Head Of Communications Jobs

The learning and knowledge lead is a pivotal role managing the threads that run though all our work and ensuring that they are aligned with the ‘Change We Seek’ strategy and systems change thinking. As a new role in a period of organisational transformation, we need someone that is willing to come on this journey with us as things shift and change along the way. 

Through our learning we want to: 

• Continue to shift and develop how we operate as an organisation. 

• Make bold funding and investment choices. 

• Move closer to the change we seek in line with our mission. 

This role requires someone with an inquisitive, brave, and collaborative mindset who is comfortable working with complexity and thrives in iterative environments. You will have excellent relationship-building skills, working closely with our grantee partners, programmes team, senior leadership team and the CEO as well networks from similar organisations to share and capture learning. We have a strong learning culture and a committed and passionate team who want to make a difference in the philanthropy sector, so we’re looking for someone who can build on our learning and insights, hold us to account, challenge our thinking and amplify the voices of our grantee partners. This role is vital in consolidating our learning and helping us ensure that the ‘Change We Seek’ strategy is embedded into everything we do. 

The ability to communicate learning, insights and Tudor’s messaging in different mediums, to connect and collaborate with different people and the ability to create safe, meaningful and trusting spaces where people can learn, reflect and share is essential.

The role is a blend of traditional knowledge sharing and evaluation alongside entrepreneurial and creative problem-solving, working with complexity and turning it into tangible action. This is a real opportunity for someone to help us navigate our way through change by sharpening our own workstreams and strategies. 

As we continue to develop as an organisation, we will support individual team members to further develop their skills accordingly. We are therefore looking for people who are multidisciplinary in their skill set; collaborative and curious in aptitude; and can combine identity and passion with strategic thinking. 

At TLG, we’re passionate about building an exceptional staff team that love making a difference to struggling children across the UK. We are continually on the lookout for great people to journey with us and join our vision. An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a graduate to train up in the specialism of Executive Support, who would consider a career in this profession. The EA to the Chief Executive is an integral and trusted role right at the heart of the action. We are looking for someone who is excited about helping senior leaders with executive tasks, operations, organisational efficiency, problem solving, the ability to react and pivot as things change.​

The successful candidate will have a natural leadership gift, be comfortable with challenging the status quo, and be able to lead up and across the organisation with heads of departments and directors, to deliver the strategy and agenda that the Chief Executive and Executive Director are working towards. They will be trained in all aspects of executive support, working closely with the Head of Executive Strategy. TLG is interested in an individual that has a proactive instinct to fulfil the role successfully, anticipate the needs of senior leaders, and provide effective problem solving ahead of issues emerging, paired with a relational approach and the ability to partner effectively and negotiate well across the team at all levels.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week

Closing Date: Sunday 6th April

Initial Interviews: Monday 14th April – Online

Final Interviews: Monday 28th April – at our National Support Office in West Yorkshire

The Talent Coordinator will play a key role in supporting the Foundation’s Talent Hub. The role will work closely with and support the Head of Talent & Inclusion to deliver the Foundation’s talent management strategy. The role will coordinate and evaluate internal learning and development initiatives, fostering a structured learning culture that supports a high-performing workforce.  

Additionally, the Talent Coordinator will support the Talent Acquisition Specialist in managing the Talent Acquisition strategy, process and procedures, including recruitment campaigns, ensuring alignment with the recruitment policy and creating a seamless candidate experience. 
 

Key Responsibilities

Learning & Development – Plan, Coordinate, and Deliver 

• Collaborate with the Head of Talent & Inclusion and key stakeholders to implement and assess the Learning & Development (L&D) plan, ensuring it meets mandatory requirements, employee needs, and aligns with the organisation’s values and culture. 
• Work with external suppliers to develop high-quality learning content. 
• Ensure effective coordination of training to support employee growth and career progression. 
• Co-ordinate the delivery of an ongoing leadership and management development programme, in partnership with external providers, targeting first and second-level line managers. 
• Lead on the management and coordination of external L&D suppliers, implementing robust performance management measures to ensure cost-effectiveness. 
• Guide staff towards relevant L&D resources and collaborate with People Business Partners to encourage continuous professional development. 
• Process individual learning budget requests, ensuring adherence to the L&D policy and procedures. 

