Strategy planning manager jobs in aston, west midlands

Job Title: Domestic Abuse and Housing Support Worker

Location:  Pathway Project Lichfield Office Based

Salary: £ 24,347 Full time equivalent – Actual salary is £19,478

Hours of Work: 30 Hours per week (over 4 or 5 days)

Responsible to :  Team Leader – Outreach Team

This role is open to women only

The postholder will require a driving licence and access to a vehicle to undertake this role.

This post is open to women only  under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.  We value diversity and are committed to ensuring that our organisation is an inclusive place to work. We encourage applications from women from all backgrounds and communities and actively welcome applicants from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds and women with a disability 

 About Pathway Project

We are a domestic and sexual abuse service based in Lichfield & Tamworth, Staffordshire.

We offer a range of support services and run two refuges in confidential locations.

We have been operating for over 30 years helping adults and children overcome domestic abuse, and to build a future where they live in safety and are free from fear.

Since our founder, Kathy Coe MBE, created Pathway Project, we have helped over 25,000 people, with 5,814 hours of support provided in the last year.

We offer a wide range of services, including adult and children outreach and community support, mental health, wellbeing and financial advice.

We support victims in their journey to become survivors and offer specialist counselling, advocacy and care to all who need us.

Pathway Project believes in working as a cohesive team and are service user led.

Our helpline is access to all and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why work for us?

Pathway Project is an inspiring and caring place to be, we are a charity with big ambitions and huge energy.

We have a string belief in staff development and are currently evolving a bold new strategy and a passion  for excellence in service delivery.

Supported by a driven and energetic board of trustees the new Chief Executive is leading Pathway Project through their ambitious plans.

It’s a really fantastic time to join our amazing charity as we move into the next phase of our exciting journey.

We are a flexible and supportive employer, committed to the personal and professional development and wellbeing of our employees. We welcome applications from women with lived experience of domestic abuse and from minority  or under-represented groups.

We offer the following benefits:

• 25 days paid leave plus statutory holidays (pro rata)
• A competitive pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme delivered by Health Assured which offers incredible support to staff and their families

We value our colleagues and are constantly reviewing our policies and practice, looking for ways in which we can better demonstrate this. We also recognise the potential impact of working in this field and provide clinical supervision to all of our employees, whatever their role.

JOB SUMMARY

She will be responsible for the co-ordination of an effective support plan for clients dealing with issues around domestic abuse and housing.

She will  provide emotional and practical support from the point of crisis, meeting their immediate needs and working towards a holistic, multi-agency approach to their long term safety, risk reduction and recovery.

She will  be responsible for the co-ordination of an effective support plan for adults dealing with issues around domestic abuse.  She will provide emotional and practical support from the point of crisis, meeting their immediate needs and working towards a holistic, multi-agency approach to their long-term safety, risk reduction and recovery. 

She will ensure that they are informed of the full range of emotional, practical and referral options that are available to them, and to facilitate access to this support, both internally and externally. 

This support will be based in the community, including client’s homes where risk appropriate, and the Hope Centre and will involve utilising all of Pathway Projects available services, as well as referring into other appropriate agencies. 

.MAIN DUTIES

· To work as part of the outreach team in providing information, support, guidance, advice, signposting, emergency accommodation and resettlement help for adults experiencing or escaping domestic abuse. 

· To support the aims and principles of Pathway Project in empowering and supporting adults who have experienced domestic abuse to make their own decisions and take control of their own lives. 

· Take all possible steps to ensure the safety and confidentiality of the users, staff and management of Pathway Project. 

· To take referrals for people affected by domestic abuse and housing issues, and provide preventative and risk reducing work with regards to both the domestic abuse and housing. 

· To provide a multi-agency approach to support and wellbeing for clients. 

· To provide non-judgemental, one to one emotional and practical support to clients accessing the service. 

· To provide advice and guidance on the full range of services, options and legal remedies open to them. 

