Strategic planner jobs in kilmarnock, east ayrshire

Marie Curie is the UK's leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they're likely to die from.

Marie Curie's Research Team sits within a highly collaborative and influential directorate committed to using evidence to improve the end-of-life experience for everyone. We manage a large portfolio of external research grants and lead cutting-edge internal studies using qualitative, quantitative, and co-production methodologies. Our work informs national policy and drives systemic change.

As Qualitative Research Manager, you'll lead on design and delivery of high-quality qualitative research projects. Your insights will directly shape policies and initiatives that support people affected by dying, death, and bereavement. This is a rare opportunity to combine research expertise with a social mission, ensuring voices are heard and evidence drives real-world outcomes.

Main responsibilities:
- Lead the design, delivery, analysis, and dissemination of qualitative research projects.
- Provide expert advice and mentoring on qualitative methods across the organisation.
- Support development of evidence-based policy recommendations and internal reports.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to co-produce research and translate findings into practice.
- Contribute to research funding bids and strategic project planning.
- Represent Marie Curie in networks and forums, building influence and partnerships.

Key Criteria:
- Extensive experience designing and conducting qualitative research (e.g., interviews, focus groups, evidence synthesis).
- Strong ability to communicate research findings clearly and accessibly to diverse audiences.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including presentation and facilitation skills.
- Highly organised, proactive, and capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines.
- Skilled in working collaboratively across teams, with a commitment to inclusive and participatory research.
- Background in health, social care, or social justice-related research is desirable but not essential.

Please see the full job description .

Application & Interview Process
- As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and Cover Letter. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
- Close date for applications: 2 June 2025

Salary: £35,530 - 39,474 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: Fixed-term (12 months), full-time (35 hours per week)
Based: Home-Based. You can work from anywhere within the UK.

Benefits you'll LOVE:
- Flexible working. We're happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
- 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
- Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
- Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
- Continuous professional development opportunities.
- Industry-leading training programmes
- Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
- Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
- Access to Blue Light Card membership
- Subsidised Eye Care

Marie Curie is committed to its values, which underpin our work. We take stringent steps to ensure that the people who join our organisation through employment or volunteering, are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. This includes our staff, volunteers and all those who use or come into contact with our services. We are dedicated to creating not just a safe place to work but also a supportive and rewarding one.

We are committed to a world where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. We are devoted to the social justice imperatives and organisational benefits of full diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace, and are a Stonewall champion. We actively encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

Purpose of the post

HDR UK are committed to meaningful involvement and engagement where patients and the public are actively involved in shaping our work and decision-making. Reporting to the Senior Public Involvement and Engagement Manager and matrix managed within the Big Data for Complex Disease team, this is a pivotal role that will maintain and build upon an established strategy and programme of activities embedding the patient and public voice at all stages of work with the Driver Programme.

Your work will also support best practice delivered as part of the Public Engagement in Data Research Initiative (PEDRI), a vital UK-wide multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to facilitate a sector wide shift focused on establishing and advancing good practices for public involvement and engagement (PIE) with data-driven research and statistics.

You will work closely with public members, research and NHS communities, internal colleagues, charity partners, and funders to develop and implement plans for patient and public involvement and engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who has a passion for meaningful involvement and engagement of patients and the public in research, to shape and influence our work on the safe, ethical and scientifically robust use of data for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of disease.

The successful candidate will have a track record in working with individuals, groups and communities and can communicate complex information in clear, engaging ways. The post holder will have excellent influencing and negotiation skills, experience of working on complex projects with multiple partners and be comfortable with working at pace.  Patient and public involvement and engagement in data-driven research is a growing field. The successful candidate will show a willingness and experience of developing and delivering innovative approaches to involvement where previously opportunities may not have been obvious.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience of working with diverse communities and using trauma-informed practices to engage with those having lived experience of a variety of health conditions.