Talent Acquisition –Plan, Coordinate, and Deliver 
 

• Support the Talent Acquisition Specialist in managing recruitment campaigns, including interview coordination and candidate experience management. 
• Support the development of recruitment schedules and prioritisation of hiring needs. 
• Work with Hiring Managers and the Talent Acquisition Specialist to develop job descriptions and application packs, ensuring language reflects a diverse and inclusive recruitment approach. 
• Assist in placing job adverts online and liaise with recruitment agencies as needed to ensure outreach to diverse talent pools. 
• Create and send offer letters and support the People Team with obtaining employment references as required. 
• Support Hiring Managers to align assessment processes with the Foundation’s core values and DEI principles, liaising with the Talent Acquisition Specialist and Head of Talent and Inclusion as required. 
• Contribute to a smooth onboarding process, working in collaboration with Hiring Managers and the People Operations Analyst. 

Systems & Technology 

• Manage the Foundation’s Learning Management System (LMS), ensuring it meets the organisation’s needs in collaboration with the external provider and Head of Talent & Inclusion. 
• Provide administrative support for the Foundation’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS), including: 
• Uploading job details 
• Adding interview and application questions 
• Assigning Hiring Managers to live roles 
• Maintain and manage internal Talent Hub resources, including SharePoint sites, inboxes, and the Talent Hub page on the intranet. 

Evaluation, Reporting & Process Improvement 

• Work with the Head of Talent & Inclusion to review and enhance L&D policies within the Foundation. 
• Support the Talent Acquisition Specialist in ensuring recruitment processes align with policies while driving continuous improvement. 
• Be the first point of contact for all Talent Hub policies and procedures. 
• Identify and recommend process enhancements for both L&D and talent acquisition functions, leveraging automation where possible, and in liaison with the People Operations Analyst. 
• Ensure accurate data collection and reporting on L&D activities and recruitment metrics. 
• Support the tracking and reporting of DEI metrics in collaboration with the Talent Acquisition Specialist and People Operations Analyst. 
• Implement consistent evaluation methodologies for training effectiveness. 
• Regularly report on L&D metrics, KPIs, and associated costs to the Head of Talent & Inclusion. 
• Maintain training records, identifying skill gaps and informing workforce development strategies. 

These responsibilities are not exhaustive, and the Foundation reserves the right to assign other duties commensurate with the role as required.  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Skills, Abilities & Attributes 

• Strong communication skills. 
• Good stakeholder management skills with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including training providers, hiring managers, and employees. 
• Good project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, ensuring deadlines and objectives are met. 
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with the ability to work independently. 
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and work under pressure. 
• Ability to collect, analyse, and manage KPI data. 
• Proficiency in HR and L&D software, such as LMS, ATS, SharePoint, and Excel for reporting purposes 
• Keen attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in training coordination, data reporting, and recruitment processes. 
• Commitment to and alignment with the Foundation’s values: Enterprising, Collaborative, Delivery-Minded, Inclusive. 

Knowledge, Experience & Qualifications 

• Experience working in an entry-level or above Learning & Development role. 
• Proven track record in coordinating L&D initiatives. 
• Experience in managing external stakeholders and suppliers. 
• Understanding of or experience supporting recruitment campaigns. 
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) – Awareness of best practices in inclusive hiring, learning accessibility, and creating an equitable workplace. 
• Desirable: People and Organisational Development Trends – Keeping up with trends in talent acquisition, skills development, and workplace learning. 
• CIPD qualification (or equivalent), or relevant experience. 

(Please note interviews will take place for this role on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th April)

Benefits

• Up to 12% employer pension contributions
• Annual personal development budget
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

We are looking for an experienced Trust Fundraiser with a background in securing income from charitable trusts and foundations to join our team to help Groundswell continue to create positive change in the lives of people, services and systems on their mission to tackle homeless health inequalities. Recently kicking off our new ‘Creating Positive Change’ strategy, coproduced by over 130 staff, volunteers, clients and partners, we have ambitious plans and a compelling model which in its simplest form promotes healthier lives and a better future for anyone who has experienced homelessness.  

The successful post holder will have experience in leading the development of well-written, compelling proposals and reports to charitable trusts and corporate foundations; demonstrating key relationship management skills to ensure all our funders feel part of Groundswell’s mission. You will be a flexible worker with strong organisational, research and written communication skills. You will pride yourself in collaborative working to ensure the most successful chance of securing income, whilst being a self-starter who can manage their own workload effectively.