· To complete risk assessments, and develop risk management plans to address the risk of harm, including referral into MARAC where appropriate. 

· To undertake safety planning with clients, that addresses all areas of risk, with the focus on risk reduction. 

· To complete needs assessments and individual support plans with the client to ensure their emotional and practical support needs are being met 

· To provide support to clients, alongside colleagues around registering as homeless, bidding on properties, attending appropriate meetings, applying for grants, budgeting for necessary items and necessary life skills for maintaining a property. 

OUTREACH DUTIES

· To provide support to adults in the community, at the centre and their own homes, around physical, emotional, financial, sexual and social abuse. 

· To provide emotional support and, where necessary, signpost to appropriate counselling provisions. 

· To provide practical support and advice around welfare benefits, housing, debt relief, substance misuse, training, employment, mental health and legal issues, including the use of signposting to other appropriate members of staff and agencies. 

· To provide advocacy and liaise with other agencies on behalf of the client where appropriate and necessary. 

· To attend multi agency and professionals meetings to represent the needs of the client and Pathway Project. 

· To attend appointments with the client where required, and if necessary help with the completion of paperwork, including legal documents. 

· To attend court with the client where required. 

· To promote the work of the project through training, presentations and representation at meetings. 

· To assist with the setting up and maintaining of local support networks. 

· To assist with the delivery of client support groups where appropriate. 

GENERAL

• Manage a caseload of appropriate to the number of hours worked. 

• Maintain, update and keep accurate and factual case records. 

• Follow procedures and protocols with other services so that the safety of the service user is kept central to any process. 

• Keep other relevant agencies informed about important changes in service user’s situations, within information sharing protocols. 

• Develop and maintain effective communication systems with key partners including housing, Police, CPS, court service, social services, education, health, victim support, witness service, voluntary sector organisations, CAFCASS. 

• Contribute to the development of service policies, protocols, guidelines and strategies within area of practice as necessary. 

• To ensure that the security of sensitive data is maintained and complies with the policies, procedures and guidelines of the organisation. 

OTHER

· Any other duties the  CEO  or  Board of Trustees consider appropriate.

· The post holder must have a commitment to the aims of the Pathway Project, and uphold all agreed policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Essential

Ability to drive  with a clean driving license and access to a vehicle.

Confident  and eloquent speaker and networker.

Ability to write clear and concise reports and case notes.

Experience of Housing issues and supporting adults with Housing queries.

Experience of or the ability to work with challenging individuals or situations.

Experience of supporting clients in any form.

Has an understanding of the issues facing domestic abuse victims.

Experience of working with vulnerable clients.

Experience of multi-agency working.

Experience of and an understanding of Safeguarding practice.

Desirable

Confident presenter.

Ability to write and deliver workshops to groups of adults.

Ability to manage a diverse caseload and manage competing priorities.

Experience of Domestic Abuse  or worked in the domestic abuse field.

Knowledge of working in the third sector.

Ability to manage a crisis situation and remain calm and in control.

The ability to use initiative and be self directed in their work.

The ability to maintain professional boundaries and yet still build a rapport.

Being self motivated and able to generate connections and network locally to further the work of Pathway Project.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this. 

Their vision is to find a cure for all types of brain tumours. To achieve their mission, they are looking for a Community Fundraiser who will proactively engage with supporters, community groups and volunteers across the West Midlands to join their team of 12 Community Fundraisers across the UK.

The Community Fundraiser (West Midlands) is responsible for providing support and guidance to fundraisers within their communities to achieve their ambitions and ultimately raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research. This is achieved through a wide variety of activities such as helping supporters to make the most of their own fundraising, engaging participants with externally organised events such as the Great Birmingham Run, and encouraging communities to get involved in events organised by Brain Tumour Research such as Wear a Hat Day and Walk for Hope. The Community Fundraiser will be the face of Brain Tumour Research in the area, providing excellent stewardship to existing supporters, and building great relationships with new supporters.

