Development officer jobs

Refugee Resettlement Officer (Asylum Dispersal) M559

Salary: Grade D (£28,163.00 to £30,060.00 p.a.). 

Term: Fixed-term until 31st March 2026, with possibility to extend 

Working Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Charnwood Borough Council in Leicestershire is an ambitious and dynamic organisation with a strong focus on supporting communities, looking after the environment, and creating a thriving economy.

We are customer focused, both internally and externally. We are looking for the latest member of the CBC team to deliver our aims and values.

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to join the Refugee Resettlement Team to support newly granted refugees living in the Borough.

The role

The Refugee Resettlement Officer (Asylum Dispersal) will be responsible for providing effective integration and orientation support for individuals and families who have been granted asylum in the UK. The individuals supported through this service may have complex needs and you will provide practical and emotional support to help them adapt to life in the Borough. 

So, if you have:

• Experience in delivering a high-quality service supporting positive outcomes for relocated individuals or families who speak English as a second language.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to use appropriate discretion to address complex situations.
• Ability to manage a demanding case load and to plan and prioritise effectively in order to achieve targets and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in partnership with external agencies to achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable families.
• Good written communication skills including the ability to produce clear and concise support plans and reports.
• Good knowledge of the statutory framework in relation to safeguarding and an ability to apply this in practice and in day to day case work.

Then this role might be for you.

If you have any questions, please contact Emma Moonlight for an informal chat about the role.

Please note that this job requires the post holder to work across the County and Rutland and attend meetings at various different locations.

The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Secondments will be considered, please ensure you have your Line Manager’s approval to apply.

The benefits of working with us: 

• Agile working for many roles 
• Generous annual leave of between 35.5 and 40.5 of leave (depending on length of service), inclusive of bank holidays 
• Most services are closed over Christmas 
• Opportunities for professional development linked to many roles
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme 
• Free parking 

We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant’s Employer Recognition Gold Award.

We prioritise the well-being and engagement of our employees through internal groups such as the Staff Forum, Health and Wellbeing Group and Equality 
Working Group. 

Find out more about this role and who we are by visiting our website.

No Agencies please.

Closing date: 18/04/2025

Operational Leadership:

• Provide strategic leadership to the Senior Management Team's and it’s operational functions, ensuring efficient and high-quality service delivery.
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance productivity and ensure compliance.
• Continuously streamline processes and workflows to improve operational performance.
• Deputise for the CEO when required, representing the organisation at events, meetings, and in day-to-day operations.

Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Collaborate with the CEO and support, manage and develop the senior management to shape and execute the charity’s strategic plan.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable initiatives, ensuring effective implementation and tracking progress.
• Identify opportunities for growth, cost optimisation, and improved service delivery.

Board of Trustees Liaison:

• Provide regular reports to the Board of Trustees on operational performance, strategic initiatives, and financial matters.
• Work closely with the CEO to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the Board's expectations.
• Attend Board meetings and provide insights on operational challenges, opportunities, and key achievements.

Financial Management:

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, ensuring the efficient use of resources.
• Monitor financial performance, identifying areas for improvement and taking corrective actions as necessary.
• Drive cost-efficiency initiatives while maintaining a focus on quality and service outcomes.

People Management and Development:

• Line manage and develop the SMT (nine managers)
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance goals and metrics for staff, offering regular feedback and development support.
• Promote an inclusive, diverse work environment that values employee engagement and professional growth.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and retention strategies.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Develop and implement strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, maintaining the highest ethical standards.
• Implement internal controls and governance practices to safeguard the charity’s reputation and assets.

You will be from a corporate fundraising or sales/business development background within the private, public or charitable sector. You will have a commercially-minded yet mission-driven approach grounded by experience in managing a supporter or sales pipeline, and of prioritising prospects to deliver the best return on investment. We would expect you to be comfortable with the need to achieve income generation-related targets. You will be a great communicator with a personable style who can work with many different people across the wonderful variety of geography, business development and activities of the Wildlife Trust. 

To succeed and be happy in your role, you will enjoy making both face-to-face pitch presentations and writing successful fundraising or sales proposals – and, of course, contributing to our core purpose: to bring wildlife back, empower people to take action for nature and create a society where nature matter. This is a new role which will evolve following your appointment so you should be excited by the flexibility and opportunities to take an innovative approach.

