Senior innovation consultant jobs in london, greater london

Salary: £51,000 - £56,000 per annum

Location: Harlow Essex, 2 days per week in the office, flexible working available. Easily commutable from London, with a free company minibus from Harlow Town station.

Hours: Open to conversations around flexible/compressed working, minimum 4 days working per week, 2 days per week in the office.

About the role

At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

This role is an exciting new opportunity to shape and deliver on Motability Foundation’s aims to become more insights led and to systematically involve disabled people in our decision making. You will support the Head of Insight and Evaluation in providing the organisation with insight drawn from existing research, primary research, business data and through user insight. The role will lead development of a user insight approach and clear mechanisms to involve disabled people in the Foundation’s decisions systematically. The role will establish a user insight research community (akin to a customer panel but broader in scope), which the organisation can draw from for user insight.

The role is also responsible for delivering a strategic research and insight plan for the organisation to inform operational and strategic decisions, including feeding into our strategy mid-term review. Others in the organisations will also carry out research and hence this function has a role in setting standards for quality research, a coordinating role in ensuring a cross-organisational understanding of ongoing research to avoid duplication, and to draw insights and disseminate these to relevant internal and external audiences.

What you’ll be doing

• Support the head of team by developing a strategic insight research plan.
• Lead the delivery of the insight research plan, including developing clear research briefs, working with external suppliers to deliver research and where appropriate deliver research in-house.
• Establish a user insight capability in line with good practice and mature this capability over time.
• In collaboration with key internal customers, establish a framework for when and how to engage with disabled people regarding decisions.
• Develop and set standards for good quality research and insight for the organisation, including ensuring disabled people can fully and equitably participate in research/user insight exercises.
• Ensure that planned research and insight generation by the insight function is completed to a high standard, aligned with good practice.
• Set up and lead a cross-organisational research forum and ensure this mechanism is effective in avoiding duplication and creating alignment.
• Lead development and implementation of a communications plan to ensure insight generated reaches the right internal and external audiences.
• Ensure a framework to monitor and evaluate the usefulness and impact of insight generated is in place.
• Ensure all research carried out by the function meets GDPR requirements.
• Line-manage and develop your line-report(s).
• Be ‘hands on’ as necessary, by leading and delivering research personally.

What will make you great in this role?

The insight capability is a new function in the organisation and as a result this role will lead on its development over time. This presents great opportunities and will require an individual who is comfortable with starting things anew, while delivering on insight requirements and shaping the function along the way.

Your experience

Must haves:

• Experience of delivering user insight and/or running customer/consumer panels and/or working with supporter panels.
• Ability to design and develop research programmes and have highly developed analytical skills.
• Highly developed ability to work collaboratively with other teams across the organisation.
• Exceptional written and oral influencing skills, including the judicious use of data and the compelling presentation of insights, through engaging reports, infographics, and dashboards.
• Relevant qualification in an analytical discipline such as social sciences, economics or evidence of significant relevant professional experience.
• Experience managing research projects or commissioning external consultants.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Line and/or team management experience.

We feel that experience of setting up and/or managing consumer, customer or supporter panels is relevant. However, please note that as a Foundation we do not fundraise and as such are not looking to develop a supporter panel.

Nice to haves

• Experience of disability inclusive research – this is essential to the role. However, we will ensure appropriate training for those who do not have these skills.
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative data analysis tools (e.g., MAXQDA, R) and data visualisation platforms (e.g., Power BI).
• Proven quantitative and qualitative research skills and familiarity with working with large datasets.

Reporting lines and relationships

Reports to: Head of Insight and Evaluation.

Key relationships: Heads and programme managers in Charitable Operations, Head of Communications team and relevant managers, Policy team colleagues and over time other teams across the organisation looking for (user) insight. Relationships with external agencies and suppliers.

Direct reports: Initially 1 direct report in the form of a Research Manager with plans for a further junior role to be added to the team in future years.

Extra Information

• The role is based In Harlow, Essex at Motability’s offices, easily commutable from London, 30 minutes from Liverpool Street station or 18 minutes from Tottenham Hale station. We offer a shuttle bus from the Harlow Town train station to the office.
• We offer flexible and blended working within this role. The Insight and Evaluation team ordinarily works a minimum of two days a week from the office. 