This post has been vacant since Autumn, and as such needs a fundraiser with confidence and capability in fundraising to join the team, provide donor love to the loyal supporters in the area, and approach developing the areas potential with energy and enthusiasm. If you have fundraising experience and are keen to join a charity with ambition and an amazing supporter base, then this could be the role for you.

Please note the successful candidate will need to live within the region (Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Gloucestershire), have access to a car and be willing to travel around their region. If you are not currently based in this area, please clarify if you have plans to relocate.  

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please follow instructions in the pack to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call. 

As this role has been vacant for some time, we are running rolling interview to see suitable candidates as they apply. Interviews will be kept to one stage, and organised to suit the candidate, where possible. Don’t delay – apply today! 

Location: Flexible

Salary: Grade 4 - £34,085 per annum

Full time: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed term until end of March 2026

Closing date: Monday 12th May 2025 at 11.30 pm

Are you a marketing professional looking for your next move? We have an exciting opportunity to join Shelter and our fight for home – you could soon be making a real difference to people affected by the housing emergency.

About The Role

You will promote and market our Services for Professionals products such as Training and Consultancy services and our Expert Housing Advice Service, using a variety of methods including email, direct calls, webpages, social media. You will support the Marketing Manager to implement the marketing strategy and develop implementation plans.

About You

You will have substantial experience and understanding of marketing techniques, with excellent communication skills and an understanding of writing for professional audiences. Strong IT skills will also be needed, including practical experience of working with back - end web content applications, email marketing and campaign management systems.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About The Team

The team are multi disciplinary and deliver various second tier services such as training in housing and homelessness prevention and projects to support frontline staff to secure positive outcomes for their clients. We work closely with colleague in the Legal team, Learning and Development, Business Support and Telephone and Online Advice Services.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

How to apply

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit a CV and responses to the ‘About You’ section of the job description of no more than 350 words each.

Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:

• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset
• We work together to achieve our shared purpose

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered,

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Recruitment Agencies

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Recently named Charity of the Year by Just Giving Awards 2022, we’re committed to moving further, faster to accelerate change for everyone affected by a brain tumour. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 in the UK than any other cancer. We know that a cure can’t wait.

The Community Fundraising Team is an integral part of the Charity Fundraising Portfolio, by supporting a diverse range of inspiring supporter led fundraising activities. It is an exciting time to join the Team, as we plan for 25/26.

You will be one our 6 Regional Community Fundraisers, based across the UK. Covering the East of England, you will focus on our key audiences of Individuals, Supporter Groups, Community organisations, Regional Corporates & Volunteers. Through the provision of exceptional stewardship & fundraising support, you will engage the community, maximising opportunities to raise funds in the Region. You will make the most of your boundless energy & creativity to inspire our community and will be the regional driving force, ensuring our Supporter Groups continue to thrive, & our annual Community Fundraising Campaigns including, The Big Bake & Twilight Walk Own Walks are a success.

You will be passionate about the role and in supporting the delivery of our strategic plans and objectives across the Region.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

You’ll be a talented and highly motivated individual with a proven track record in community fundraising. With a “can do” approach, passion and enthusiasm, you’ll inspire and motivate our supporters. You will work tirelessly to ensure that they receive the best possible experience and see themselves as an integral part of our community. You will be confident in juggling a myriad of competing priorities and work well under pressure to meet deadlines. With exceptional communication skills & the ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, you will be creative & agile in your approach in making the most from a fundraising opportunity.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Developing & implementing a Regional Community Fundraising Strategy 25/26.
• Achieving agreed regional fundraising KPIs & contributing to the overall delivery of annual fundraising budgets and targets.
• Recruiting, building and maintaining relationships with the Community across the Region. Aiming to increase their fundraising and encourage their ongoing participation in events and activities. This may be through community fundraising or using our fundraising products or initiatives.
• Recruiting, training and managing a network of regional volunteers who will support activity in the Region.
• Working collaboratively across the wider Charity Team to identify fundraising opportunities & maximise income in the region.
• Keeping our CRM fully up to date with information about our supporters and their activities. Using that data to understand what motivates our supporters in order to provide excellent stewardship.

