Communications Officer Jobs in Cambridgeshire

We have a full-time vacancy for an Executive to join the Prospect Development team (the team currently consists of one Manager and two Officers).  This role will focus on providing information on prospects, improving our data integrity, identifying connections and supporting the team.  The team takes a data driven approach to fundraising, ensuring that information is centrally logged and can be used in the future to help us identify further high value opportunities.

This role sits within the wider Insight and Development function, the aim of which is to maximise Alzheimer’s Research UK’s fundraised income and support the charity by driving collaborative, efficient and sustainable fundraising. This means that you will predominantly work with our Philanthropy and Corporate functions but will be positioned to work collaboratively across the whole organisation.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

· Undertake detailed research on prospects and donors in order to increase our knowledge of potential donors and to increase the likelihood for a successful fundraising ask.

· Be proactive and creative in identifying new potential donors and be able to present findings to fundraising colleagues.

· Be agile in responding to ad-hoc requests as required, ensuring we are equipped to act on new fundraising opportunities.

· Gather and disseminate information about relevant supporter networks and peer links to colleagues in order to support fundraising activities, including through our fundraising events.

· Provide administrative support to the team (helping with process documentation, booking regular meetings etc).

· Work with other teams to share expertise and knowledge about prospect research techniques.

· Effectively manage and prioritise your busy and varied workload. 

Partnership Working

· Proactively build partnerships across the Fundraising Department and with other teams.

· Act as an ambassador for the team in interactions across the whole organisation. 

· Be committed to best practice, constantly seeking improvements in our operations.

Information Management

· Learn to use databases to identify new prospects and opportunities. 

· Ensure accurate record keeping of prospects on the fundraising database, being mindful of the GDPR.

· Store information appropriately, with sources and in a clear and retrievable format.

What we are looking for:

· Confidence working with computers; knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook.

· Research experience.

· Experience of working with databases.

· Understanding of Data Protection and confidentiality.

· Experience of writing detailed reports suitable for all levels of management.

· Ability to work with independence, intelligence, drive and initiative.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

· Excellent relationship management skills.

· Ability to prioritise and effectively manage multiple tasks.

· Good planning and organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.

· Work well as part of a team, but proactive and can work independently.

· A confident and friendly manner.

· Creativity, innovation, and resourcefulness to identify opportunities.

· Willingness to learn and adaptability.

· Highly motivated and naturally inquisitive.

· Understanding and awareness of the bigger picture.

· A commitment to the ethos and goals of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Additional Information:

Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.

Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals.  This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.

Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD. 

Salary: Circa £23,000 per annum, plus benefits

Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.

The closing date for applications is the 8th December 2024, with interviews likely to be held week commencing the 9th December 2024. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.  Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.

As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.

How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.

About Alzheimer’s Research UK:

Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure.  Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope. 

There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure. 

In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.

We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:

· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.

· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.

· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.

In addition, we were also shortlisted for a special award recognising the work undertaken on reducing our environmental impact.

In 2021, we were awarded the HR Management award by The Charity Times for our Wellbeing initiatives throughout the pandemic.

In 2020, we demonstrated our commitment to changing the way we think and act about mental health in the workplace and signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge. 

ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference. 

To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK

About Care4Calais and the Legal Access Department

Care4Calais is a volunteer-based charity providing essential aid and support for refugees in France and the UK. 

In northern France we operate year-round from Calais, working alongside communities in Calais and Dunkirk to provide warm clothing, bedding and service provision to displaced people who live in appalling and dangerous conditions. 

Across the UK we collect and distribute clothes, shoes, mobile phones and other essential items, as well as providing social support and interaction, including language lessons, sport and music workshops. We also help with vital access to medical and educational services. 