Would like to join an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity, with a passion for finding a cure for brain tumours, and wanting to drive change for brain tumour patients?

Here at Brain Tumour Research, we are looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to join a dynamic and influential campaigning team. You will play a pivotal role as a Policy and Publics Affairs Officer, working closely with the Head of Stakeholder Relations and the Policy and Public Affairs Manager. This will include supporting the development and implementation of effective public affairs and campaigning activities, at Westminster and across the devolved nations.

About You​

If you would like to join an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity, with a passion for finding a cure for brain tumours, and wanting to drive change for brain tumour patients, then we would love to hear from you.​

Do you have:

• ​A graduate qualification in a relevant discipline is desirable
• ​Knowledge of how the UK Parliament, Government and, ideally the Devolved administrations, operate 
• ​Excellent written communication skills with the ability to communicate to both expert and non-expert audiences

About the Role​

This is a great opportunity to further develop policy and public affairs skills as part of a high-performing and impactful team.  As the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you will be working with others in the team help to develop and deliver public affairs and campaigning plans that support Brain Tumour Research’s organisational objectives. This includes highlighting the specific needs of brain tumour patients, and to promote a compelling and persuasive narrative to support our policy calls.

What you will be doing

We are looking to recruit a Corporate Fundraising Partnership Executive for a 12-month maternity cover to join our high performing, successful team based at the charities head office in Buckinghamshire, we can offer flexible hybrid working. We are looking for an individual to join our small team to support the development and implementation of the corporate fundraising strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• To support the Head of Major Giving working with our corporate partners to achieve annual targets and the corporate fundraising strategy.
• Monitor the corporate inbox, deal with all enquires and respond promptly.
• Develop relationships with; external partners, colleagues in fundraising, dog operation team, senior staff, other hearing dogs colleagues, providing day-to-day management and support to maximise the impact and funds raised.
• Organise meetings and events in person and on teams, organise stand management and events for corporate partners, work with volunteers and colleagues to deliver high quality experience.
• Organise assets, working agreements and marketing activity to deadlines.
• Demonstrate excellent stewardship, keeping in regular contact with partners via email, phone calls and meetings, building strong, trusted relationships.
• Celebrating our partners by making sure they are thanked for any support and receive compelling and timely reports and updates on the charity’s work.
• Account manage corporate relationships. Work with external partners and internal colleagues to create and deliver the marketing plans for the partnership.
• Be proficient at using the CRM database to ensure all details are accurately recorded and updated with relevant information.
• Monitor the corporate section on the website, adding and updating as appropriate. Ensuring all permissions for logos and the content is approved
• Create a quarterly plan for LinkedIn posts to be posted weekly. 

Hours: 35 hours per week; Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm.

Contract: Maternity cover for 12 months.

For more information about the role, please download the job description.

What you need to succeed

• The ideal candidate will have excellent organisational skills and be able to work to tight deadlines.
• You will also need to have a keen eye for detail and have good time management skills.
• Additionally, being a team player is key to the role and you will need be at ease communicating with a wide variety of people including volunteers, donors, stakeholders and supporters.
• Experience or knowledge of working with corporate partners is essential.  

How to apply

If you are interested in working in this varied and immensely rewarding job, please send your CV.

Closing date for applications: 5.00pm on Friday 11th April 2025.

The Research Involvement Manager will work closely with the Head of Clinical Research to embed best practice involvement of people affected by dementia across all our research programmes to ensure our work is shaped by lived experience. This role is vital in advancing Alzheimer’s Research UK’s (ARUK) research objectives and organisational strategy to reach a cure for all types of dementia and is key to delivering impact for people affected by dementia. The Research Involvement Manager will work collaboratively with external stakeholders and various teams across the organisation, particularly the Involvement and Engagement Team, which sits within the Policy, Communications and Involvement Directorate, to continually develop our work in this area and aid its successful implementation within all our research programmes.

This role sits within the new Clinical Research Team in the Research Directorate, an ambitious, proactive and growing team that is driving forward initiatives to bring more clinical trials to the UK for people living with dementia. Involvement of people affected by dementia is key to the successful roll out of our clinical programme and our wider research initiatives. This is an exceptional opportunity for an individual who has experience and understands the importance and intricacies of delivering meaningful public involvement and engagement in research.