Job Title: Young Women and Girls Support Worker

Location: Pathway Project Lichfield Office Based

Salary: £ 24,347 Full time equivalent – Actual salary is £19,478

Hours of Work: 30 Hours per week (over 4 or 5 days)

Responsible to : Team Leader – Outreach Team

Responsible for : Delivering domestic abuse services and prevention services to young women and girls aged 13-24 years.

This role is open to women only

The postholder will require a driving licence and access to a vehicle to undertake this role.

This post is open to women only  under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.  We value diversity and are committed to ensuring that our organisation is an inclusive place to work. We encourage applications from women from all backgrounds and communities and actively welcome applicants from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds and women with a disability

About Pathway Project

We are a domestic and sexual abuse service based in Lichfield & Tamworth, Staffordshire.

We offer a range of support services and run two refuges in confidential locations.

We have been operating for over 30 years helping adults and children overcome domestic abuse, and to build a future where they live in safety and are free from fear.

Since our founder, Kathy Coe MBE, created Pathway Project, we have helped over 25,000 people, with 5,814 hours of support provided in the last year.

We offer a wide range of services, including adult and children outreach and community support, mental health, wellbeing and financial advice.

We support victims in their journey to become survivors and offer specialist counselling, advocacy and care to all who need us.

Pathway Project believes in working as a cohesive team and are service user led.

Our helpline is access to all and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why work for us?

Pathway Project is an inspiring and caring place to be, we are a charity with big ambitions and huge energy.

We have a string belief in staff development and are currently evolving a bold new strategy and a passion for excellence in service delivery.

Supported by a driven and energetic board of trustees the new Chief Executive is leading Pathway Project through their ambitious plans.

It’s a really fantastic time to join our amazing charity as we move into the next phase of our exciting journey.

We are a flexible and supportive employer, committed to the personal and professional development and wellbeing of our employees. We welcome applications from women with lived experience of domestic abuse and from minority or under-represented groups.

We offer the following benefits:

· 25 days paid leave plus statutory holidays (pro rata)

· A competitive pension scheme

· Employee Assistance Programme delivered by Health Assured which offers incredible support to staff and their families

We value our colleagues and are constantly reviewing our policies and practice, looking for ways in which we can better demonstrate this. We also recognise the potential impact of working in this field and provide clinical supervision to all of our employees, whatever their role.

JOB SUMMARY

The postholder will provide outreach services within the community to provide emotional and practical support to young women and girls who have been subject to domestic abuse and sexual abuse or exploitation in order to meet their immediate needs, reduce risk and work towards long term safety and security.

This may also include young women and girls who have been involved in the sex industry or gang involvement. She will inform them of all the sources of help available to them and to facilitate their access to other support services, where it is appropriate.

She will enable access to age appropriate and age effective group work and to support the development of preventative workshops delivered to young women and girls.

MAIN DUTIES

· To provide non-judgemental, one to one emotional and practical support to young women and girls (YW&G) aged 13-25, who have suffered domestic abuse and/or sexual abuse/exploitation.

· To engage YW&G in effective one to one support designed to meet their individual needs.

· To signpost YW&G on to other appropriate agencies and support mechanisms that will help them successfully move forward.

· Complete risk assessments and develop risk management plans to address the risk of harm.

· Undertake safety planning with YW&G to reduce levels of risk.

· Complete needs assessments and individual support plans with the YW&G to ensure their emotional and practical support needs are being met.

· To empower YW&G who have been victims of domestic/sexual abuse/exploitation to take control of their lives and make their own decisions.

· To assist YW&G to access relevant services and agencies within their local area such as housing, counselling, debt, legal advice, health, training, education and support groups.

· To refer service users onto other support services available in Pathway, if appropriate e.g. counselling, legal clinics.