We are delighted to be working in partnership with World Vision. As a global Christian humanitarian charity, World Vision is dedicated to tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice, empowering children, families, and communities to thrive. Through advocacy, emergency relief, and long-term development, they bring hope and transformation where it’s needed most. At the heart of their mission is a deep commitment to demonstrating God’s unconditional love.

We are seeking a two inspiring Philanthropy Managers to join World Vision’s brand-new Integrated Fundraising and Marketing team. This is an exciting opportunity to grow income from their valued donor base while reaching new supporters across the UK. You’ll work collaboratively across teams, share portfolios, and shape smart segmentation strategies to create meaningful, personalised donor experiences. We’re after strategic thinkers with a heart for impact, individuals who can blend innovation, relationship-building, and spiritual maturity to drive change. This is your chance to step into a role where your skills and passion can help unlock extradordinary generosity that will deliver life-changing outcomes for children worldwide.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience in a major donor fundraising (or other relevant) role.
• Experience in managing 6 figure income portfolios.
• Outstanding networker with strong interpersonal skills.

Come and create real, lasting change on a global scale. Join a passionate, purpose-driven team dedicated to transforming the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. At World Vision your work will bring hope, drive progress, and deliver life-changing support to children who need it most, wherever they are in the world. This is your opportunity to make your fundraising skills count where it matters most.

For more information, please contact Nick Thomas, Senior Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application 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.

*In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9, it is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian and in agreement with World Vision’s mission and values. 

Location: Home-based with 1 day per week in Milton Keynes office. Regular UK-wide travel requirements to attend donor visits and events

Closing date for applications: 18 May 2025

Please note: Applications are being reviewed on receipt and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. When a suitable candidate is found the role will close, so please apply without delay to avoid disappointment.

Heard is a multi-award-winning charity working at the intersection of storytelling and social justice. For over 15 years, we’ve inspired content and communication that shift public perspectives and drive real-world change on issues such as climate change, migration, trans rights, and more. Our work supports people to create compelling narratives that move hearts, change minds, and spark action.

We’re looking for a passionate and creative programme manager with TV experience to join our Climate team and lead the television strand of our Climate Stories That Work programme.

As programme manager, you’ll work closely with broadcasters, production companies, writers, and creatives to spark climate stories that resonate with audiences and inspire action.

You don’t need to be a climate expert. What matters most is that you understand how great TV gets made and that you're motivated to help translate climate and sustainability themes into narratives that people genuinely want to watch.

You’ll oversee the TV-focused work of the climate programme from concept to delivery. That includes shaping strategy, running story consultations, developing creative decks, facilitating workshops, and building partnerships that bring impact both on-screen and behind the scenes. You'll also play a key role in connecting climate issues with entertainment, working alongside campaigners, public figures, and cultural influencers to develop meaningful, relatable stories.

You’ll be supported by the senior programme manager, programme coordinator, and a network of consultants to ensure smooth delivery. You’ll also contribute your insights and experience to the executive team, helping guide the future direction of the programme.

At Heard, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking, creative, and supportive team. If this sounds like a fit for you, apply now!
 

OVERVIEW

Job Type: Fixed term contract (until 29 May 2026 with possibility of extension)
Working: Full time (35 hours per week, not including breaks)
We’re ideally looking for someone full-time, but we’re open to part-time or flexible options for the
right candidate.
Reporting to: Senior Programme Manager
Based at: Heard, The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9DA. Hybrid -- Staff are able to work from home for part of their week, and are required to be in the office for 2 days a week as we think it is important to stay connected as a team.
Salary: £36,720 pro rata
Staff benefits: 7.5% pension contribution and salary sacrifice scheme, 30 days holiday (pro-rata) plus bank
holidays, mentoring scheme, annual training budget, and hybrid working.

See job description for full details.

Prostate Cancer Research exists to honour the men and families who have been through things no family should have to go through, and to work for a future where no one needs to fear a prostate cancer diagnosis. 

We are always working to provide resources to help, support and empower patients. Giving them the information they need to make better choices about their treatment, while working to identify and target specific unmet needs in the prostate cancer ecosystem, such as racial inequality and bone metastasis.