Main responsibilities

Big Data for Complex Disease PPIE strategy and delivery:

• Lead on the delivery of the PPIE strategy for the Big Data for Complex Disease driver programme, with oversight from the Senior PPIE Manager and Senior Programme Manager.
• Develop and deliver training and support best practice for researchers working with patients and the public on involvement and engagment in health data research.
• Support member development and growth of the network of patients and public contributors involved in the Big Data for Complex Disease driver programme, including by providing training and guidance on data science and its use in the programme.

Embedding PPIE in our work:

• Lead and facilitate meetings with public contributors to integrate meaningful PPIE throughout all aspects of our work.
• Undertake and manage specific involvement and engagement activities, including but not limited to focus groups, engagement events, developing and undertaking surveys, supporting the writing of plain English summaries of projects and their outputs. In collaboration with senior colleagues, support involvement of patients and the public in the governance of our work.
• Review and provide advice on PPIE elements of research projects ensuring adequate PPIE is incorporated and provide advice and support where needed to researchers. 
• Develop methods to expand reach and ensure diversity of perspectives and work with the HDR UK Involvement and Engagement team to grow involvement of currently underrepresented and underserved groups in health data science.
• Build and manage relationships with colleagues within the Big Data for Complex Disease driver programme and relevant partners like the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Data Science Centre, working collaboratively to support and manage involvement and engagement across all areas of work.
• Work closely with the internal communications colleagues to create and disseminate engaging content (e.g. news stories on outputs and impact, videos, infographics, case studies) on our work and involvement and engagement activities using a variety of communication tools.
• Horizon scan and liaise with colleagues across HDR UK for opportunities to increase visibility of the institute’s engagement and involvement impact, i.e. through conferences, festivals, journals and other publications.
• Lead on the recruitment of new public contributors as required. Adapt, develop and provide training for public where necessary identifying training requirements as needed.

Developing PPIE best practice and collaborative working:

• Work with the Senior PPIE Programme Delivery Manager and the rest of the PPIE Central team to share best practice and examples of successful PPIE practices that could influence our work, including through the Public Engagement in Data Research Initiative (PEDRI).
• Collaborate with the Senior PPIE Programme Delivery Manager, the PPIE Central team, and the HDR UK’s Institute-Wide PPIE Leads Group to lead public outreach initiatives and other events, ensuring that stakeholders are afforded opportunities to contribute their input and provide feedback. Establish effective working relationships and ‘ways of working’ with strategic partners to maximise opportunities for collaboration in patient and public involvement and engagement.
• Act as an internal and external ambassador for public, patient and practitioner engagement and involvement.
• Monitor and report on performance of PPIE across the Programme, make effective use of digital approaches to maximise the ability to collaborate, communicate and continuously learn.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Experience of working with patients, carers and members of the public with diverse interests.
• Experience of working with community organisations and diverse voices
• Experience of running patient/public involvement activities
• Experience of developing, implementing and evaluating patient and public engagement and involvement strategies and methodologies, preferably in a research environment
• Experience of promoting the need and value of engagement and involvement to a wide range of stakeholders and acting as an advocate
• Experience of writing / developing content for public and research audiences and delivering presentations
• Experience of demonstrating an understanding of health research and the needs of patients and the public
• Planning and organisational expertise with a proven track record of delivering challenging projects with multiple partners to deadlines
• Experience of organising and facilitating a range of events and meetings including: event preparation, chairing of meetings, delivering presentations, use of tools to gather views and feedback, follow-up communications and evaluation
• An understanding of the public sensitivities of using health data for research

Skills

• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage complex and multiple areas of work with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Evidence of ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines using a flexible and adaptable approach
• Good influencing and coaching skills.
• Excellent people and interpersonal skills to build collaborative partnerships across diverse groups and the ability to handle sensitive issues positively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with different groups of stakeholders and people at all levels.
• Able to grasp the complexity of work across HDR UK and process complex scientific information to communicate it in a way that is clear, engaging and inspires the public to get involved.
• Strong analytic skills with the ability to frame problems and solutions in a logical manner.
• Ability to work autonomously and make decisions without supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (the Trust) is looking for a part-time, 28 hours per week, Marketing Communications Manager.