· To work with other services within Pathway Project to deliver the most effective support possible.

· To work in partnership with other agencies and to advocate for YW&G to ensure their needs are being met.

· To advocate on behalf of YW&G, accompanying them to appointments, if appropriate, and ensuring that their wishes and feelings regarding the provision of those services has been taken into account.

· To help develop a programme of group work for YW&G looking at issues such as sexual exploitation, sexting, revenge porn, social media, grooming, healthy relationships and substance misuse.

GENERAL

· Manage an appropriate caseload.

· Maintain, update and keep accurate and factual case records.

· Keep other relevant agencies informed about important changes in YW&G situations, within information sharing protocols.

· Note and feed back to other agencies any consistent difficulties YW&G are having accessing their service, or failures to engage.

· Contribute to the development of service policies, protocols, guidelines and strategies within area of practice as necessary.

· To work within the policies and procedures of the organisation.

· Develop and maintain effective communication systems with key partners including Police, CPS, court service, social services, education, health, victim’s gateway, witness service, voluntary sector organisations, CAFCASS.

· Participate in team meetings.

· Provide specialist advice to other workers and agencies.

· To participate in networking opportunities.

· To provide monitoring and reports as required.

· To ensure that the security of sensitive data is maintained and complies with the policies, procedures and guidelines of the organisation.

OTHER

· Any other duties the CEO or Board of Trustees consider appropriate.

· The post holder must have a commitment to the aims of the Pathway Project, and uphold all agreed policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Essential

Ability to drive with a clean driving license and access to a vehicle.

Confident and eloquent speaker and networker.

Ability to write clear and concise reports and case notes.

Experience of supporting clients in any form.

Has an understanding of the issues facing YW&G.

Experience of working with vulnerable clients.

Experience of and an understanding of Safeguarding practice.

The ability to use initiative and be self directed in their work .

The ability to maintain professional boundaries and yet still build a rapport.

Being self motivated and able to generate connections and network locally to further the work to prevent violence against

YW&G.

Desirable

Confident presenter and deliverer or group workshops .

Ability to write and deliver workshops that are informative, fun and age appropriate for YW&G. 

Ability to manage a diverse caseload and manage competing priorities.

Experience of Domestic Abuse or worked in the domestic abuse field.

Experience of or the ability to work with challenging individuals or situations 

Experience of multi-agency working.

Knowledge of working in the third sector .

Ability to manage a crisis situation and remain calm and in control.

Established in 1954 we are a UK based charity devoted to the study and conservation of the mammals of the British Isles. We aim to raise awareness of the issues mammals face and share our scientific research so they can be best protected in the future. A small team of staff delivers big results through coordination and promotion of surveys, trainings, campaigns, publications and events that inspire, inform and mobilise our members and supporters and support the work of grassroots mammal groups and individual volunteers

Following the recent confirmation of the Mammal Society’s research priorities for the next 5 years, we are seeking a talented, enthusiastic Data and Research Officer with a passion for nature, science and conservation who will help us to put strong foundations in place so that we can deliver maximum positive impact for mammals through our work.

The Mammal Society is committed to being an inclusive and disability-friendly employer and is keen to attract applicants from a range of backgrounds. All applications will be anonymised and shortlisted via a consistent and transparent points-based process against the requirements of the role as set out in the Job Description and Person Specification. The role is home-based, and interviews will be conducted via Zoom unless a candidate raises an issue with this format, in which case an alternative will be arranged to satisfy any requirements for inclusion.

To apply, please submit your CV with a covering statement of no more than 750 words explaining your suitability for the role as outlined in the JD and Person Specification.

We would be grateful if you could also complete and return an Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, but this is optional and may be submitted separately.

Are you passionate about safeguarding and making a real difference? We are seeking an Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser to join our dynamic safeguarding team, playing a vital role in making our church communities safer and more welcoming for all. Together we provide professional advice and guidance to those responsible for the care of children and vulnerable adults throughout the Church in our diocese.