About the role

We are looking to hire a confident and politically astute public affairs and communications professional to help drive our UK strategy at the intersection of law, climate, nature, and corporate accountability. In this role, you’ll work closely with the Head of UK and CEO, to shape clear and compelling policy strategies, and engage directly with UK policymakers and the media, connecting our mission to the heart of UK politics.

Meet your Manager

In this role, you will be managed by Andrea Lee, who joined ClientEarth in 2013 and is based in the UK. She has over ten years’ experience of working on sustainability projects and campaigns across the voluntary and public sectors in the UK, Spain and the USA. She first worked on the Healthy Air London community engagement project and now coordinates the national Healthy Air Campaign. Before joining ClientEarth, Andrea worked on sustainable transport behaviour change projects funded by Transport for London, and later at national charity Living Streets.

Main Duties

• Support the Head of UK to develop and implement a UK public affairs and communications plan to meet the strategic needs of the organisation across climate, nature, corporate accountability, the rule of law, and in partnership with communications, digital and programmes teams. 
• Proactively stay abreast of political and media developments and any relevant priority policy developments in the UK and manage reactions to political developments.
• Monitor relevant developments in the UK Parliament, in line with the agreed UK strategy and coordinate and track engagement.
• Develop communications plans for CEO profile on priority communications and policy issues, working with colleagues across the communications team to do so.
• Support senior leaders in the UK to build and maintain relationships in line with the strategic needs of ClientEarth, and in line with the agreed priorities, including with elected officials, political advisers, journalists, civil servants, local leaders and their advisers and other public bodies. 

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Experience of delivering high quality, impactful public affairs and communications strategies (essential).
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of UK politics (essential). 
• Experience of working in media, politics or parliament, including briefing politicians (essential). 
• Strong presentational skills with high standards of oral and written fluency and the ability to present complex information and concepts into simple and persuasive briefings, media statements and presentations (essential). 
• Strong alignment with ClientEarth’s values and commitment to our vision, and mission and equity, diversity and inclusion strategy objectives (essential) 

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Further Information

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working:  We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based  See our Benefits page for more.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. 

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the UK.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

Bring your charismatic drive and passion for environmental issues to lead CPRE London towards its vision and manage its strategic direction and delivery. This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation at the cutting edge of policy regarding green spaces and the environment, housing and planning. You will manage a small but motivated team of staff and dedicated volunteers. We are looking for candidates with the confidence to pitch for new funding, coupled with achievements in lobbying and liaison work across the environmental space.

CPRE London is a leading environmental charity in the capital, an independent charity and the London regional branch (1 of 42) of the national CPRE organisation, ‘The Countryside Charity’.

The focus of our campaigning is to make London a well-planned, greener, climate-resilient and nature rich city, which benefits everyone.

Skills in leadership, communication, negotiation, and project management are needed to run our operations. In addition to leading CPRE London you will run our London-based urban projects with allies in the environmental sector.  You will also work closely with a supportive board of trustees. 

Currently at the exciting stage of developing the London Tree Ring project, additionally we are involved in many more initiatives such as Healthy Streets Scorecard and GoParks London.

Purpose of the Role

You will be reporting to and working closely with the Business Development Manager to grow and develop the number of White Ribbon Accredited organisations, and workplaces using our training programmes.  You will be responsible for delivering Accreditation, including Supporter organisations, and for coordinating and developing training, ensuring that all standards are met, and facilitating continuous improvement. You will work with other team members to recruit new Ambassadors and Champions and provide information and opportunities for existing Ambassadors and Champions. You will engage and motivate Accredited organisations and Supporter organisations to participate in White Ribbon Day.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Accreditation

• Working with colleagues to market and network proactively to develop the Accreditation programme and increase the number of Accredited and Supporter organisations, including attending meetings, events online and in person
• Working directly with organisations to provide advice and support to individual organisations in completing the Accreditation process and developing and delivering their action plans, including attending steering group meetings when necessary
• Assess action plans and provide recommendations for approval of completed action plans. Look at ways to develop and continuously improve the action plan templates, including developing guidance for organisations
• Coordinate and deliver projects and events to allow sharing of best practice and cross-sector/sector specific engagement to address specific issues
• Disseminate best practice to all Accredited organisations and Supporter organisations
• Be responsible for maintaining resource hubs and develop new materials for the hubs, working with other teams
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of action plans within organisations