If you are looking to join a talented and creative team that is passionate about nature, then we would love to hear from you. Our vision is of a future where bumblebees are thriving and valued by everyone; marketing and communications is central to us achieving that.

Your role will be to lead the Marketing and Communications team to develop and deliver a Marketing and Communications Plan that inspires and enables people from all backgrounds to take action to support bumblebees. Actions may include donating/ fundraising, political advocacy, volunteering/ surveying, or creating bumblebee habitats (everything from a window box up!).

You will work with colleagues across the Trust to deliver both national and project level campaigns and strengthen the Trust’s brand, website, PR, and social media engagement.

You will be a self-motivated creative thinker with proven leadership and management skills and experience in delivering engaging campaigns across a variety of media channels.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for more details of the role.

This is a part-time post for 28 hours per week.  Some overtime work may be required and a flexitime system is in place.

This post will be employed on a permanent basis and can be based at the Trust’s office in Stirling, be home-based or be a hybrid between the Trust’s office in Stirling and home-working.

The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer.  This means that whilst seeking employment or during such employment with the Trust, we will seek to ensure equality of treatment for all persons regardless of sex, race, age, marital or civil partnership status, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity status. At the Trust, we have a clear goal: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. We pride ourselves on reaching for our vision, through the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees. 

We are recruiting a Digital Fundraising Assistant to assist in the delivery of our growing virtual events programme. 

This is an exciting new role which involves supporting delivery of a wide range of virtual events at Sands, in order to grow our fundraising income.  The role includes increasing Sands’ online presence across a range of channels through excellent stewardship of large audiences who are both warm and new supporters. 

You will ensure delivery of a world class supporter experience using an omnichannel approach, helping our supporters reach and exceed their fundraising targets.

Working with the Digital Fundraising Manager, you will monitor the everchanging virtual challenge environment and consider how best to adapt our activities in order to achieve financial targets and remain innovative and a leader within the sector.

You will have strong communication skills and enjoy building relationships, especially within online communities. Additionally, you will have an understanding of a wide range of social media channels and an interest in creating refreshing, inspiring content.

A highly organised and efficient approach is essential in order to respond to large quantities of enquiries across multiple channels. Excellent written communication skills are therefore essential.

Relevant experience in creating engaging video, image and written content for different social channels is also an essential requirement.

This post is home-based. There may be the need to support Sands events at weekends and/or evenings and working hours can be adjusted accordingly.

Vision of adventure, a small outdoor charity based in the Lake District , is seeking an experienced fundraiser to join our team. We specialise in working with people with visual impairments facilitating outdoor adventures, social connection and access to specialist coaching. To achieve this the organisation partners visually impaired individuals with sighted guides for residential weekends focusing on: long walks, canoeing, climbing, tandem biking, and more. The team comprises five part-time workers, numerous volunteers, and the board of trustees. We all work remotely, use each others first names, and have flexible scheduling.

The role of a fundraiser is paramount to our continued sustainability. You will be solely responsible for our fundraising initiatives. The charity has a commendable track record of raising funds, and you will be expected to surpass these targets as a professional fundraiser. An engagement officer will support your role by gathering feedback and preparing draft funder impact reports.

You will have extensive demonstrable fundraising experience. You will be personable, be an excellent communicator , make appropriate use of information communication technology, and capable of managing your own time and workload. 

We are open to applications that combine this role with that of the engagement officer, which is also advertised at this time.

The role may suit someone who may be stepping back from a busy office environment, have a disability, or caring responsibilities where the remote nature and flexible scheduling would be an asset.

Sands exists to save babies’ lives and ensure that anyone affected by pregnancy loss or baby death receives the support and care they need.

We are recruiting a Community Engagement and Events Officer to assist in the delivery and stewardship of our growing virtual events programme, and support on the development of our bespoke activities such as Starlight Walk and Ribbon Run.