The main responsibilities of the Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser are:

· To respond and manage safeguarding concerns and allegations against church officers

· Provide specialist guidance and support to parishes on safeguarding matters such as domestic abuse, child and adult at risk concerns.

· To support victims and survivors of abuse

· Work with individuals who have convictions and/or who may present a safeguarding risk, to worship safely

· To assist in the development and implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures.

· To work collaboratively with parish safeguarding officers, church leaders, senior leaders and partner agencies

What we are looking for in a Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser:

We are looking for a person who will bring compassion, expertise and integrity to this key role. A person who has a deep commitment to safeguarding with up to date knowledge of safeguarding practice and policy. You will have the ability to manage complex cases, communicate effectively with diverse groups and be a team player.

For futher information and how to apply, see the job descrition and persoanl specifcation or please use the recruiter link to visit our website 

We are looking to appoint an exceptional individual to join our team of six Strategic Partnership Advisors across England. In this role, you will support key partners, including Active Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport, local authorities, and leisure providers to become more effective in their role of enabling more disabled people to be active.

You will possess a strong understanding of the sport and activity sector, including its operations, and be able to advocate for improvements that help more disabled people become active. Additionally, you will be aware of the broader systems and barriers that disabled people encounter in sports and activities, as well as organisations such as disabled people’s user-led organisations and various charities, to build relationships and foster effective cross-sector partnerships.

We are looking for an individual with experience of working strategically at a place based and/or locality level within the South West region. Someone who can positively influence local developments, systems and investments to tackle the inequalities disabled people face in sport and activity through inclusive practice.

The successful candidate will work remotely from home and be based in the South West region. This role will involve travel across the region and occasional travel to our Loughborough and Manchester offices.

This role is full-time (36 hours) and permanent.

We offer 26.5 days of annual leave, including birthday leave, plus bank holidays. Activity Alliance also closes between Christmas and New Year which means that employees are not expected to work during this time and they are not required to use their annual leave allowance to have this time free from work.

Activity Alliance currently offers the following benefits:

• Hybrid working
• Time off in lieu
• A contributory pension scheme (employee 6%, employer 9%)
• Childcare vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye care
• Employee engagement initiatives such as away days
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Menopause policy
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Group Income Protection
• Death in service
• Training and development opportunities

Financial Accountant

(HEO)

£35,175 - £39,480 (National)

plus an Accountancy Allowance of £5,000 pa (Fully Qualified) or £2,500 (Part Qualified)

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 50% of the government’s office estate. We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers.  We are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading ground-breaking programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme, as well as delivering modern and cost-effective real estate service solutions. 

Innovation and progress are at the heart of our behaviours.  We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged, and we’re dedicated to becoming a leading, inclusive employer both in the external market and throughout the Civil Service.  Our strong emphasis on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces. 

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth.  We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

The responsibilities of the Financial Accountant will include:

• Support the production of the GPA Annual Report and Accounts including provision of consolidation returns for Cabinet Office departmental accounts and Whole of Government Accounts
• Maintain and analyse accurate accounting records including preparation and monitoring of Statement of Financial Position reconciliations and accrual and other journals
• Monitor the effectiveness of key controls including those operated by outsourced service providers
• Prepare tax returns to deadlines including monthly VAT return and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) returns
• Support the delivery of internal and external audits including provision of fully supporting and signposted evidence, monitoring of requests and responding to auditors in a timely way
• Support continuous process efficiencies and improvements across the function
• Build relationships with key staff across Finance and the business in order to maintain effectiveness and relevance during change

Key Skills & Experience 

• Good experience of financial accounting, ideally within a public sector context
• Good knowledge and experience of VAT
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyse and interpret significant amounts of financial data
• Ability to seek out new information and self-develop
• Experience of using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
• Proficient using Microsoft Excel

For more information, please apply using the link, or contact Emma Fuller at our retained search agent, Robertson Bell.