Main duties and responsibilities of the role:

Implementing and evaluating ARUK’s Research Involvement Strategy and Workplan

· Lead on the delivery of ARUK’s research involvement strategy, regularly reviewing and updating the strategy in line with best practice, with support from the Head of Clinical Research, and in consultation with the Involvement and Engagement Team.

· Work across ARUK, and with external organisations such as the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) to stay abreast of best practice when involving people with lived experience in shaping research.

· Work with the Research Team to understand research funding processes and procedures to develop plans to strengthen involvement throughout the research programme.

· Evaluate and prioritise research involvement requests considering ARUK’s capacity organisational strategy

· With support from the Head of Clinical Research and in collaboration with the Head of Information and Involvement, lead on the evaluation of ARUK’s research involvement programme, proactively coming up with suggestions for new initiatives and continuous improvement.

· Work externally to seek feedback and ideas for new programmes of work that will increase impact or efficiency, and work across the Research Team on implementation.

· Support the wider organisation on developing content on involvement in research that can promote the work that ARUK is doing or encourage more people to get involved in research.

Supporting the planning and delivery of research involvement across ARUK’s research programmes

· Lead and manage the implementation of lived experience involvement within our research programmes, acting as first point of contact for the Research Team in addressing questions that involvement volunteers might have.

· Lead on providing research involvement advice and input into key strategic pieces of work and external clinical research programmes prioritised by ARUK, including in the development of a multi-arm adaptive clinical trials platform.

· Work with the Involvement and Engagement Team to manage the planning of engagement activity with lived experience involvement volunteers in the research programme, ensuring good communication and regular updates are delivered.

· Work with the Involvement and Engagement Team to ensure records related to research involvement work are kept up to date in line with ARUK policies and procedures.

· Ensure that people with lived experience are aware of opportunities for involvement within our research programmes and feel appropriately supported to participate, including planning and delivering training activities and overseeing changes in response to feedback, in collaboration with the Involvement and Engagement Team.

· Working closely with the Head of Information and Involvement, and the wider Research Leadership Team on special projects related to public involvement in research as appropriate.

Wider stakeholder engagement

· Promote ARUK’s research involvement work to the wider research community including dementia researchers, people affected by dementia, other medical research funders and our supporters through participation at events and giving talks, with a particular focus on ARUK’s strategic and clinical programmes.

· Act as a champion for involvement of people with lived experience within research, effectively communicating its importance and signposting to tools to support the wider ARUK research community with incorporating meaningful involvement effectively in their work.

· Organise and deliver sessions and workshops, including at ARUK’s Research Conference, to promote and advise on best practice research involvement.

· Take part in groups that support professional development such as our internal ‘Community of Practice on Involvement’ group and the external Charities Research Involvement Group (CRIG) to develop and refine resources that could be used to improve involvement in research. 

What we are looking for:

· Proven experience in community involvement and engagement of lived experience, preferably within a medical research environment

· Good knowledge of the research process and how the public can play a part in that process

· Experience in developing and implementing strategic plans

· Experience working with different stakeholders, both internally and externally at multiple levels

· Experience in project management, with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously

· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work with multiple types of stakeholders

· Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify opportunities and strategies for enhancing public involvement in research

· Demonstratable commitment to inclusive working, placing value on equity and diversity

· Commitment to ARUK’s vision, mission and values

· A team player who can work collaboratively across departments and with external partners

· Ability to find creative solutions to complex problems.

· Collaborative approach with ability to build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders

· Good communicator with the ability to tailor communications to a range of audiences, particularly people affected by dementia and their families

· A genuine passion for public involvement in research

· Good IT skills

· Working with independence, drive and initiative

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 £43,000 per annum, plus benefits

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

The closing date for applications is the 13th April 2025, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. 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

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses, coaches and empowers unemployed women for success at their job interview. After visiting Smart Works, 63% of clients secure a job within a month.

The Smart Works service is delivered in London, Manchester, Stockport, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading and Leeds. Over the past eleven years, Smart Works has helped over 40,000 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre.