This is an exciting time to join Sands as we are in a period of ambitious growth. This role will make a valuable contribution to Sands’ fundraising strategy and will help to deliver a range of new and existing fundraising activities in our programme. 

In this new role you will be responsible for the management of our online fundraising communities, assist with the promotion, recruitment, and logistics of several of our fundraising activities as well as helping to improve and streamline our stewardship processes.

The post-holder will develop and build positive relationships with our supporters to ensure that they all receive a great supporter experience, and to help to maximise our fundraiser income and supporter engagement.  Additionally, you will help Sands to recruit and deliver our fundraising activities to the highest of standards and ensure that all our fundraisers feel valued through excellent stewardship.

You will have relevant experience of event fundraising, a good understanding of social media’s role within this area and be able to demonstrate experience of digital advertising. A highly effective communicator, you will have excellent written and verbal skills and be confident in responding to supporters needs.

Are you passionate about helping people to do great things? Do you get a kick out of someone else’s joy as they reach their fundraising target?  Are you an excellent communicator online and on the phone? 

We are looking for a Community Fundraising Manager to develop our fundraising ambitions and work with our community.  

This is a varied and interesting role which will give you the opportunity to see your impact first-hand, as you will be interacting daily with people whose lives are affected by PANS or PANDAS.  You will also provide logistical and project management support on fundraising events. 

Our small community means that our fundraisers tend to be families affected by PANS or PANDAS.  We are passionate about creating opportunities for members of our community to support us in ways that create joy in their own lives.  We intend that fundraising activities and events should help tackle the isolation and other difficulties that are faced by those living with these complex and misunderstood conditions. 

Foothold Communications Officer

 Salary: £18k (£30k per annum pro rata)

Period of appointment:  This is a permanent contract.

Location: Remote/homebased

Part time: 21 hrs a week

 Like many benevolent fund charities, Foothold has a small staff team, but our impact is mighty!

We’re looking for someone who enjoys variety and takes pride in their work to join our flexible, remotely-based team as our new Communications Officer.

Hearing the challenges that the individuals we support are facing keeps us focused. As Communications Officer, you’ll play a key role in communicating the support our charity offers the engineering community, while also engaging our supporters by bringing our community’s stories to life.

We’re redefining relationships with long-standing communications partners, building new relationships, and building our presence across new platforms and communities.

As Communications Officer, you'll be pivotal in making sure our voice is heard through regular communications, and delivering our impact report and annual report.

We find creative ways of working as a team and look to showcase the individual talents and personalities that people bring to their role. At Foothold, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase and develop your skills across digital design, video and copy.

We encourage our team to be all-rounders, and you’ll be working closely and collaboratively with our Communications and Digital Events Officer, Digital Marketing Officer and fundraising colleagues to produce regular, engaging content.

This is a great opportunity to join a small, talented, and committed team as we test the best ways of engaging different parts of the engineering community, and how that engagement may evolve over time. You’ll help us evolve our communications and PR output, and in turn we’ll provide you with the support and autonomy to grow your skills.

We’re confident that you’ll enjoy working alongside the wider team and look forward to hearing from you.

Organisational benefits

· 32 days per annum annual leave plus Bank Holidays (plus office closure between Christmas and New Year)

· Flexible working arrangements

· Organisational commitment to training and development.

· SIPP pension with up to 9% employer contribution (subject to individual contribution)

· Life insurance and access to Smart Health services (AIG)

· Cycle to Work and Tech Scheme, childcare vouchers.

· Associate membership of the IET for one year paid for by Foothold, and access to Foothold services

If you have any further questions about the role, please contact our Head of Business and Volunteering Beverley Archer.

Informal Conversations: these can be arranged with the Jonny Rudge, Head of Fundraising and Communications, between the 3rd and 5th of June 2025

Closing date: applications should be submitted by 4pm on Friday 6th June 2025

Interviews will be held on Monday 16th June  2025 on Teams.

For more information about Foothold please visit our website