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do. To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community. 

About Open Cages

Open Cages is a UK-registered charity fighting animal suffering. We are part of an international organisation, Anima International. To achieve our goal we use scientific evidence, careful reasoning, and draw upon decades of collective experience. Just in the last few years, we have successfully helped improve the lives of hundreds of millions of farmed animals in the UK.

We are impact-oriented and use a wide array of tools to make the world a better place. Our current toolkit includes:

• Investigations which reveal the reality hidden behind the walls of factory farms
• Negotiations with companies to encourage them to eliminate cruel practices from their policies
• Advocacy to secure legal milestones for animals

At Open Cages we won’t stop until we end animal suffering. We would like to invite you to join us and help us achieve this goal.

What do you gain by working at Open Cages?

• Meaningful work – you will help build a world free from animal suffering
• Time – you will be able to focus full-time on helping animals
• High degree of flexibility – the work is almost totally remote and you will organise your working hours and workflow yourself
• Trust – we expect you to make mistakes as a given and learn from them
• Autonomy – you will experience freedom and independence in your decision-making
• Transparency – you will have access to the work and decisions of others
• Honest work culture – you will know what your colleagues are doing and what they really think
• Knowledge – you will learn and receive support from people who have been fighting for animals for many years
• Opportunity to grow – you will learn every day and be encouraged to experiment beyond your skill set
• Ability to influence the organisation – we encourage our people to openly speak their mind and thus you will be able to impact what kind of organisation we are
• A laugh – animal advocacy can be dark at times, we think that having a fun atmosphere is key to balance this
• Transparently set compensation – Our salaries are not negotiable and are based on a transparent algorithm that is the same for each role

Following a 3-month probation period, you will transition to a fixed-term contract. Upon successful completion of this term, you will be offered a permanent employment contract. A minimum salary of £39,695.24 gross (our salary base for people resident in the UK) will apply from the beginning of the probationary period. The salary base may change due to your previous experience related to the position, or your experience in animal advocacy (+3% for each year). In addition, the salary increases with your seniority in Open Cages according to the following model:

+ 7% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the first 5 years of work

+ 5% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next 5 years of work

+ 3% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next 5 years of work

+ 2% – for every year worked at Open Cages during the next years of work

About your role

We are a small and ambitious early-stage organisation with two full-time team members. Our current objective: to help the 1 billion chickens raised annually in the UK. By joining us as a campaigner who focuses on communications, you will work on the frontlines by shining a light on the hidden suffering of animals trapped on factory farms, and mobilising the public to take action. Your first task will be to help us convince the UK’s largest food businesses to improve their chicken welfare policies, primarily through crafting media stories and marketing campaigns that capture the hearts and minds of the public.

While this may sound challenging, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a historic change for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Someone has to pick up the fight, and we hope it will be You.

We can accommodate to you

Due to the broad scope of our work, there is no simple description of the perfect campaigner. There may also be certain areas where you are stronger than others, and we are open to fitting the role around you. We are looking for a generalist rather than a specialist. However, you do need to have some particular strengths such as resilience, persistence, creativity, and critical thinking. Ideally, some day, you will be able to lead a big team and transfer your knowledge to them.

No previous experience is required for this role. While experience will be valued (and reflected in the salary), we welcome applications from both seasoned professionals and passionate newcomers who align with our organisational culture.

What do we require from you?

