Digital Communication Officer Jobs in Manchester

If you are an experienced finance manager looking to utilise your experience in the charity sector, this could be the role for you!

Canine Partners' mission is to transform the lives of disabled people using expertly trained dogs to improve physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

To help us create amazing partnerships, we need amazing people. Canine Partners has an exciting opportunity for a talented Finance Manager to join our dedicated Finance team.

This is an incredible role at a prominent assistance dog charity where your role will be a part of our essential work that transforms lives every day.

What you will do:

Working alongside the Director of Finance and Resources you will ensure the charity's finances are utilised in line with our mission. Leading an established and dedicated team of two, you will oversee all the financial activities, reporting and analysis, whilst improving and maintaining tight financial controls. Undertaking a number of routine tasks, you will also manage monthly management accounts, journals, and year-end accounts.

It is an exciting time to join us, as the charity marks its 35th anniversary this year and we will be doing a lot to celebrate! We have recently launched our 5-year plan, which has been shaped in a large part by the finances and financial modelling; this work will continue to become more detailed and accurate as we move through the 5-year plan, which you will play a key part in supporting using honed modelling, projecting and problem-solving skills.

What we are looking for:

• Qualified accountant (CIPFA/CIMA/FCA/ACA/ACCA) with relevant senior financial experience.
• Strong ICT skills including database (Office 365, MS Excel in particular).
• Broad experience of budget management and strategic planning (ideally in charitable settings but not essential).
• Flexibility, adaptability and ability to use initiative.
• Strong organisation skills and ability to manage deadlines.
• Proven experience of working within a financial environment and use of sophisticated digital accounting software.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.

It may be advantageous, though not essential, to have experience working in a related field or knowledge of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).

Most importantly, you will be passionate about the transformative impact that our assistance dogs provide to our beneficiaries.

What can offer you:

• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Salary exchange pension scheme (matched up to 5%)
• Charity (occupational) sick pay
• Life assurance
• Wellbeing portal
• Employee assistance programme
• Free on-site parking (visiting and site-based staff)
• Dog friendly offices
• Flexible working hours
• Claimable business/travel expenses

This role can be delivered remotely from home. We will provide a laptop, additional screen, and mobile phone for use in the role.

If this sounds like the perfect role for you, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please apply online with a comprehensive CV and supporting statement explaining how you believe you match the requirements of the role.

Closing date: 05 February 2025
First interviews will take place online (via MS teams): Date to be confirmed.
Second interviews will take place at our National Training Centre in Osgathorpe, Leicestershire: Date to be confirmed.

Please note we may choose to close this advertisement early should we find a suitable candidate or if we receive a high volume of applications. Please be assured that we contact all candidates regarding the outcome of their application, this may take longer if we receive a high volume of applications.

We recognise the benefit of diverse experience and welcome and encourage applications from all sections of the community. We are a disability confident committed employer.

You may have experience of the following: Charity Finance Lead, Finance and Operations Manager, Financial Controller, Head of Charity Finance, Finance and Resources Manager, Senior Finance Officer, Accounting and Finance Manager, Finance and Compliance Manager, Finance Team Leader, Strategic Finance Manager, etc.

REF-218 932

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd January 2025 at 9am

Working arrangements: Remote working, permanent, regular or ad hoc (with frequent travel to London if not London-based) Please note that we also have approximately 3-4 team retreats per year which could be located anywhere nationally.

At this pivotal time for 38 Degrees, an exciting opportunity has arisen to manage our Public Affairs & Media offering. We’re looking for an effective communicator, who is great at collaborating and has a track record of delivering significant media and public affairs campaign results. You’ll bring to life and manage the implementation of 38 Degrees’ media and public affairs strategy, in service of 38 Degrees’ mission: to make our country fairer, more respectful and sustainable. As we adjust to a shift in our political environment, this brand new role will relentlessly and powerfully amplify 38 Degrees campaigns and the voices of our supporters to the general public, the media and decision makers in the UK.

