Student development network manager jobs in Birmingham

What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

• £68,692 per annum
• Full-time, 35 hours per week
• Permanent contract
• This role is available as a job share, subject to appointing two suitable candidates
• West Midlands

About the role

Home-based role within the relevant region, or within reasonable travelling distance to meet the requirements of the post (subject to meeting homeworking assessment requirements, including a minimum broadband speed of 18Mbps and a dedicated space to work from).

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join the Employee Relations and Union Services in the CSP as a full time Senior Negotiating Officer (SNO) for the West Midlands region. This is a challenging, but very enjoyable role which will see you: 

• Supporting, advising and training the network of stewards, safety representatives and equality representatives in the West Midlands region. 
• Advising and supporting stewards to manage their own casework, whilst managing your own caseload of employment relations issues, including but not limited to dicisplinaries, grievances, sickness absence, HCPC and legal cases. 
• Attending and representing the CSP at strategic regional forums such as regional Social Partnership Forum’s and Integrated Care Board’s/Integrated Care System’s.

You will be working in a wider team of Senior Negotiating Officers and organisers, whilst also working in a cross directorate fashion to deliver on the local priorities for members.

We are looking for an individual with significant experience and a background in the trade union movement. They should be dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for members and to building the membership and activism levels in the CSP.

You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills with an ability to problem solve. You will also have experience in advocacy and representing members and have a thorough understanding of the current issues facing CSP members. You will also be expected to be able to display excellent trade union knowledge.

*This role is available as a job share, subject to appointing two suitable candidates. 

**Employees are still expected to attend the office for in-person meetings when required for their role and the organisation. 

Working arrangements

Flexible working

We currently have employees working part-time, job share, compressed hours, adjusted start and finish times, and other non-standard working patterns. We are open to considering alternative arrangements and would welcome discussion with successful candidates about any specific flexibility they may require, subject to organisational needs. 

Why work for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy?

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK's 67,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers; and one of the largest representative bodies in healthcare.

At the CSP, our goal is to create a culture characterised by innovation, respect, encouragement, passion and teamwork. We all strive for continuous improvement and to deliver the best possible outcomes for our members. We aspire to work in a way that embodies our values of learning, courage, inclusive and integrity. Our shared values are part of our organisational DNA, reflecting the expectations we have of ourselves and others. They guide what we do and how we do it, to have the greatest impact for our members. Please visit the website for further information. 

We offer an excellent benefits package, including:

• 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Office closure between 25 December and 01 January
• A generous pension scheme with 12% employer contribution

How to apply

Please click on the ‘Apply online’ tab below and complete the online application form. CVs will not be accepted.

As part of the application process, candidates will be asked to provide written responses to five criteria, which can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.

• Closing date: 10am, 11 June 2026.
• Shortlisting outcome: W/C 15 June 2026.
• Interview date: 23 June 2026 (in person at the CSP London office).

Equality, Diversity and Belonging

Accessibility and adjustments

To support an equitable and accessible recruitment experience, we actively encourage candidates to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages. Please contact HR, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Disability Confident Scheme

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, candidates who declare a disability and meet the six essential criteria we have selected will normally be shortlisted for interview. There may be occasions, such as having a high-volume of applications, where it is not possible to interview all Disability Confident candidates who meet the six selected essential criteria for the role. We may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both candidates with and without disabilities. In these circumstances, we will ensure that a proportionate number of disabled candidates are shortlisted for interview.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and belonging

The CSP is committed to equity of opportunity, aiming to provide a working and learning environment free from discrimination. We are taking appropriate steps to create a workforce that reflects the diverse society in which we work and live in. Therefore, we particularly encourage applications from candidates under-represented in the CSP’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ people. Please note, all candidates will be expected to actively demonstrate their commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Belonging throughout the application and interview stages. To view our equity, diversity and belonging strategy, please visit the website. 

NO AGENCIES

Salary: £39,000–£42,000 per annum (£65,000–£70,000 FTE equivalent) 

Contract: Permanent – Part time, 3 days a week 

Location: London or Birmingham 

Working pattern: Hybrid. Cross-region travel up to twice a month for in-person SMT meetings. 

Envision is at an exciting moment. Our programmes are working, our partnerships are growing, and our team cares deeply about getting it right. What we need now is someone to help us build the infrastructure to match our ambition – reaching and impacting more young people from less-advantaged backgrounds across London, Birmingham and Bristol. 