Training

• Working with colleagues, promote and market with colleagues White Ribbon UK training to new and existing organisations
• Coordinate the training, working with organisations to develop what they need and matching trainers to organisations
• Deliver training when time allows
• Work with colleagues, associate trainers, and partners to develop new and existing training courses
• Measure and evaluate the quality and impact of our training, collating and monitoring feedback forms, etc

Ambassadors and Champions

• With other team members, recruit new Ambassadors and Champions
• With other team members, provide information, resources, training, and campaigning opportunities for Ambassadors and Champions
• Monitor and develop the membership process
• With other team members, maintain the Ambassador and Champion resources hub ensuring it is fit for purpose and up to date

General

• Undertake your own admin and use the CRM to record your contacts and progress
• Monitor and evaluate your work, providing reports for managers and trustees as requested
• Undertake training and self-development
• Project and promote our values – through considered language, inclusivity and equality in all White Ribbon UK communications
• Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required
• Willing and able to travel to meetings and events across England and Wales.  Willing and able to attend evening and weekend meetings and events occasionally

Person specification

Essential

• Passion for the cause of ending violence against women and girls and for engaging men in primary prevention work
• Substantial and demonstrable track record of working successfully with businesses in a development capacity – including acquiring and maximising relationships
• Excellent presentation skills
• Building relationships and confidently communicating with different stakeholders
• A good level of IT knowledge and skills. Experience of working with Microsoft Office package, e.g. Excel etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire, engage and develop strong relationships at all levels
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Excellent written skills for report writing, information giving, training etc.
• Excellent organisational skills - ability to plan, adapt, manage multiple tasks and prioritise workload to deliver consistently high-quality outcomes
• Analytical mindset – comfortable working with data and reporting on impact effectiveness.
• A self-starter, able to motivate themselves, with an ability to identify potential opportunities for delivering value to the charity
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team working collaboratively and creatively with colleagues, who are dispersed
• Positive approach and the ability to use initiative and judgement to identify problems early and propose solutions
• Willing and able to travel to meetings and events across England and Wales
• Willing and able to attend evening and weekend meetings and events occasionally
• Committed to continual professional development (CPD)

Desirable

• Sales or marketing experience, with demonstrable evidence of hitting/exceeding sales targets, including customer retention
• Developing face-to-face, digital and blended training programmes and materials, including monitoring and evaluating training programmes
• Able to deliver training sessions
• A qualification in training
• Management of high-volume data and keeping accurate records with information from different sources
• Use of CRM systems to record and monitor outreach and targets 
• Knowledge of issues affecting women and girls in relation to gender-based violence

About Us: The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats.

THE ROLE
•    This is a key role in our Wales Communication & Engagement team which works with other Volunteer Development Officers across the Trust to help deliver on the volunteering strategy for the region.
•    The role will support compliance including record keeping, induction and training, as well as develop new opportunities based on regional priorities and deliver a range of communication and face to face activities to create a safe and positive volunteering experience.
•    You will run a range of activity to develop effective communication methods including writing articles, delivering events, supporting peer to peer support and shared learning so volunteers are engaged and feel valued.  
•    You are responsible for being the link between the National Volunteering Team and regional volunteer managers to ensure that managers feel supported and volunteers have a meaningful, safe and enjoyable experience. 
•    You will lead on regional recruitment of existing and new roles, in line with regional priorities to ensure volunteer roles are appropriate and support the needs of the Woodland Trust. 
•    This role is based in Wales and will require the successful candidate to travel around the country.
•    This is a 3 year fixed term contract, 22.5 hours per week
•    This role may require an enhanced DBS check as part of our pre-employment checks.

