Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.
Change lives in a life-changing career
When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.
The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.
We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.
About the role
At Young Lives vs Cancer, we play a unique and vital role in supporting children and young people with cancer. Guided by our strategy, The Time is Now, we are committed to delivering high-quality, impactful services that make a real difference. As a leading provider of psychosocial support and accommodation throughout treatment, end-of-life, and bereavement, we are proud to ensure our services remain relevant, responsive, and tailored to the needs of those we support.
We are looking for a dedicated professional to provide business support across the directorate, working closely with senior operational leaders to drive the implementation and development of our services. This role will be instrumental in supporting new service initiatives and collaborating with other directorates and external partners, such as the NHS and charity organisations, to help us achieve our strategic goals.
This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application an enhanced criminal record check will be completed.
What will I be doing?
No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.
- Providing business support across service development, planning, evaluations, and improvement projects
- Collaborating with other directorates and external partners to deliver joint initiatives aligned with strategic goals
- Supporting the implementation of new systems and processes to drive continuous improvement
- Designing and managing operational programmes, embedding learning from previous work
- Coordinating cross-functional teams, managing risks, and ensuring robust monitoring and reporting
- Building strong relationships with stakeholders and managing governance and service agreements with NHS trusts
What do I need?
Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.
The key experience, skills and attributes we’re looking for in this role are:
- Experience in service delivery and development within health or social care, with a strong track record of managing programmes that drive improvement and innovation
- Skilled at working collaboratively across multi-disciplinary teams and with external partners to achieve shared goals
- Confident in preparing reports, managing corporate documentation, and using monitoring and evaluation to inform decision-making
- Strong understanding of project management, with the ability to identify risks and embed learning
- A commitment to anti-oppressive practice, equity, and amplifying the voices of children, young people, and families affected by cancer
- Passionate about Young Lives vs Cancer’s mission, values, and strategic priorities, with a proactive approach to safeguarding, inclusion, and continuous improvement
What will I gain?
For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:
- Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
- Thinking and Growth days: four days a year to support your wellbeing through reflection, learning and development - in whatever way works for you
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Great family/caring leave entitlements
- Enhanced pension
- Access to our employee savings scheme
To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.
Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.
We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.
Accessibility
We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.
To arrange an informal chat, please contact Cassie Davis, Service Manager Operations & Development.
#ShowTheSalary #NonGraduatesWelcome
Closing date: Thursday 24 July, 5pm
Interview date: Tuesday 29 July, via Teams
Interview note: We will let you know whether you’ve been shortlisted for interview on the afternoon of Friday 25 July. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited to book an interview slot. Once confirmed, we'll email you the interview questions in advance.
We are recruiting for a Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to join on a part-time basis, working 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE) as part of a job share.
About Alzheimer's Society - who are we and what’s our mission?
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding ground-breaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
About the Opportunity
Would you like the opportunity to play a key role in shaping our culture and driving systemic change that lasts?
As Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, you’ll join a talented and dedicated People Directorate and contribute towards embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across every aspect of our work. We’ve already made meaningful progress—launching EDIB training, establishing employee networks, and developing tailored programmes for ethnically diverse colleagues and female leaders. But we know there’s more to do, and we’re determined that our efforts lead to permanent, impactful change—not token gestures.
This is more than a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to influence the future of a national charity that’s striving to better reflect and serve a truly diverse community. We want someone who leads with integrity, courage, and compassion. Someone who exemplifies our values, challenges the status quo, and helps create a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 20th July at 23:59.
We will be holding Involvement Panels on Friday 8th August, followed by interviews which are scheduled to take place on Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th August.
About you
You’ll have experience of supporting the development and implementation of strategic and operational EDI work with the ability to use data, insights and evidence to support this. You’ll have specialist leadership and influencing skills with the ability to oversee teams and senior stakeholders with implementing our EDI strategy.
Crucially for this role, you’ll be able to build collaborative relationships and use your communication skills to cultivate networks. You’ll have experience of using appropriate challenge and support methods, managing conflict and be able to demonstrate positive, values-led leadership. You’ll also be an effective decision-maker with he ability to consider and take accountability for risks and decisions which carry organisation-wide impact.
We actively encourage applications from candidates from ethnically diverse backgrounds and others who are underrepresented in charity sector leadership roles. If you’re ready to make a difference when and where it matters most, we’d love to hear from you.
What you’ll focus on:
- Leading the delivery of plans to implement our organisation-wide vision and strategy to become an inclusive organisation.
- Establishing yourself as a subject matter expert to engage with, influence and inspire people at all levels to drive prioritisation of and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) goals.
- Recommending a range of EDI metrics to track organisational progress with inclusion, informed by the external good practice and organisational need.
- Using your subject matter expertise to develop and manage plans and budgets that create a step change in performance and impact in EDI.
- Providing specialist knowledge and expertise on legislation governing diversity and inclusion and shape organisational policy, processes and practice.
About Alzheimer's Society
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.
Giving back to you
Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society.
You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.