You’ll manage our Public Affairs & Media team, including a new Public Affairs & Media officer role – working together, and with colleagues across the campaigns team and beyond,  to execute our Public Affairs & Media strategy and deliver impressive results. Whilst this is a Manager role, it’s also a very hands on role – you’ll be as at home picking up the phone to regional TV to discuss local supporters whose experiences could make perfect case studies for the big story of the day, and helping those people tell their story, as you are meeting with MPs and their staff to use our Campaigns By You platform to run campaigns on local issues in their constituencies.

You’ll relish a newsroom atmosphere and will be happy that no two days at 38 Degrees are the same, as you focus on amplifying campaigns and making a difference which helps change lives, little by little.

Your background and experience

We’re looking for someone who can effectively grasp the 38 Degrees approach to public affairs, which combines pressure and persuasion – and who is confident in pursuing both. You will be able to show you can use both, in the right circumstances: from liaising with Metro Mayors on possible partnership campaigns, to commissioning and landing coverage of snap polling that demonstrates public opinion on government plans. The person recruited will need to be a brilliant communicator, and be passionate about opening up democracy and making political and corporate change accessible to all.

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have excellent political and news judgement – you know what can make a story and what impact that story can have on decision makers.

You’ll be extremely comfortable speaking to politicians and their teams, along with journalists, other communications teams in partner organisations, and 38 Degrees supporters who act as case studies in our campaigns. You may already have extensive journalist or political networks and relationships, and you’ll have definitely had results. We’re looking for a person who knows the political and news agenda each day, and can help set it too.

You’ll be equipped with the skills to develop a new team, with the skills and experience to manage more junior members of staff, setting clear, inspiring and exciting shared goals.

To succeed in this role, you’ll need to be a positive, practical person adept at building cross-team relationships,  bringing people with you  to solve problems in a collaborative way.

We’re looking for someone who understands the need for us to demonstrate a strategic approach, balancing long term planning and objectives with agility and flexibility. And while you’ll have a strategy to work to, your priorities could change at a moment’s notice. If this sounds appealing, our fast-paced and exciting role could be for you.

Full job description here

About us

38 Degrees is one of the UK’s biggest campaigning communities, involving over a million supporters who campaign to make the UK a better place. We’re united by a shared vision to create a fairer and more respectful UK and a more sustainable world.

In the space of a week, millions of supporters could be campaigning on anything from protecting our NHS and stopping cuts to Universal Credit, to saving local green spaces and protecting our democracy.

38 Degrees is fiercely independent. We are primarily funded by small donations from hundreds of thousands of members of the public from all over the UK. This independence means we never have to hold ourselves back from taking on those with power and can truly listen to our supporters.

Why you’ll want to work here

The 38 Degrees culture is honest, kind, supportive, courageous, and respectful. We move fast, and frequently change plans to respond to events. We work hard but we also have fun.

We regularly enjoy team away days and social hours.

Benefits include:

27 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays); Office closure between Christmas and New year; 9-day fortnight (office closed every other Friday); 4pm closure on the alternate Friday; Flexibility to work 90 days overseas per tax year (30 day maximum per travel in any location as per approval process); One month paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of service; Employer pension contribution; 24 hour employee assistance programme; Enhanced family leave policies; Cycle to work scheme; Employer paid annual flu vaccination; Rental deposit loan; Contribution to eye tests/glasses; Learning and development budget.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We’re especially keen to hear from people who’ll bring lived experience of the issues we work on and who’ll make our team more diverse as a result. So if you’re Black, Asian or from any other minority ethnic group, if you’re disabled, LGBTQIA+, or if you’re from a working class home, your application will be especially welcome. And thanks to our flexible home working approach and network of offices, we have a staff team that is increasingly based across the UK. We’re keen to continue diversifying geographically, so that we’re rooted in our supporters’ communities.

To make sure that we are able to reach our goal of a diverse team we have equal opportunities monitoring requirements. Your application will not be complete without the equal opportunities monitoring form.