THE CANDIDATE
•    Hands on experience working with volunteers and volunteer managers including recruitment, training and managing volunteers with positive outcomes.
•    Experience in working across a range of teams at a regional level to support existing and develop new volunteering opportunities, ensuring the support of volunteering to undertake activities in a positive, fun and safe way. 
•    You’ll have experience in developing new volunteering opportunities in line with regional and national strategies.
•    You’ll have a collaborative approach, with the ability to work with multiple teams, building relationships with both internal and external stakeholders effectively. 
•    You’ll know how to deliver effective events including promotion, risk assessments for indoor and outdoor environments.
•    Strong communication skills, both written and verbally being able to liaise with internal and external stakeholders, especially volunteers using a variety of methods to suite the audience. 
•    This role does require regular travel around Wales. A full UK driving licence is required. 

Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees.

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our employees, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
•    Enhanced Employer Pension
•    Life Assurance
•    Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
•    Generous Annual Leave
•    Enhanced Parental Pay
•    Employee Assistance Programme

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The Woodland Trust embraces diversity and inclusion. We want our team to reflect the UK's diverse community. We support people from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who are under-represented.

Application Advice: Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply. Your enthusiasm for the environment and our core values—Grow Together, Explore, Focus and Make it Count—are what matter most. We also keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, so they do not see your CV until shortlisting is completed. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows your experience and passion for the role.

Apply Now: If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact on our planet.

Interviews will be held online via Microsoft Teams w/c 21st April.

Please head to our website for the Welsh translation.

The Sociological Review Foundation is seeking its first Development Manager to join its team. This role, reporting directly to the Operations Director, presents a unique opportunity to drive the organisation’s strategic growth initiatives and fundraising calls, expand partnerships, and generate revenue through the sale of services.

Are you an energetic, creative, and organised individual with experience in fundraising and partnership development? Do you want to use your skills to help secure the long-term future of our environment and ecosystems?

Join us as we inspire and empower people across Oxfordshire to work together for nature’s recovery.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading income-generation;

• Creating, implementing, and monitoring the Wild Oxfordshire fundraising strategy;

• Managing all aspects of fundraising and income generation working with our Chief Executive, Trustees, volunteers, and staff team; and

• Developing relationships with funders including individuals, trusts, local authorities, funding bodies, and corporates.

Wild Oxfordshire is a charity seeking to create a more natural, resilient, and biodiverse Oxfordshire for the benefit of all. We catalyse change by identifying needs, convening partnerships, and unlocking opportunities for nature recovery action. We collaborate with numerous individuals, communities and organisations, offering expertly curated and inspiring information, bespoke advice, and nature-based solutions.

This is a hybrid role, with an expectation of working in the office an average of two days per week, including Tuesdays. The role is for 21 hours per week.

Please apply with your CV and Covering Letter by 4th May at 23.59. Interviews will be held on Monday19th May, with a planned start date of 1st July or 1st September.

Reports to: Director of Research 

Responsible for (personnel): N/A 

Start date: June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Based in: Candidates from any location where DMI has a permanent presence (London, Antananarivo, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mwanza, and Ouagadougou) are invited to apply. If successful, you will be expected to adhere to the working practices of the DMI office where you are subsequently based. If in the UK, you will be required to attend our London office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There may be occasional opportunities for international travel.

Type of role: Full time, permanent 

Salary: £35,000-45,000 per annum, dependent on experience, plus benefits. Benefits will be aligned with those in place at the DMI office in which the successful applicant is based. All DMI staff receive at least: any statutory pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private health insurance – more details can be given at interview.

Application deadline: 23:59 on 22nd April 2025

Date of first round interview: 30th April 2025

About DMI 

Development Media International (DMI) delivers media campaigns aimed at changing behaviours, promoting health and saving lives in developing countries. We are the first organisation to scientifically demonstrate that mass media can increase life-saving behaviours (see the results of our RCT that proved our interventions can save thousands of children’s lives, here). 

DMI has two priorities: first, to continue to generate ground-breaking research, second, to take our proven strategies to scale, saving as many lives as possible. We work across a range of health issues, including child survival, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, hygiene, and early childhood development. DMI works in close partnership with leading experts in health, including WHO, UNICEF and LSHTM and has been funded by some of the world’s most prestigious organisations including the Wellcome Trust, FCDO, The Hilton Foundation, the Global Innovation Fund, Unorthodox Philanthropy, and the Mulago Foundation. 

