical expertise with strong leadership skills.

You will have:

· A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).

· Proven significant experience in senior finance leadership, including management accounts, budgeting, and statutory reporting.

· Strong technical knowledge of accounting standards and charity finance (including restricted and endowment funds). 

· Demonstrable strong knowledge of financial controls, accounting standards, and (ideally) charity finance.

· Proven experience managing or implementing finance systems or digital transformation projects.

· Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust across all levels.

· A collaborative, proactive, and improvement-focused approach.

Desirable:

· Experience within the not-for-profit or charity sector.

· Knowledge of property and investment accounting.

· Familiarity with cloud-based finance systems.

Why Join Us?

Joining St John’s means becoming part of a long-standing Bath charity that puts people at the heart of everything it does. Your work will directly support older adults and people in financial need, and you’ll be part of a friendly, collaborative team that cares about doing things well and doing them with trust, courage and kindness.

Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £49, 282 - £54,495 per annum

Location: Gorse Hill Studios, Trafford, Manchester (Some remote working will be considered)

Contract Type: Full time, permanent

About Gorse Hill Studios

Gorse Hill Studios is a dynamic and ambitious youth and community arts charity. At the heart of our organisation is a belief that all young people deserve to feel valued, supported and inspired. We work with young people to build confidence, creativity and community connections, ensuring they have the opportunities and encouragement they need to thrive.

We believe that creativity can transform lives, and we are committed to placing young people at the centre of everything we do. Their voices, ideas and experiences help shape our programmes, partnerships and strategic direction.

We are entering an exciting phase of growth and development. Our team currently includes 20 core staff and a wider network of volunteers and creative practitioners, delivering a diverse portfolio of youth arts sessions, community engagement projects, creative wellbeing initiatives and partnership-led activity with local schools and organisations. The CEO will play a pivotal role in leading this portfolio, strengthening our impact, championing youth voice and ensuring young people continue to shape our future direction as we move into the next chapter of our development.

About the Role

As CEO, you will provide strategic, compassionate and visionary leadership, ensuring Gorse Hill Studios delivers its mission to empower and inspire young people. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will hold overall responsibility for the organisation’s performance, culture, operations and long-term sustainability. This role calls for someone who demonstrates strong strategic insight with the ability to influence and inspire others, using emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership to build positive internal and external relationships.

A fundamental part of this role is your commitment to embedding young people’s voice in decision making. You will champion their perspectives, ensuring programme development, strategy and organisational culture reflect the needs and aspirations of the young people we serve.

You will also be an ambassador for the charity, building trusted relationships with young people, partners, funders and the wider community. This role requires a leader who is values led, resilient and passionate about supporting young people through the arts and creative engagement.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Governance

• Lead on the development and delivery of the charity’s long-term strategy, with young people meaningfully involved
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and governance requirements, including Charity Commission expectations and safeguarding duties
• Provide clear, timely reporting to the Board
• Support the Board to operate effectively

Financial Management and Income Generation

• Oversee budgeting, financial planning and responsible management of all funds
• Lead a diverse income generation strategy
• Identify sustainable opportunities for organisational growth

Operational Management and Programme Delivery

• Oversee day to day operations and ensure systems are effective
• Ensure programmes are high quality, inclusive and reflective of young people’s needs and feedback
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, or ensure robust safeguarding practices across the organisation

People Leadership and Culture

• Inspire, support and lead a dedicated staff and volunteer team
• Champion a positive, inclusive and collaborative working culture
• Oversee recruitment, wellbeing and performance management

External Relations and Advocacy

• Act as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for Gorse Hill Studios
• Build strong relationships with partners, funders and stakeholders
• Advocate for and with young people locally and nationally
• Represent the charity confidently at events and in the media

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Senior leadership experience in the charity, youth, arts or wider non-profit sector
• Strong financial management skills
• Proven success in fundraising or income generation
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement
• Knowledge of safeguarding practices in youth settings
• Experience leading teams and developing positive organisational cultures
• Strategic leadership experience

Desirable

• Experience in the youth arts or creative community sector
• Understanding of the Trafford community landscape

Values and Commitment

We are committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals who share these values and are passionate about empowering young people.

An enhanced DBS check will be required.

Application Details

To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter.

Closing date: 19 January

Interview date: 23 January at Gorse Hill Studios

Interviews will include a stakeholder panel and a formal interview.

REF-225 658

We Are Purposeful is looking foe a Senior Learning and Insights Manager!  This is a remote role with a preference for candidates based in the Global South.

WHO WE ARE:

 .

“Remaking the world with and for girls”

Purposeful is a movement-building hub for adolescent girls and young feminists. We resource their resistance, accompany journeys of political education, build solidarity between and across movements, amplify their voices, catalyse collaborative philanthropy and support innovation in grassroots programming with and for girls and young feminists.

Our work is both global and deeply local. In Sierra Leone, we bring our work together into one integrated strategy, sparking a groundswell of girls and young feminists who can access and imagine new possibilities for themselves and their communities. We move money to their allies to influence change, from communities to courtrooms. Across the world we support girls’ and young feminists’ organising and activism through a girl-led participatory grant-making process called the With and For Girls Fund. In times of crisis, we move money rapidly to girls and young feminists organising on the frontlines via the Global Resilience Fund.  No matter where we are, we work so that girls and young feminists can access the resources, networks and platforms they need to remake the world for themselves.