In April 2022, Smart Works launched a Three-Year Plan that saw the charity double the number of women helped annually from 5,000 to 10,000 women a year. We have achieved this by expanding the reach of our existing centres and opening new centres in areas of need including Bristol; set to open in early 2025.

About This Role

Over the next three years, Smart Works Leeds want to expand and embed the service we offer within the Bradford district. Reaching unemployed women in Bradford is integral to our mission of increasing the number of women we support in 2025 and beyond.

Thanks to a successful grant application from Yorkshire Building Society Foundation, we now have the funding to expand the team and enhance our strategy. We are looking for a Partnerships and Engagement Coordinator to join us and support this exciting growth.

The Partnerships and Engagement Coordinator will work closing with our fundraising and outreach teams to cultivate and manage relationships with new and existing stakeholders whose involvement could benefit the objective to reach and support more women in Bradford.

How to Apply

Please read the full job description and then head over to our website where you will be able to submit your CV and cover letter through our recruitment system by 9am on Monday 14th April. Your application should be addressed to Emily Zadok, Centre Manager. 

First round interviews will be held on Tuesday 22nd April. There will be 2nd round in person interviews at the Leeds Centre on a date to be confirmed.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or alterations for the application and recruitment processes, please contact our Recruitment team. 

Smart Works is committed to best practice employment practices, including reducing the burden for those seeking work. Smart Works will therefore reimburse reasonable costs of travel to interviews if required.

Make a Change 

Make a Change is a community-wide, early response approach to people using abusive behaviours (or who are concerned that they might be) towards a current or ex-partner. The model has been developed by Respect in partnership with Women’s Aid Federation England, drawing inspiration from their Change that Lasts approach. It includes three strands: expert support programme for perpetrators with parallel support for survivors, workforce development and community outreach.

Improving the safety, freedom and wellbeing of adult and child survivors of domestic abuse is a key outcome for our work with perpetrators.  The Make a Change model is a multi-partner project offering local areas a framework for delivering perpetrator work. Where feasible, we aim to establish partnerships with local survivor domestic abuse service to deliver parallel support for survivors (referred to as Integrated Support Service) as part the expert support strand.

This is a new and exciting role within the Make a Change team. This exciting new role offers a unique opportunity to join our team at a pivotal moment.  As the first person to fill this position, you'll play a key role in shaping its development and collaborating with the team to define its future direction.  This is a fantastic time to join us as we grow, and you'll be an integral part of establishing this important function and contributing to our collective and continued success 

We are seeking a Make a Change Development Lead to drive the development and innovation plans for the model for 2025-28. This pivotal role will focus on enhancing the three core strands of Make a Change: Expert Support, Workforce Development, and Community Outreach.

This role requires innovation, leadership and collaboration with a range of stakeholders, ensuring these strands work seamlessly together to achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes for individuals and communities.

You will need to think long-term and understand how different components of the programme fit together. Strong leadership skills are necessary to guide teams, inspire collaboration, and make decisions that will influence both the direction of the programme and its day-to-day operations. You will have a passion for innovation and continuous improvement to develop and test new strategies, tools, and methodologies, ensuring that the programme remains dynamic and responsive to changing needs.

This is an exciting opportunity within a creative and proactive team, where members are encouraged to seek out and share learning. The role focuses on continuously developing our work with perpetrators, contributing to the growing evidence base on effective behaviour change and strategies to keep survivors safe. 

SMART CJS is seeking a skilled and experienced Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer to play a key role in generating income from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory funders. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of writing successful funding applications and identifying new opportunities that align with SMART’s strategic goals in tackling homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals in Bedford and the surrounding area.

This is an exciting time to join SMART CJS as we grow and respond to new funding opportunities. The role is primarily home-based, so the successful candidate must be able to work independently and manage their time effectively. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is also important, as some of the stories and case studies used in funding applications can be emotionally challenging. The role will come with realistic targets.

Main Purpose of the Role

To identify, write, and submit compelling, well-researched and tailored funding applications to trusts, foundations, and relevant grant-giving bodies. The post holder will work closely with the CEO, Head of Business, and operational teams to gather information, write bids, and track progress of submissions, ensuring SMART CJS meets income targets.

Key Responsibilities

1. Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and frontline teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor applications to funder requirements and priorities, ensuring persuasive storytelling and alignment with SMART’s mission.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and KPIS and be able to feedback on these.