38 Degrees is committed to inclusive working practices, so during the application process we commit to:

• Paying for childcare whilst you’re at 38 Degrees interviews or tasks
• Paying for your travel costs to the office and back – and for overnight accommodation if you’re travelling from a long distance for an interview although at present the majority of interviews are held online using zoom.
• Making any reasonable adjustments – for example ensuring we have a BSL interpreters organised in advance if you’d need one
• If there anything else you’re concerned about or think we could provide, please let us know.

To be successful in your application you must meet the essential requirements for this role and answer the questions below which are part of the selection criteria. Without completion of this task your application cannot be considered.

The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.

Application Questions (max. word count: 2000 words across all questions)

1. Tell us a campaign you have been part of developing a media or public affairs strategy for, including what you were trying to achieve, how you brought team members together to action the plan, and what results you achieved. 
2. What challenges and opportunities do you think the recent change in government might have presented to 38 Degrees in the context of our public affairs and media work?
3. 38 Degrees is a digital first, people-powered campaigning organisation where millions of people do something small to add up to bigger political and corporate change. How do you think we can most effectively use our supporters in our media and public affairs work, to win campaigns that align with our vision for the country?

We couldn’t run Manchester International Festival without the dedication, energy and enthusiasm of our amazing volunteers. Some 426 volunteers got involved in MIF23, our last festival, doing everything from helping out with preparations to greeting the public at our events. Our Festival Volunteer Manager is critical to the smooth running of this programme.

Our Festival Volunteer Manager will lead on the recruitment of MIF volunteers, training and induction, and support for volunteers taking part in the 2025 programme. They will ensure that the volunteer programme is inclusive and accessible, and that volunteers have a fantastic experience at all points that they interact with us.

The primary focus of this role is leading on the volunteer-facing aspects of the MIF Volunteer Programme, however the post holder will work within a Volunteering Team that also delivers other Factory International volunteering programmes, including those at Aviva Studios, and may also support the delivery of these from time to time.

This role will involve a significant amount of evening and weekend working – particularly during May, June, and July, to facilitate the delivery of the programme. It is likely that this role will involve working additional hours, particularly during the Festival, which can then be taken back on a flexible basis. 

Festival Volunteer Manager Responsibilties

- Lead on volunteer recruitment for MIF25, ensuring and encouraging applications from diverse communities across Greater Manchester and supporting the application and selection processes for new and returning volunteers

- Plan, develop and deliver training and induction schemes for MIF volunteers

- Organise social events, volunteer placements and other volunteer activities leading up to, during and immediately after the 2025 Festival

- Ensure efficient and accurate administration of the MIF volunteer programme including maintaining databases and schedules, processing volunteer expenses and contributing to evaluation processes and reporting

- Manage Volunteer Team Leaders who in turn manage, support and encourage the wider volunteer team. Manage any placement hosted with the Volunteering Team

- Coordinate with departments across Factory International to ensure that their MIF volunteer requirements are being met, and that the volunteer programme is integrated into the work of the organisation to best effect. This includes contributing to the volunteering team’s relationship with key festival partners, ensuring that they are kept informed and involved both before and during the Festival

- Offer advice and information to volunteers and external organisations through face-to-face, telephone and email contact

Festival Volunteer Manager Person Specification

ESSENTIAL 

- Excellent communication skills, including written communication and verbal presentation skills

- Excellent organisational and administrative skills, including attention to detail when dealing with large amounts of data

- Experience of line managing staff or volunteers

- Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team

- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines

- Flexible and adaptable approach to problem solving within a fast-paced environment

- Commitment to championing representation and inclusion at every level of the organisation with a proven ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds

- Willing to get take relevant statutory checks eg DBS (Factory International can support with processing and payment)

 DESIRABLE 

- Experience of leading a volunteer programme (or other similar programme) involving large numbers of people

- Experience of working with a Volunteer Management System (i.e. an online system that holds volunteer records, enables applications to be submitted, enables rota-ing, etc)

- Experience of having worked or volunteered on a large festival or event

- Experience of designing and delivering training programmes or sessions

- Positive and enthusiastic attitude with a commitment to excellence

- Enthusiasm for training, mentoring and support of emerging talent