Our Legal Access Department is an access to justice project that exists to support people seeking asylum in the UK by facilitating access to legal representation and offering holistic support to people throughout the asylum process. The department, made up mostly of specially trained volunteers, works tirelessly to ensure that people feel informed, empowered, and far less isolated and alone. We conduct one-to-one, complex casework for people seeking asylum for a variety of matters, over the years we have supported thousands of people to secure legal representation. Our current casework channels include securing legal representation and support for people’s asylum claims, challenges to unsuitable accommodation and potential removal from the UK (for example under the previous Rwanda policy), and support of young people in their age dispute matters. Our teams work remotely across the UK. The Department seeks to adapt and amend our services based on the needs of the communities that we work with. 

About the role

The aim of the role is to support and inspire volunteer casework teams to undertake the individual one-to-one casework and support that lies at the heart of what the Legal Access Department does, furthering access to justice for people seeking asylum and refugees. The successful candidate will lead our Asylum Team of volunteer caseworkers to support individuals in their asylum claim, assisting with legal referrals and onward signposting where appropriate. They will work collaboratively with other Volunteer Team Leads and the Head of Department to respond with agility to a fast-moving policy environment.

Responsibilities

Volunteer Team Lead / Coordinator

• Lead existing team(s) of volunteers to undertake their specified casework roles as agreed with the Head of Department.

• Conduct quarterly 1:1s with volunteers to receive feedback, reaffirm commitments, and ensure volunteer wellbeing. Escalate any issues and/or concerns to the Head of Department where necessary.

• Motivate and engage volunteers, taking into account the remote nature of the roles, collaborating with other Volunteer Team Leads.

• Facilitate regular team meetings and/or virtual drop ins for volunteers to ensure continued engagement and space to raise issues or concerns.

• Support volunteer caseworkers undertaking their roles, providing advice on casework and stepping in to support clients where required.

• Oversee the appropriate collection and management of client information and data, ensuring that volunteers adhere to organisation policy at all times.

• Support volunteers to raise safeguarding / protection concerns through the appropriate channels. Escalate concerns where necessary. Support volunteer caseworkers through debriefs.

• Recruit, train and onboard new volunteers with the support of the Head of Department.

• Keep team procedure documentation up to date, implementing changes where required to keep pace with the ever-changing policy environment. Work with the Head of Department to proactively adapt the casework services provided to suit the needs of the communities we work with.

• Report on team progress to the Head of Department, CEO and senior leadership via pre-arranged channels and format.

• Work with the Head of Department to proactively identify systemic issues seen regionally and/or nationally and influence the direction of the Department. Contribute to evidence gathering and furthering any strategic litigation cases undertaken by the Department. 

• Develop and maintain a network of key contacts within relevant authorities, legal teams dealing with immigration and public law matters, and other NGOs focused on support of refugees and people seeking asylum.

• Attend and contribute meaningfully to team meetings.

• Attend relevant external meetings representing the organisation as needed, ensuring that knowledge and learning is shared across the department. 

Individual casework

• Manage own limited, complex caseload of adult asylum seekers requiring legal representation where required to support the volunteer casework team.

• Communicate effectively and sensitively with clients and refer to legal firms. 

• Identify clients’ individual wellbeing needs and make onward referrals in line with this. Provide emotional support to clients through the process of claiming asylum in the UK.

• Liaise with legal teams on behalf of clients where necessary.

• Keep relevant records up to date to allow for quick and effective retrieval.

Person specification

• In-depth understanding of the UK asylum system

• Dedication to social justice with a clear understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, or a willingness to learn about these

• Ability to work sensitively with a diverse range of people, demonstrating cultural competence, respect and compassion

• Able to build positive relationships with a range of stakeholders including those from displaced communities, legal teams, and other charities

• Clear leadership ability, with the capability to act with initiative and drive

• An understanding of the volunteer experience including potential challenges volunteers may face

• Self-motivated and used to managing multiple priorities to meet deadlines

• Collaborative team member with excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Strong digital literacy, including ability to work on Google Workspace and Office 365

• Resilience in the face of challenging and emotionally demanding situations, with a positive and solution-oriented mindset

Whilst not essential, we welcome applications from people with the following skills

• Proficiency in one or more of the languages spoken within asylum seeking communities, such as but not limited to: Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Dari, Kurdish Sorani, Tigrinya or Amharic

• Experience leading and managing volunteer teams from varied backgrounds

Application process

Please apply via CharityJob and submit your CV and a letter of interest. In this, please outline your interest in the role and what skills and experience you have that meets the person specification. The recruitment process will include two interview stages. We will be reviewing applications as they arrive and reserve the right to close the posting before the closing date.