Our dedicated staff team is the key to our success, expanding the amount of research that we fund five times over in four years. PCR has been shortlisted for an Impact Prize and won the Change Project of the year award in 2023

The Events & Community Manager role is a new position, created to give the attention and expertise needed to our large and profitable portfolio of virtual challenge events, which have collectively raised over £1m gross income per year for two years. It is a crucial role within the team, overseeing the innovation, planning and delivery of all virtual challenges. You will work with colleagues accross the organisation to seize opportunities, whilst ensuring best practice in our fundraising activity and infastructure, delivering brilliant stewardship during supporters participation in the virtual events and beyond. 

The position reports to the Head of Events & Community, and will line manage one Events & Community Executive. Collaboration will be important, especially with the senior Events team managers who lead the innovation, planning and delivery of third party and PCR owned bespoke events. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategy, Project Management and Income Growth

• Lead the strategy to maximise the value of PCR's virtual challenge events portfolio, working with the Head of E&C and others to take a long-term view, building on existing foundations to grow and maintain a sustainable income stream
• Oversee the project management of PCR's Facebook Challenges in the UK, leading end-to-end planning and delivery with the support of the E&C executives to hit ambition fundraising targets
• Design and deliver ambitious fundraising budgets for your projects which contribute net income towards PCR's lifesaving mission
• Create and maintain good relationships with suppliers, venues, agencies and consultants to ensure great value
• Oversee the stewardship of fundraisers taking part in virtual challenge events, gaining a solid understanding of the audience, ensuring supporter journeys are relevent and engaging and using feedback to continually develop positive experiences for supporters
• Work with other events team managers to contibute to the planning and delivery of other activity areas, including third-party challenges

Product Development and Innovation

• Continue to grow and improve PCR's Facebook Challenge portfolio, staying up to date with sector trends and opportunities for new journeys, suppliers, propositions and tools, taking a test and learn approach and always ensuring that learnings are captured. For this, there will be realistic budgets and an understanding of the investment needed for new ideas
• Develop approaches to engage supporters beyone their initial participations, working with Public Fundrasing colleagues and others to test cross-selling journeys and maximise the lifetime value of virtual event fundraisers
• Work with other team members to improve other areas of social and virtual fundraising (e.g. non-challenge fundraising on Meta), ensuring all supporters are stewarded and income generaltion opportunities are seized upon
• Maintain a strong level of understanding of PCR's existing (and target) supporters in order to create and implement products & stewardship that motivate and inspire.
• Alongside the Head of E&C and other Events team managers, embed a culture of innovation and supporter insight
• Proactively collaborate internally, working with other teams to identify opportunities which meet PCR's objectives
• Be proactive in your personal development & look for opportunities to learn - with support from your manager

Team leadership

• Line manage one Events & Community Executive, overseeing their work, guiding them to improve & innovate in their role, and supporting their professional development
• Work with the other Events team managers to support (and where appropriate take a lead on) the development of processes and infrastructure in order to improve efficiency, compliance and best practice across the team
• Work closely with the Head of E&C and the other Events team managers on team strategy and capacity planning
• Work with the team to embed our agile ways of working, modelling the principle that we all take collective responsibility for the team's shared goals
• Attend and contribute to meetings, sharing new ideas and learnings that might be useful for the wider team
• Work with the Head of E&C and other Events team managers to embed and model PCR's organisational values: innovation, collaboration, accountability and championing the patient voice

As with everyone in the the Public Fundraising department, you may also get involved with other projects and tasks as appropriate to support all our activities. 

Attendance may be required at some weekend and evening events, for which TOIL will be given. 

Skills and Competencies

Some of the key attributes of the Events & Community Manager will be:

• A willingness to get stuck in, proactive attitude and eagerness to learn
• Confident event and project management skills, including end-to-end planning, budgeting & results tracking
• An understanding and (ideally) experience of large-scale virtual challenge events or similar peer-to-peer fundraising activity
• The ability to see opportunities and drive progress in existing events - and finding our next successful ones!
• An understanding of good line management practice and the ability to take a leadership role within the team 
• A strong sense of personal accountability.
• Excellent organisational skills and an ability to juggle multiple competing priorities/ projects, identifying the most valuable use of your time
• Great communication and stakeholder management skills
• The ability to motivate and inspire a range of audiences through relationship building and storytelling
• Good attention to detail and IT Skills
• A strong belief in the work we do at PCR and committed to PCR's values

How to Apply 

Please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining why you feel you would be a good fit for the role.