• Strong belief in the mission of our organisation. Working for us should not be thought of as a ‘career step’. We want people who are motivated by our mission above all.
• Flexible availability. We think of ourselves as a small startup. The fate of the organisation rests on a handful of highly motivated advocates who want to do something ambitious with their lives. We want to maintain the intensity of our current operating culture, so you should expect to work the occasional weekends and late evenings.
• Not being an asshole. We expect you to treat others with respect, decency and compassion – even the occasional adversaries.
• A preference for hard work. Activism is our passion and one of the main motivations in life. To fit our culture, you have to be a person that is proactive and enjoys work.
• Growth mindset. Nobody knows how to fix the world, so we need you to keep learning. We constantly strive to be better at our activism, but also as people.
• Strong interest in a high-feedback culture. We have a culture of honest and direct communication. We talk openly about our strengths and weaknesses on a daily basis because we want to be the best. You will know what your colleagues really think of you and be encouraged to speak your mind.
• Ability to reason and communicate your thinking, especially in written form. In order to thrive in our organisation you must be able to think carefully, try to back up your ideas with reasonable evidence, and above all be open to being proven wrong and changing your mind.
• Fluency in English. You will be working in a UK-based organisation which will require constant communication with English speakers.
• Ability to work in the UK. This offer is open to candidates who are either currently UK-based, or are willing to move to the UK for the job. We are happy to do whatever we can to help you in relocating, depending on your needs and our ability. If you have any questions about what we can help with, don’t hesitate to write to us!

You do not need to be vegan or vegetarian. While all of our events provide only plant-based meals, we are open to anyone who wants to fight for a world that is free from animal suffering. We won’t turn down any help.

What will you do?

• Build culture – you will help build and reinforce our culture, so we never lose what makes up the strength of Open Cages.
• Embrace reality – you will make it your mission to understand the world as it is rather than as you would like it to be.
• Manage activists – you will manage and work with teams of both employed and voluntary activists.
• Experience frustration – you will feel frustrated about things you could do better or things that are not working in the organisation or your team, and use this frustration as an opportunity to refine and elevate our organisation.
• Question ideas – you will question common knowledge, especially your own ideas, so that our results are always as good as they can be.
• Optimise your performance – you will continuously deepen your knowledge – both about particular areas of animal advocacy and about how the world works – and enjoy this process.
• Prioritise action – you will act even when there is not sufficient data.
• Abandon projects – you will change your objectives when it makes sense, no matter the time already invested.
• Respect and trust others – you will be there for others and trust their intentions. You will support them when they succeed and when they fail.
• Seek information independently – you will be responsible for acting very independently which will require you to obtain and verify data.
• Make mistakes – you will embrace your mistakes without being ashamed with the desire to learn from them.
• Strategise – it is not easy to change the world. As a campaigner you will ask yourself endless questions. You will be responsible for campaign strategy which requires careful planning and the ability to think ahead.
• Try again and again and again – the decision makers we want to convince often don’t want to improve animal welfare, others may simply not have time for you. You will need extreme persistence in order to gain traction with companies.
• Take risks – negotiating in a high stakes meeting, attending a farming conference, organising a protest, taking hundreds of videos of a retailer’s chicken products for a BBC story (yes, we did this!) – in this role you will need to be comfortable with stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Conduct research – you will spend many hours online gathering information, working with investigators and lawyers, or delivering chicken products to a lab in Germany (we did this too).
• Create marketing content – you will produce graphics and videos for social media, and utilise marketing tools to reach millions of people.
• Work with the media – you will engage with journalists, write press releases, pitch stories and be animals’ voice on the radio and TV.
• Mobilise advocates – you will write emails to our supporters and motivate them to take action with us. You will also organise and run street actions like protests and stunts.
• Connect with diverse audiences – you will need to talk about the suffering of animals to very different groups of people that compose our society. To do that effectively, you will need to understand their perspective and be a good, empathetic communicator.
• Ask for support – you will help us fundraise to increase our impact.

Do you think this role is too challenging and you're not fit for it?

You may be thinking that this role would be interesting for you, but you won’t make the cut. 

We encourage you not to worry and fill out the application nonetheless, especially if you meet our requirements (even on a basic level) and you think this position could bring you a lot of joy. Leave the judgment about your competence to us. You may even learn something useful along the way.

We prepared support materials to help you through the application process. We'll also be hosting informational webinars about this role and our recruitment process – click ‘Redirect to recruiter’ to see the website for more details.