Care4Calais receives a very high volume of applications for roles we advertise and therefore we are unfortunately unable to reply or feedback to applicants who are not successful in securing an interview. We do however thank you for your interest and taking the time to apply for this role.

Care4Calais is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment and recognises that this is invaluable to our ability to serve the communities we work with. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds including from Black, Asian and Minority-Ethnic communities, people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the UK or EU immigration system. If you have first hand experience applying for asylum in any country, please let us know in your application. We do however respect that people’s identity is not defined by their past experiences and will not expect candidates to describe their lived experience at interview unless they wish to do so.

We also recognise that experience comes from more than just employment history and encourage anyone who meets most of the specification for this role to apply even where this experience comes from outside traditional employment structures. If you are interested in applying but do not have all the experience necessary, we encourage you to contact us at ukadmin [@] care4calais .org to set up an informal chat with our staff. We can discuss why you would like to apply for the role and what skills or experiences you have which could be relevant to the role.

If you have any questions about this or need additional support with the application process for any reason, please contact us at ukadmin [@] care4calais .org.

LOCATION - Remote 

Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding role in 2024? Apply for the HR Manager role at homelessness charity Emmaus UK.

About Emmaus

Emmaus is a secular organisation supporting homeless and socially excluded people by providing a home for as it is needed, meaningful work in a social enterprise and a sense of belonging and community. There are currently 30 Emmaus communities in the UK stretching from Glasgow to Dover and Norfolk to South Wales, collectively supporting more than 850 people. There are also 3 Emmaus groups working towards the development of services in their areas. We understand that a home is more than just a roof over your head; it’s somewhere to belong, where you feel part of a community, and that’s what Emmaus offers.

About the role

The principal responsibility will be to support our ambition to become a best practice national body and an employer of choice, responsible for the day-to-day management of the HR function within Emmaus UK, as well as the development of our approach to in-house learning and delivery of our new People & EDI Strategy.

The role will be responsible for all aspects of Human Resources at Emmaus UK, overseeing the whole employee lifecycle, from recruitment and induction processes to offboarding and exit interviews.

The postholder will oversee HR processes, reviewing their effectiveness and identifying and embedding improvements to improve the employee experience.

Working with the Director of Resources, the role will be central to the delivery of the strategic objectives with an HR focus, while taking responsibility for the operational HR function to ensure a positive and supportive working environment for the staff team.

Who are we looking for?

The newly created role of HR Manager will sit within the Resources directorate, to support the delivery of key charity and federation-wide objectives, as part of our mission to empower people affected by homelessness and poverty to change their lives for the better while using our voice to achieve social change.

What we offer

· £46,297 (pro rata)

· Working hours: 3 days per week, Monday to Friday

· Contract: Permanent

· Pension: Stakeholder pension with employer contribution

· Annual leave: 25 days + Bank Holidays + 3 concessionary days leave

· Training & development: Ongoing training and development

· Volunteering: 2 days allowance each year

· Employee assistance: 24/7 employee assistance scheme is available

· Wellbeing: Weekly wellbeing hour to promote personal wellbeing

· Flexible working: Options available, subject to the requirements of the role

· Life assurance: Death in service lump sum of 3 x salary

To apply

To apply for the role, please complete our application form and equal opportunities monitoring form and email us by Sunday 08 December 2024.

Please ensure you download the job pack and refer to the job description and person specification when completing your application form.

Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview conducted via Microsoft Teams week commencing Monday 16 December 2024.

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please email us.

Equal Opportunities

Emmaus UK provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture, and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristic, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, marital status or parental responsibilities.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for our roles, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed so that shortlisting is based solely upon the suitability of the candidate’s experience.