The closing date for applications is the 7th of May and interviews will be held on the 13th and 14th of May. 

For more information about our organisation, visit the Prostate Cancer Research website, The Prostate Progress webpage, and the PCR online patient resource, The Infopool. 

PCR is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. 

As the Head of Access & Participation and Student Recruitment you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the outreach and admissions departments, ensuring smooth operations and fostering an effective, positive participation experience for those engaging with our services and a positive and supportive application process for those applying to study with us. This role involves direct line management of the Admissions coordinator and our extensive outreach team as well as collaborating with other departments to uphold academic and company standards. Reporting to Senior Management, you’ll play a crucial role in formulating reports, managing budgets, monitoring performance metrics, whilst also implementing and overseeing collaborative projects and initiatives to achieve our organisational and charitable objectives.

This is a senior role within the organisation and the successful candidate will be a member of the leadership team, demonstrating previous experience in a comparable management role within an academic and / or arts-based setting.

The Head of Access & Participation and Student Recruitment is responsible for managing and enhancing Fourth Monkey’s established accessibility and inclusion initiatives and recruitment goals. Providing quality assurance and strong leadership throughout the process from first engagement to student enrolment, whilst developing and enhancing collaborative partnerships with external stakeholders and partners along the way.

The Head of Access & Participation and Student Recruitment acts as the expert in their field providing a smooth operational and administrative management of the organisations day to day work within this area of specialism.

This role is about driving student success. 

About the role
As Head of Communications and Marketing you will lead the communications team to deliver a high-impact strategy to promote the work of the Foundation. You will manage the continuous evolution of the Foundation’s profile and brand, coordinating and delivering compelling content for a range of audiences across all channels. You’ll work closely with senior leadership to align the Foundation’s goals to the work of the team to support the delivery of our mission to empower women to start, grow and sustain successful businesses. For full information on this role, please download the job pack.

What the Foundation can offer you
A fantastic package of 28 days of annual leave (which includes three that must be taken during the festive break).
An organisation that values you. As a smaller organisation, we value everyone’s individual perspective and voice and all team members are able to contribute to our strategic planning.
Professional development, with career growth built into each staff member’s annual plan and a wide range of skills-building and learning opportunities provided. Each staff member has an annual £1,000 training budget.
A positive, supportive and collaborative culture and leadership style. We encourage teamwork and open and honest communication, while maintaining a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where everyone can thrive.
A focus on personal wellbeing and happiness, with regular team-building activities and line manager meetings that as well as your personal wellbeing.

About the Foundation 
The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women exists to create a future where women everywhere enjoy equal economic opportunities so they can thrive. Together with partners around the world, we work with women in low and middle income countries so they can start, sustain and grow successful enterprises. We collaborate to create fairer business environments so women are not constrained by gendered barriers and can reach their potential on their terms.

Since 2008, our training and mentoring services have supported 300,000 women to build successful micro, small and medium enterprises in over 100 countries. By blending insights from research, strong partnerships and pioneering technology we open doors for women entrepreneurs to skills, confidence, networks, finance and markets. We press for change to stop millions of women being held back from having the choice and opportunity to thrive.

Contract: Full time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term Contract, 18 months

Salary: £40,000- £41,000 p.a.

Job Summary 

The purpose of this role is to bring additional operational capacity to new church plants and partnerships. This role will work across multiple partnerships on a fixed term basis to support the operational set up of new partnerships, and leading on operational improvements where there are existing processes. 

This role will be pivotal in establishing sustainable operational excellence, allowing ministry teams to undertake missional work. 