2. Organisational Development and Support

• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems, including templates, case studies, and project reporting tools.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

3. Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the Head of Business or CEO.

Person Specification

Criteria

Essential (E) / Desirable (D)

Minimum 2 years’ experience writing successful funding bids for a charity or not-for-profit organisation    E

Proven track record of securing funding from trusts, foundations, or statutory sources   E

Experience developing compelling cases for support and storytelling   E

Experience working with service delivery teams to gather evidence and data   E

Knowledge of the homelessness, housing, or social care sector   D

Experience using grant portals or CRM/fundraising databases   D

Project management experience or qualification   D

Excellent written and verbal communication skills   E

Strong time management and the ability to meet multiple deadlines   E

Highly organised and detail-oriented   E

Ability to work independently, using initiative in a home-based role   E

Personal resilience and emotional maturity to work with sensitive and sometimes distressing subject matter   E

Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion   E

About you 

You are a confident and experienced bid writer with a proven track record of securing funding from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory sources. Your writing is compelling, clear, and rooted in evidence—able to turn service data and case studies into powerful narratives that align with funder priorities.

Organised and self-motivated, you thrive in a home-based role where you can manage your own workload and juggle multiple deadlines with ease. You’re skilled at collaborating with service teams to extract the information you need, and you bring emotional maturity and resilience to the table when working with sensitive content.

Whether you're identifying new funding opportunities, building strong funder relationships, or supporting SMART CJS’s strategic goals, you are driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of people facing homelessness and complex challenges. You’re not just a great writer—you’re a passionate advocate for change.

All of us at The Talent Foundry believe that a young person's success should be determined by the talents and abilities they have, not where they come from.

All too often we hear from teachers in our school network that those from underserved communities are missing out on the skills and development opportunities that could completely change their futures.

In this brand-new role you will broaden our network of eligible schools so that they are aware of, and can access, the fantastic - and free - The Talent Foundry programmes and opportunities for their students.

“I’ll go as far as saying if we could offer a The Talent Foundry session every week for every single student, we would.” Aspirations Lead.

For 16 years, we have been offering programmes in schools which spark and unlock a young person's confidence in the abilities that they have - and connect them to employers and industries where they can have a successful career.

The role

You will be the first point of contact for enquiries to TTF and will proactively promote our opportunities across our network through telephone, email and in-person events.

Building relationships with teachers and career leads in schools and colleges is a crucial part of this role to ensure our marketing and communications reach the right people and meets students’ needs. 

You will be a dynamic and confident communicator, who thrives onsuccessfully closing a ‘sale’. All our programmes are fully funded by our amazing partners, and your role - with support from your colleagues - will be to identify schools who meet our eligibility criteria and find innovative ways to bring them into our network. 

Responsibilities

• Reaching more underserved young people 
• Telling the TTF story
• Attention to detail across administration and data
• Teamwork in outreach 

We recommend reading the full job description and person specification for an overview of the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for before applying for this role. 

Your experience

• Sales or customer service experience, with demonstrable evidence of hitting/exceeding sales targets
• Use of CRM systems to record and monitor outreach and targets
• Building relationships and confidently communicating with different stakeholders 
• Management of high-volume data and keeping accurate records with information from different sources 
• Working remotely or in a hybrid environment
• Supporting a team that manages different projects with competing priorities to achieve their communications goals

This is a hybrid role. You will be working from home with IT provided and join Team Together Days in a co-working space in London 2-3 individual days each month. These days are considered commuting days. You do not need to live in London to apply for this role, but you will need to consider what is a reasonable commuting distance for you to able to attend the team days in London.

In our job information pack you can also read our advice on using AI in your application. 

We also offer 28 days holiday + bank holidays (as we close for the Christmas period). 

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing and welfare of children and we require everyone associated with The Talent Foundry Trust, including all trustees, employees, and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will need to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including completing our Safer Recruitment process, references from past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks. 

Objective

To increase fundraised income for BRACE and dementia research through major donors and high-value supporters, both cultivating existing supporters to increase their support and networking to develop new major donors.

Role

As our Major Donor & Philanthropy Fundraiser, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive major giving programme to increase revenue from high-value supporters. This is a new and exciting opportunity to establish and grow this income stream for BRACE, requiring proven experience in securing major gifts.