We are an innovative organisation, working at the nexus between science and creativity. DMI has demonstrated that knowledge is not only a human right but is also the key to saving lives in a cost-effective way. Our intellectual rigour, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn from both our successes and mistakes, makes us distinct. By working at DMI you will have a genuine, measurable impact on improving lives in low-income countries. 

DMI’s HQ is near Kings Cross in London and the organisation has a permanent presence in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. It also currently works in Mauritania, Uganda and Cote d’Ivoire.

DMI is ranked as one of the most cost-effective non-profit organisations in the world by The Life You Can Save.

Job Description

DMI is looking to recruit a Research Officer/Manager, whereby candidates from any location where DMI has a permanent presence (London, Antananarivo, Kampala, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Mwanza, and Ouagadougou) are invited to apply. The salary and title of this role is dependent experience, and DMI will consider outstanding Masters graduates through to post-doctoral level researchers. To succeed, you will need to demonstrate significant research experience and a highly proficient report writing abilities.

More specifically, the Research Officer/Manager role will include the following responsibilities: 

1. Designing and managing effective and scientifically robust evaluations (both quantitative and qualitative) for DMI projects.

2. Overseeing, advising, and supporting research teams in DMI’s national offices to conduct routine research activities (for example, focus groups to understand barriers to behaviour change) and other project specific research tasks.

3. Commissioning and managing external agencies (usually based in the country that we are working) to carry out surveys. This includes the competitive selection of an agency, often using a tendering process, liaising with the selected agency and ensuring that their work is of the highest scientific standards.

4. Contributing to writing and publishing reports based on data gathered and methodologies used during DMI projects. This will include articles for peer-reviewed academic journals and wider scientific publications.

5. Providing technical support to project design during the proposal phase, particularly in relation to the design of monitoring and evaluation elements.

6. Keeping abreast of the latest research evidence, theories, and concepts relevant to DMI’s campaign topics, and communicating trends and new ideas across the organisation.

7. Effectively communicating with, providing technical research support, and building the research capacity of colleagues (those with and without a research background) and sub-contractors in the areas of research methods, monitoring, process evaluation, and impact evaluation, analysis, and interpretation.

8. Other tasks as required by DMI.

Person specification 

Required knowledge, skills and experience  

1. Very strong intellectual ability, as evidenced by a research-focused postgraduate qualification and significant research experience in epidemiology, public health, health economics, social sciences, statistics, biomedical sciences, or an equivalent field.  The salary range is broad to reflect that we will consider outstanding Masters graduates through to post-doctoral level researchers. 

2. Excellent writing skills (in English), likely proven both by a publication record, and by an ability to communicate complex technical ideas to non-specialist audiences, both internally and externally.

3. Practical experience with, and good working knowledge of, statistical analysis software programmes, such as Stata, SPSS, R, or SAS, and strong general IT skills including questionnaire design, database development, and working with complex spreadsheets.

4. An inquisitive and open-minded approach, evidenced by knowledge and understanding of a broad range of research topics and a willingness to learn about new themes, approaches, and techniques when required.

5. Self-motivated with a high capacity for work, shown by the ability to cope with multiple concurrent professional priorities and tight deadlines. This will require strong organisational and time management skills but also the flexibility to understand the pressures, uncertainties, and difficulties of working in an international development context.

6. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Willingness and ability to take the initiative not only in identifying problems but also in suggesting and implementing solutions.

7. The ability to understand different cultural contexts, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience  

1. Language ability in French, Portuguese, or Swahili. Fluency in other languages spoken in DMI’s countries of operation is also desirable.

2. Practical experience of designing, monitoring, and evaluating programmes, preferably with some research experience in developing countries, and meeting the monitoring and evaluation requirements of global funders. Experience of data collection using PDAs/mobile phones/tablets would be useful.

3. Experience of working with geographically displaced colleagues (ideally in different countries).

DMI is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

DMI operates a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and is committed to the protection and safeguarding of vulnerable individuals. Where appropriate, successful candidates will undergo background and reference checks. All DMI employees will be required to self-declare prior issues of sexual or other misconduct, termination of past employment, criminal records, and concerns registered with government authorities regarding contact with children.

Location: Flexible: A current BV hub location (Kenya, Indonesia, Senegal, or UK). We will also consider the United States or other locations.