Job responsibilities 

• Support new church partnerships and plants for a fixed term to develop strong operational functions.
• Work collaboratively with parish team members, scoping the operational needs that require supporting, reviewing or developing 
• Set-up new or review existing operational functions, including: HR and recruitment, finance, reporting, fundraising, buildings management.
• Develop digital and communications processes including website development and newsletter templates.
• Lead on development and implementation of volunteer and event management systems.
• Work with parish leaders to develop operational sustainability beyond the term of this role.
• Identify operational needs in support of missional activities, supporting missional project planning and project management.
• Support with partnership reporting processes as part of the Hackney and Islington funded programme.
• Develop a pipeline of income generation opportunities, including rental agreements and grant funding.
• Develop an operational toolkit of policies and best practice for future plants and partnerships 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full details on the main responsibilities. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Experience implementing new systems
• Change management
• Experience of grant management or reporting on funding objectives
• Strong operational and administrative skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Knowledge of recruitment processes
• Strong IT skills
• Right to work in UK
• Practicing Christian, committed to upholding the values and mission of the Church of England
• The person will not require a DBS check

Desirable 

• Knowledge of good governance practices
• Relevant Project Management qualification
• Relevant finance or HR administration qualification
• Experience of parish operations

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full details on Person Specification. 

About the London Diocesan Fund 

The London Diocesan Fund (LDF) is the employment body that serves and supports the Diocese of London and Church of England. The Diocese of London comprises of c400 parishes north of the River Thames and within the M25 motorway. 

The Church of England in London is growing, vibrant and at the heart of communities throughout the capital. At the London Diocesan Fund, we seek to do everything we can to support this mission and growth, using our resources to help our parishes and chaplains to serve over 4 million people. 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 

The Diocese of London is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. 

We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation. 

Safeguarding 

The Diocese of London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

Benefits of working with us 

The LDF offers a supportive working environment, opportunity for career development and the following financial benefits: 

• Competitive remuneration package
• 27 annual leave days to rise to 30 after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays
• 15% employer pension contribution and salary sacrifice available
• Death in service benefit x3 of basic gross salary
• Enhanced maternity leave of six months full pay, after 12 months of employment
• Season ticket loans for public transport
• Access to Benenden Health Insurance
• EAP counselling through Health Assured                            
• Up to £100 for eye test and contribution to spectacles                      
• Two additional paid days for community volunteering

Interviews will be held on 22 May 2025 in the Hackney or Islington area. 

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. 

Development Manager

Are you a passionate and skilled land and property professional with a heart for serving older Christians? We are seeking a Development Manager to play a key role in expanding and strengthening our mission to provide compassionate, faith-based care. This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of our residents while working alongside a dedicated and motivated team.

We are looking for a Development Manager who will be instrumental in driving our vision forward, identifying new land and acquisition opportunities, and ensuring the highest standards of development and innovation.

As a Development Manager, you will be responsible for leading on strategic development projects, forging key partnerships, and ensuring our growth and renewal programme moves forward in alignment with our mission.

If you are a dynamic and experienced land and property professional with a strong background in acquisitions, planning, project management, and a heart for Christian service, we invite you to apply now.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage strategic development projects from inception to completion.
• Identify and develop new opportunities for growth and expansion.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders .
• Manage budgets effectively and ensure financial sustainability of development initiatives.
• Prepare reports and provide updates to senior management and trustees.

Skills/Experience:

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.
• Proven experience in land acquisition, development project management, or a similar role.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong financial acumen and experience in managing development budgets.
• A proactive and innovative approach .
• IT proficient, including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.

Applicants must be evangelical Christians (This role has an Occupational Requirement to be filled by a Christian under the provisions of the Equality Act (2010).)

Hours:

Full-time, 40 hours per week.

Benefits:

• Salary: £54,000 per annum
• Remote working
• 5 Weeks' paid holiday per year as well as bank and public holidays
• On-going training and support
• Team events
• Pension scheme
• Care Friends referral 
• Medicash
• Perkbox – including an Employee assistance programme.
• Long-standing service rewards
• Birthday rewards

— What our staff say about us: “It is a friendly and welcoming place to work.” —

We are committed to having a diverse leadership team and encourage applications from disabled and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented at the senior management level.

Closing date: 23rd May 2025 – However, this vacancy may close sooner if sufficient applications are received, so please apply as soon as possible if interested.

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. 

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

Direct reports: 1 x Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Legislative Lead, 2 x Policy and Public Affairs Officers, 1 x England Policy and Public Affairs Manager 

Location of work: Home-based. The post holder must be easily and quickly commutable to London and will require frequent meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland to attend events and meetings.

Contract type: Full-time, 35 hours per week,  flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work 

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

Our work has never been more needed. The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.6 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 300,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK.