As our Chief Operating Officer, you will join our Senior Management Team and take clear ownership of Envision's finance, compliance, HR governance, and operational efficiency. This is a newly defined role – created to give the function the senior leadership it needs and to free the CEO to focus on external leadership, fundraising, and strategy. 

You will join an SMT of four, working alongside the Director of Programmes and Impact and the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, led by the CEO. It is a collegiate team that operates with a high degree of mutual trust and collective ownership – and we are looking for someone who is as comfortable in a strategic conversation about Envision's future as they are reviewing a set of management accounts. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Play an active role in SMT – contributing operational and financial insight to organisational planning, strategy development, and decision-making alongside the CEO and senior leadership team. 

• Lead finance oversight and board reporting: overseeing monthly and quarterly management accounts, leading the annual budget-setting process, owning the audit cycle, and preparing papers for the Finance, Audit and Risk Governance (FARG) Committee. 

• Own HR policy and governance: maintaining Envision's HR framework, handling complex employee relations matters, and overseeing the full employee lifecycle with execution led by the Business Admin and Finance Officer. 

• Line manage the Finance Manager and Business Admin and Finance Officer, providing clear direction and developing a high-performing team. 

• Lead operational improvement: conducting a review of processes and systems, building a live improvement register, and implementing agreed changes through to completion – not just to proposal. 

• Explore and pilot AI and automation tools for high-friction tasks. Genuine curiosity and willingness to experiment matters more than technical expertise. 

• Hold compliance and risk governance oversight – GDPR, Health and Safety, regulatory filings – ensuring a clear calendar of requirements is owned and met. 

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Competencies 

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent finance expertise. 

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role with finance oversight responsibility. 

• Experience of audit management and board-level financial reporting. 

• Track record of leading and developing small teams. 

• Working knowledge of GDPR and charity compliance obligations. 

• Demonstrable ability to operate at a strategic and governance level 

• Experience leading operational process or systems improvement, from diagnosis through to implementation. 

• Active interest in AI and automation tools, with a practical approach to exploring and applying them. 

• Commitment to Envision's vision, mission and values and ability to work well in, and contribute to, our organisational culture. 

Envision actively encourages applications from those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as they are currently under-represented in our organisation. We seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. Envision graduates will be guaranteed a first-round interview. 

Please note: we are unable to support visa applications and therefore applicants must have the right to work in the UK. 

To apply, please apply through CharityJob.

Closing date for applications- Wednesday 10 June (midnight) 

Round 1 interviews (online) : Thursday 18 June 

Round 2 interviews (in person- London): Thursday 25 June 

We will only be contacting candidates who have been shortlisted for interview. The safety and wellbeing of the young people we work with is paramount at Envision. Successful candidates will be subject to a full Enhanced DBS check and reference checks. All new staff must attend safeguarding training during their induction period. 

Overview of the Role:  We are recruiting a South East Senior Programme Officer for the National Education Nature Park to:

· Lead the National Education Nature Park programme across South East England, increasing participation in schools and education settings

· Manage and support a regional Programme Officer, including performance, development and wellbeing

· Build strong partnerships with schools, colleges, local authorities, NGOs and environmental networks

· Deliver a regional engagement strategy aligned with national KPIs on biodiversity, climate education and wellbeing

· Be a passionate advocate for nature-based learning, sustainability, biodiversity gain and green skills for children and young people

· Manage a regional budget, travel planning and reporting, ensuring compliance and audit requirements

· Facilitate workshops, training and events for educators, children and young people

· Provide expert guidance on outdoor learning, horticulture, biodiversity and environmental education resources

To work for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is to join a thriving charity, whose mission is to be there for everyone on their lifelong adventure with gardening. Everything we do is built on the transformational power of gardening – and the benefits it brings to people, places and our planet.

And we couldn’t do this without our people. We’re proud of the knowledge, enthusiasm and ideas that each one of our team members brings. From working across our social media channels, to volunteering in the RHS Gardens, from serving customers in our garden centres to running national marketing campaigns, we believe that every member of the RHS team should have the opportunity to make a difference.  Our careers portal here provides a comprehensive overview of what we offer, the teams that work at the RHS and our great benefits.

Location: Home-based within the South East region, with regular travel across the region, or opportuntiy to be based at RHS Wisley.

Contract: 12 month Fixed Term Contract (maternity cover) to 31st July 2027

Safeguarding and Inclusion

The RHS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all personnel to share in this commitment. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.