Closing date for applications: April 30, 2025

Contract status: National contract based on location

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract duration: Permanent

Remuneration: Starting from USD 100,000 gross annually

Salary Band: A1 (Member of Senior Leadership Team) 

Thriving Fishers, Thriving Oceans

Blue Ventures is a marine conservation organisation that puts people first. We support local organisations working with coastal communities to rebuild their fisheries and restore ocean life.

Across the Asia Pacific, Western Indian Ocean, West Africa and Central America, we are unlocking the power and potential of local organisations on the frontlines of the ocean emergency to be powerful change agents.

We are building a global network of partners, providing flexible, sustained funding to community-based organisations and local NGOs to catalyse, expand, and sustain local management and marine conservation efforts. We strengthen local capacity through peer learning, knowledge-sharing, and access to practical training and tools. We amplify the voices and priorities of coastal communities to ensure their recognition and rights to manage and conserve coastal areas and that their ecosystems, fisheries, and cultural traditions are protected from pervasive threats. 

Summary job description

We seek an experienced Director of Development to drive Blue Ventures' fundraising efforts, secure resources, and support our ambitious Thriving Fishers Thriving Oceans Strategy.

Reporting to the Chief Programme Officer, this senior leadership position oversees the development team and is responsible for a portfolio of trusts and foundation grants, high-net-worth individual giving, and government funding. The team oversees the entire fundraising cycle across the portfolio, including identifying and cultivating funding relationships, developing high-quality proposals, managing grants, and stewardship.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Development collaborates cross-functionally with other department leads, regional directors, and country teams to understand the resourcing needs across multi-year plans and organisational priority setting. The director also leads fundraising efforts to ensure Blue Ventures continues to grow and scale effectively.

We seek a results-oriented individual with an exceptional track record for strategic fundraising, leading teams to successfully secure significant, multi-year commitments and build long-term, trust-based relationships with donors committed to the mission and vision of Blue Ventures and its Thriving Fishers Thriving Oceans 2030 strategy.

The successful candidate will have built and maintained networks of relationships with relevant donors, especially in the United States, overseen the development of compelling proposals, and been successful in identifying opportunities and forging new relationships. This individual will be a confident leader, able to use their experience to mentor colleagues and build a motivated and performance-oriented team. They will have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, forming strong relationships across the Senior Leadership and Executive leadership teams and engaging with the Board of Trustees.

This role requires working across multiple time zones and some international travel, including visiting countries of operation and attending global events and conferences. The compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Following the return of our co-founder Becca Dean MBE as CEO, we're excited to be recruiting for several new roles as we move into the next chapter of our journey. Having recently celebrated our 12th birthday, we're more determined than ever to reach even more girls and young women, and we’re building a brilliant team to help us do just that. If you're passionate about empowering the next generation, we’d love to hear from you.

THE ROLE

This is a senior leadership role at The Girls’ Network with strategic and operational responsibility for the successful delivery of our mentoring and ambassador programmes. You will lead a geographically dispersed, home-based programme team, ensuring high-quality, girl-centred delivery that meets our organisational goals and supports our long-term impact. As the charity’s Safeguarding Lead, you’ll oversee safeguarding strategy and decision-making, and play a vital role in championing best practice across the organisation. You’ll also be accountable for the mentor journey - from recruitment and engagement to retention, and act as our in-house expert on mentoring and impactful interventions for girls and young women. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, innovation, and data-driven decision making, this role is key to shaping and evolving our programme offer to meet the needs of the girls we serve.

Key Activities

Programme Delivery

• Operational ownership and accountability for the successful delivery of The Girls’ Network programmes, in line with our strategic aims and operational targets.
• Ownership and accountability for operational safeguarding decision-making in relation to programme delivery.
• Leadership of implementation and compliance of processes and procedures in the programme team, to ensure best practice, quality and consistency.
• Be accountable for our volunteer mentor community, including the mentor experience, engagement and retention. Ownership of our mentor recruitment retention strategy and ongoing activity.
• The organisation’s subject matter expert in relation to mentoring programmes and impactful interventions for girls and young women more widely, to inform the work we do.
• Ownership of data utilisation for effective ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the programme, to inform continuous improvement and progress to enable reporting to key stakeholders, including the CEO and trustee board.
• Oversight of the Ambassador Programme, including developments and enhancements to our delivery, in line with our strategy. This includes improved integration of the ambassador community to the rest of our programmes, enabling wider participation and great long-term impact.