Key Tasks:

Major Donor Fundraising

• Develop and implement a strategic plan to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high net worth individuals.

• Build and maintain a strong portfolio of potential funding sources through thorough prospect research.​

• Manage a diverse portfolio of existing and new major donors, delivering excellent relationship management to meet ambitious individual fundraising targets.​

• Build, manage, and maintain a full and consistent pipeline of prospects, ensuring timely progression through each stage from identification to stewardship.​

• Conduct frequent and regular contact with donors and prospects by phone, video, and in-person meetings, utilizing the Head of Fundraising and CEO for potential new and existing high net stakeholders.​

• Develop compelling, tailored proposals and funding applications to secure significant donations.​

• Create and implement bespoke stewardship plans to ensure long-term support.​

• Represent BRACE at networking events to build relationships with potential high-value supporters.​

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all major donor activity in our database.​

Strategy & Planning

• Work closely with the Head of Fundraising to develop and implement a major donor fundraising strategy.​

• Monitor performance against budget targets and analyze data to support future budgeting.​

• Contribute to the overall fundraising strategy of the charity.​

• Stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in major donor fundraising.​

General Responsibilities

• Be an active and supportive member of the BRACE team, supporting colleagues across the organization to support the charity’s wider organizational goals and objectives.​

• Gain and maintain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the charity's work, priorities, and future plans.​

• Assist the CEO, Head of Fundraising, and other colleagues with charity-wide development initiatives.​

• Attend meetings and events as required both during and outside normal office hours, including the annual Let’s Talk Dementia.​

• Carry out any other duties compatible with this post as directed by the Head of Fundraising.

Candidate requirements

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience in major donor fundraising or equivalent high-value relationship
  management
• Proven track record of securing large and repeat donations from individuals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with good copywriting and proofreading ability
• Experience in creative proposal writing and the ability to demonstrate clear outcomes and impact
• Confident and persuasive presentation skills
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with high-net worth individuals
• Experience in developing and implementing stewardship plans for major donors
• Strong research skills with experience in identifying quality new business leads
• Proven ability to form good working relations, both internally and externally with people at all levels
• Innovative and keen to find solutions to problems
• Strong interpersonal skill set with the ability to be persuasive
• Excellent IT literacy
• Excellent planning, time management, and organisational skills
• Willingness to work flexibly in order to adapt to the needs of supporters and the charity
• Able to work unsupervised and independently from home and on the road

Desirable:

• Excellent ability to motivate, inspire, and influence people
• A self-starter with entrepreneurial spirit
• Experience in launching or growing a major donor program
• Understanding of the medical research funding landscape
• Experience using Raiser's Edge to manage donor relationships
• Empathy with the cause that BRACE represents (knowledge of dementia and research is not essential, as information and informal training will be provided)

We have two permanent opportunities available.

Working as part of a small team, alongside an EDI funding manager and led by the Head of EDI Funding, you'll be located in the strategy implementation team within the Funding Strategy, Communications and Impact Directorate. Together we will develop EDI practice, tools, advice and guidance to support colleagues and the organisation to imbed deliverables and drive progress towards the new strategy commitments 'It starts with Community', ensuring the success of our Equity based approach, throughout the UK

Focussing your activity on grant-making processes and organisational performance, you will ensure delivery of our strategic EDI ambitions to deliver equitable and inclusive grant-making. You will use your great communication skills to engage colleagues and deliver EDI concepts and tools to support our funding priorities across decision making spaces. You will be able to analyse and interpret sensitive or complex information and data to identify key specific issues, barriers and developing trends. Collaborating with EDI leads, you will work Fund wide to ensure the delivery and progress towards the new strategy commitments via regular communications including written work, outreach, presenting and other means of engagement.

You will:

· Act as the key point of contact and resource for teams connecting and aligning EDI activity to the overall Fund EDI mission, facilitating consistency, common understanding and progression.

· Establish and coordinate resource to drive delivery and ensure appropriate monitoring and evaluation methods are employed for all EDI activities

· Map and collate learning on practice activity and identify key specific issues, barriers and developing trends via an equity, diversity and inclusion lens, collaborating with EDI leads where available.