Purposeful is a proudly feminist organisation, with a strong intersectional power analysis. We pursue strategies that prioritise the collective liberation of girls. We are looking for team members who share our feminist ideals. We believe the best work happens in dialogue, and we value collective decision-making. We believe in celebrating success, amongst staff and partners alike. We are looking for team members with a deep commitment to collaborative working, and who bring a sense of joy and humour to what can be challenging work.

We pride ourselves on our diversity, the multiple languages we speak and places we live. We are all parents or have other caring responsibilities. We prioritise work-life balance, many of us have other projects and passions outside of Purposeful. As a team we prioritise opportunities for learning, sharing, and embedding different worldviews. We are looking for team members who thrive in diverse and cross-cultural contexts, and who bring passion, creativity and a thirst for learning to their work.

We are our partnerships. We are most proud of the shared vision we have built with our partners - rooted in mutuality, trust, and collaboration. We are looking for team members who will work tirelessly to rebalance power disparities in funder-partner relationships, acting as responsible stewards of resources of and for our movements.

CONTEXT OF THIS ROLE:

At Purposeful, learning is a political responsibility. We are reclaiming and organising our many ways of knowing, meeting stories with data, and building a robust case for this work. We are bridging traditional logical frameworks with feminist learning principles and creating space for their co-existence. 

The Senior Learning and Insights Manager will play a critical role--  contributing to a bold learning and insights strategy aligned with Purposeful’s vision, mission, and growth, leading the design of data collection systems, contributing to data collection efforts, from surveys to storytelling, closing feedback loops and crafting knowledge products, intended to inform, influence and amplify. 

They will bring technical expertise across a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, they will come with curiosity and a willingness to share. The Learning and Insights Manager will work closely with the Learning and Insights Lead and across all Purposeful teams, particularly Grant-making, Communications and Resource Mobilisation. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join Purposeful at a time when we are launching a new strategy and consolidating everything we’ve learned about our learning and insights approach over the last seven years. 

SCOPE OF WORK

1. Learning and Insights Strategy and Systems

• Contribute to the delivery and implementation of a new Learning and Insights strategy and results framework, building on our Learning Agenda. 

• Lead the design and embedding of data collection tools and systems across Purposeful teams, in particular our global grantmaking and advocacy teams.

• Work closely with the Learning and Insights team to champion a culture of learning within Purposeful and with grantee partners. 

2. Technical Support

• Lead cycles of data collection across our global grantmaking work - supporting regional teams with technical expertise, as and when needed. 

• Periodically join learning calls, spaces and convenings with our grantee partners - embedding and supporting documentation. 

• Lead regular cross team learning and insights meetings and drive follow up actions.

• Conduct periodic analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, and produce synthesis that informs strategic choices across thematic and regional work.

• Facilitate sense-making and feedback loops with the Purposeful team, girls, young feminists, and grantee partners. 

• Manage timelines and workplans to feed into key learning and reporting moments. 

3. Research 

• Move learning grants to grantees (approximately five to ten grants annually) to enable them to document their work and/or conduct research which they have identified as a priority  - this includes an application process, accompaniment plan and check-ins. 

• Contribute to the delivery of research led or commissioned by Purposeful, this may include the reviewing TORS and methodologies, check ins with consultants, and reviewing deliverables.

4. Knowledge Production and Dissemination 

• Conceptualize and produce case studies, briefs or other knowledge products underpinned by quantitative and qualitative data, to assist with case building.

• Contribute to the development of other external knowledge products as required, such as slidedecks, thematic briefs, regional briefs, blogs, op-eds, and research reports. 

• Work across teams to identify opportunities to disseminate and amplify knowledge products, including conference spaces, social media campaigns, webinars, instagram lives and academic publications. 

• Lead and/or contribute to the drafting of conference and journal abstracts. 

• Represents Purposeful in high level external spaces, including conferences, funder collaborations and research partnerships.

5. Other 

• Line manages one to two team members and oversees consultants as required.

• Respond to information needs and requests of the Senior Management and Leadership Team as needed. 

• Stay abreast of research related to our work and research methodologies, by reviewing publications and attending related conferences, meetings, and other events. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Experience & Skills

• At least five to seven years of experience in MEL or research, including experience working with philanthropic funds, feminist organisations or social justice movements.

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing learning frameworks and systems across multiple projects or funds. 

• In-depth understanding of feminist issues, movement building, social justice and/or girls’ rights, or another thematic area, such as humanitarian aid or climate change, and how it relates to girls and young feminists.

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research.

• The capacity to analyse, critique and identify themes and insights.

• Experience of Salesforce or another database or information management system.

• Proven experience facilitating cross team learning and influencing senior colleagues to act on evidence and insights.

• Excellent writing skills, with demonstrable experience of tailoring knowledge products for different audiences. 

• Data visualisation skills are desirable. 

• Strong attention to detail, organisational skills and ability to multi-task.

• Strong (in-person and virtual) workshop development and facilitation skills. 

• Strong project management skills.

• Confidence to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Fluency or high proficiency  in a second language, preferably Arabic (spoken and written) 

• Willingness to travel, approximately four to six weeks per year