Design and Development

• Develop and implement the programme’s operational delivery plan, in line with broader strategic objectives.
• Introduce an effective way of making iterative programmatic changes to enable continuous improvement and ensure we deliver a programme of consistently high quality, that remains current and flexes to the needs of the girls we support.
• Ensure a girl-centred approach to all programme delivery and development.
• Work closely with the Fundraising team to align partnership activities, managing high profile relationships relevant to the programme and identifying opportunities for joint-working and income generation.
• Identify needs and opportunities for innovation and growth and pilot new programme elements to deliver impact and, when appropriate, revenue

Team Leadership

• Effective leadership and direction of a programme team who are entirely home-based and widely geographically dispersed.
• Line management of senior members of the programme delivery team, the Programme Co-ordinator and MERL Manager.
• Foster a team environment in-keeping with our organisational values.
• Ownership of the professional development of programme delivery team members. This includes enabling new members of the team to have the tools to deliver effectively, as well as the ongoing development of existing staff.
• Ownership of recruitment of programme team roles, with support from the People & Culture Manager.

Safeguarding

• Named Safeguarding Lead for the charity with ultimate accountability for Safeguarding decisions.
• Working with Safeguarding Officers, ensure policies are kept up-to-date and reflect best practice.
• Review any key training and material, especially that which is shared externally.
• Ensure all staff and trustees undergo the appropriate training needed to meet their safeguarding responsibilities.
• Overall responsibility for the safeguarding phone, and any rota established for this.
• Management and training.

Wider organisational objectives

• Advocate and promote The Girls’ Network at every opportunity - for example, through local media, PR activities and social media.
• Build relationships across the organisation and outside it, always embodying and role-modelling the charity’s strategic direction and key messages.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE

Essential skills, knowledge and attributes

• Someone who embodies The Girls’ Network values and can provide inclusive, supportive and effective programme and team leadership.
• A high-performing senior manager of programmes, people and projects.
• Demonstrable experience of effectively managing, motivating and developing a diverse, home-based team.
• Highly proficient in operationalising strategy, with proven impact, including undertaking piloting new approaches and adapting delivery to drive improvement.
• Someone who is comfortable with change as we develop and adapt our programmes and target operating model, moving towards the aims of longer-term strategy, which may mean some flex in the roles and responsibilities of the programme team.
• Experience of successfully growing, developing and maintaining a portfolio of programmes either in a charity, education, or comparable setting.
• A highly effective communicator, both in-person and in writing, capable of representing The Girls’ Network in a variety of settings and with a variety of stakeholders, including those in very senior positions.
• Experience of managing budgets and reporting against expenditure.

Please visit our website for the Candidate Pack and details on how to apply.

Job Purpose

The Specialist Policy Officer plays a vital role within Clinks’ National Influencing & Networks team, delivering high-quality policy work that supports systemic change in the criminal justice system. The postholder will contribute to shaping evidence-based policy and influencing decision-makers, working closely with colleagues across Clinks and external stakeholders. More information about our policy work please visit our website.

Duties and key responsibilities

1. Policy Intelligence and Research

· Lead horizon scanning of central, local and devolved government policy developments (with the Senior Engagement & Development Officer – Wales) to assess implications for the voluntary sector.

· Conduct member-focused research to inform Clinks’ consultation responses and policy publications, including blogs, briefings, and outputs from the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3).

· Lead the design, delivery, and publication of Clinks’ annual State of the Sector research.

2. Policy Development and Influence

· Draft clear, evidence-based policy materials for engagement with political stakeholders, including Ministers and officials.

· Develop mechanisms and opportunities for voluntary sector organisations to engage in policy development with statutory agencies.

· Provide policy support and analysis for Clinks’ Chief Executive and Director of National Influencing & Networks in high-level meetings.

3. Internal Collaboration and Support

· Work closely with Clinks' Area Engagement & Partnerships team to ensure member experiences and regional insights inform national policy work.

· Support colleagues across Clinks to understand policy contexts and improve their influencing work—including restricted specialist projects.