· You will keep up to date with best practice, including legislative requirements and be committed to your own professional development, using this wider knowledge to improve and develop organisational knowledge.

· Ensure the consistent implementation of EDI initiatives in all funding portfolios, building positive connections and influencing effectively at all levels

· As part of a dispersed team, you can be based at any of our regional offices (with options for home-based hybrid working, as appropriate) across the UK, with an expectation of intermittent UK-wide travel

Interview Date: 15th and 16th April

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices, these are Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Newtown.

Informal conversations will be held between 1st and 4th of April.

Professional or lived understanding of issues relating Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Experience of delivering Equity, Diversity and Inclusion concepts in an organisational setting
• Detailed understanding of grant-making process, policies, and practice.
• Excellent communicator able to widely engage, connect and maintain  relationships
• Ability to work strategically and flexibly across diverse teams, to drive and deliver change

Desirable:

• Ability to analyse, interpret and present information to a range of audiences
• Understanding the policy and political differences across the UK
• Evidence of professional development in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Background

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) is a trade body which represents the independent schools’ sector in the UK. It comprises seven stakeholder associations who represent over 1,400 independent schools, educating more than half a million children. ISC schools are diverse, spanning day and boarding, single sex, SEND and faith provision. The great majority of children in UK independent schools are in ISC schools. ISC is strictly independent of all political parties and acts to support member schools in the interests of all children. 

Debates over the taxation of independent schools has meant the sector having a high political profile. With a new government, it is important the sector continues to build relationships with Ministers, civil servants and politicians of all parties to highlight the positive work of our schools in supporting pupils across the independent and state sectors and addressing the challenges facing education.

The role will be a permanent, full-time contract operating out of our London offices near St James’s Park underground station. Staff are able to work from home for part of the week.

Main purpose of job

Reporting to the Head of Policy, the successful candidate will deliver our public affairs workplan and support the development of policy positions. In particular, they will be responsible for building political relationships at national level while supporting schools to build local relationships with their MPs.

Person specification

· At least three years relevant political or public affairs experience.

· Ability to deliver public affairs work independently, working under the strategic supervision of the Head of Policy.

· Compelling, credible and confident communicator, able to:

o Write persuasively and with clarity

o Represent ISC in meetings with MPs, peers, civils servants and externals stakeholders at senior level

· Excellent working knowledge of Parliamentary and Whitehall processes.

· Ability to provide political counsel to senior ISC staff and member associations.

· Ability to build and develop a portfolio of external contacts and advocates.

· Can analyse policy documents and highlight issues of concern for member schools.

· Experience of responding to government consultations and select committee calls for evidence.

· Used to dealing with complex and changing issues in a challenging environment and able to respond flexibly and quickly as priorities change.

· Excellent planning and project management skills, with ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.

· Knowledge of education policy would be an advantage.

Personal attributes

· Highly literate and well versed in current affairs with excellent attention to detail.

· Motivated and proactive. Able to build productive internal and external relationships through professionalism, earning trust through the quality of work.

· Able to work well under pressure and prioritise effectively.

· Track record of seeing projects through to completion

· Able to communicate with confidence and clarity.

Specific responsibilities

To deliver ISC’s public affairs and policy activity including, but not restricted to, the tasks below:

· A priority is to develop good working relationships and links with association staff in the interests of maximising impact by working together.

· Develop and implement the public affairs and Parliamentary strategy for ISC.

· Implement political contact programme with Parliamentarians and external stakeholders; including attendance at party conferences.

· Advise and support school heads when engaging with local MPs and councillors; produce engagement toolkits.

· Advise the Chief Executive, senior staff and member associations and schools on effective public affairs approaches.

· Become a trusted source of political advice to member associations and schools, present at member meetings and conferences.

· Monitor Parliamentary activity – identifying issues, people to contact and writing weekly political update.

· Write briefings ahead of Parliamentary debates and engage with those taking part.

· Draft submissions to government consultations and select committee inquiries, working with members associations and schools to develop relevant policy positions.

· Work with the ISC media and communications team to ensure messaging is aligned, supporting the public affairs strategy and campaigns.

Other Benefits: 25 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days after one year’s service (and at the commencement of the next holiday year); in addition to the annual allowance the office is closed between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day; 10% employer pension contribution; hybrid working with a minimum of two days per week in the office.

ISC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people.