· Share policy updates and emerging trends during internal staff meetings.

4. External Representation and Stakeholder Engagement

· Represent Clinks at external meetings and events, including with senior political stakeholders and at Clinks-facilitated regional forums.

· Contribute to the development and operation of policy-focused groups, networks, and advisory structures.

· Work with the communications and admin team to maintain Clinks’ stakeholder database and ensure the distribution of policy content.

5. Content and Communications

· Collaborate with the Specialist Communications Officer to produce accessible and engaging social media and website content related to policy.

· Contribute written materials that engage audiences, influence decision-makers, and promote understanding of key issues.

General responsibilities

· Act as a positive ambassador for Clinks and uphold its mission and values.

· Work flexibly, supporting other duties as required in line with the role.

· Champion equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.

· Work collaboratively and constructively across teams.

This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.

Person specification

· Working well in a team with a flexible approach to work

· Ability to manage multiple and sometimes competing priorities

· Personal resilience and ability to stay focused in a rapidly changing environment

· Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities, including for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system

· Ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work

· Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination in the criminal justice system

Education and experience

· Experience in a criminal justice-related policy role

· Demonstrated experience of drafting policy positions for use with political stakeholders.

· Experience of developing evidence-based policy positions

· Experience of utilising different research methods in order to support the case for systemic change of the criminal justice system

Skills and abilities

· Written communication skills which engage audiences, persuade, and encourages understanding and participation

· Strong critical thinking and analytical skills; confident summarising complex policy.

· Sound knowledge of parliamentary processes and policy levers.

· Skilled at balancing competing priorities and managing stakeholder relationships.

· Confident working both independently and in a team.

· Organisational, administrative and IT skills at a level that supports notetaking, producing timely and accurate minutes and managing email correspondence

· Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

· Ability to balance and prioritise competing tasks in order to meet tight deadlines

· Adaptability and flexibility in being able to take on new roles and manage a range of internal and external relationships.

Knowledge

A good and critical understanding of issues related to:

· The role of the voluntary sector in addressing social exclusion and inequalities

· The criminal justice system, in particular prisons and probation.

· A thorough understanding of the policy development process

Other requirements

· Able to travel nationally across England and Wales.

· Able to work evenings and weekends and stay away from home overnight where necessary.

· Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.

· Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system.

We have the pleasure of partnering with Youth Connect South West, an independent non-profit charity dedicated to supporting young people in Bath, Northeast Somerset and parts of Dorset.  They offer a wide range of opportunities for young people aged 11-25, both universal and targeted, to help them thrive.

Their comprehensive support includes youth work, alternative education, personalised 1-1 assistance, and valuable career advice and guidance. They have multiple locations including the Bath City Centre Youth Space, Radstock Youth Hub and Southside Youth Centre, and are committed to providing accessible services that cater to the diverse needs of our youth.

Youth Connect South West are now looking to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer, who is strategically focused, combining strong business acumen with expertise in the young people's sector providing both targeted support and alternative educational provision along with youth work and community activity.  This combination will enable the CEO to understand the unique needs and opportunities within this field, driving the charity's growth and development.  The CEO leads a Senior Management Team and is responsible for ensuring outstanding and compliant governance across all aspects of the charity.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the following:

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role within the charity sector, in a related field
• Demonstrated success in business development and fundraising 
• Experience in strategic planning and implementation 
• Clear and inspirational leadership and management skills
• Flair and engagement with supporters and internal and external stakeholders and building effective partnerships at senior level
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and practices

The new Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the day to day running of the Charity.  To provide effective leadership and direction for the organisation. To have full responsibility for the effective management and development of all services connected with the Charity, and to be responsible for the standard of support provided to all those using their services.  The successful candidate will instil the positive culture of the organisation and motivating the team to achieve fantastic results.  You will be a problem solver who understands the bigger picture and will be able to demonstrate this through your experiences.  You will be able to develop highly effective partnerships, be an active listener, excellent communicator and be an ambassador for the charity. 

If you feel you have the values and skills to succeed in this role, we very much look forward to hearing from you. 

For more information, please contact Sandra Smith, Associate Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment. All applications should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement. 

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law. 

Closing date for applications: 8th May 2025

Interview date:  TBC