 This is an exciting time to join Magic Breakfast if you wish to make a difference to the lives of children as we work to influence both policy implementation, with the national rollout of primary-aged universal school breakfast, and legislative change, through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. There has also been commitment from the Scottish Government for a national breakfast scheme and we are seeking to expand our advocacy work into Wales. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are implemented in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free.

In addition, thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams.  And for the very youngest, we know that the disadvantage gap begins before they even reach reception. With the Government commitment to another 100,000 places in school-based nurseries, early years is also a critical part of our advocacy work.

 Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good.

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Policy & Public Affairs will review, develop and implement our advocacy strategy and lead a team to influence the devolved legislatures across the UK to address child morning hunger, with a view to the underlying systemic causes of child poverty and hunger, by driving change through policy and legislation. The role operates at our ‘Head of level’ which is the most senior operational specialist level and provides both operational and strategic leadership.

This role will also provide wider leadership across the charity and input into organisational strategy development and planning as part of the Core Management Group. This role will ensure that the Policy and Public Affairs function is aligned to the wider strategic aims and outcomes of Magic Breakfast as well as the internal operational systems and delivery.

The strategic leadership will ensure an external and long term view, with an outward looking and forward thinking approach that builds thought leadership, relationships and partnerships, with positioning to anticipate and build on new opportunities to end child morning hunger for good.

It will require an experienced Policy and Public Affairs professional, with significant experience of high impact and demonstrable outcomes at a senior level in the field. The postholder will lead the policy and public affairs team to influence the Early Adopters Scheme, the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision in England and breakfast legislation in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (CWB).

They will also develop, guide and lead plans to influence the Scottish government, particularly in the run up to the election in May 2026 and the influencing of manifestos; and will lead Magic Breakfast’s upcoming influencing work in Wales. 

In the external leadership that the role provides they will build relationships with politicians, political influencers, special advisors and civil servants to establish long-term, sustainable solutions to child morning hunger in the UK.

As a compassionate, people centric and inspiring leader they will work to enable their team to grow and develop in their skills ensuring they can step away from the detail whilst retaining accountability, build effective resource management and progression pathways. This role may manage external consultants where necessary, and work collaboratively with external organisations to amplify our voice and asks and strengthen our position as a thought leader. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Review and define the advocacy strategy for 25/26 in line both with moving political environment and Magic Breakfast’s influencing agenda, considering the systemic barriers to ending child morning hunger for good.

· Develop and maintain close relationships with the Department for Education and other key departments including Department for Health and Social Care and Treasury, to secure hunger and child focus as key priorities for breakfast provision.

· Develop, monitor and evaluate influencing plans for each devolved nation

· Support the development of influencing plans with coalition groups and organisations to influence school breakfast policy, commitments and implementation

· Review policy positions in Wales and Northern Ireland and define our advocacy approach, gaining external insights and analysing available research and data to shape the plan

· Develop a vision for advocacy beyond current demands, considering political appetite and gaining insight from lived experience communities and relevant sectors, to ensure that we are clear on future asks, and can build the foundation towards them.

· Work with Impact and Insights team to define future research needs to meet our longer-term advocacy plans

· Enhance and establish internal processes and ensure good internal information dissemination 

· Work closely with key internal stakeholders to shape advocacy work and support broader organisational objectives

· Embed learnings and develop a fail fast, learn fast culture in the team

· Coach, support and lead direct reports enabling increased professional development, strategic decision making, proactive project management and robust political influencing

· Contribute to and help shape the work of the Core Management Group to ensure ongoing alignment for in year implementation of the strategic plan and create integrated future year plans which meet organisational goals

· Monitor and review KPIs to monitor and measure both team and cross organisational performance, using the results to guide teams and surface learnings

· Assess areas of risk and escalate where necessary and according to policy

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

• Work collaboratively across the organisation, building good working relations and providing ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s aim of alleviating morning hunger as a barrier to learning for children in the UK.

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do. 

• Share Magic Breakfast’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Establish and ensure existing Ways of Working are adhered to across team

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures and ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR, data protection and child safeguarding requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

· Strategy development, demonstrating a deep understanding of how to craft, implement, and evolve strategies that align to operational outcomes for the Policy and Advocacy function as well as enabling our organisation strategy in our aim to end child morning for good.

· Stakeholder management and partnership building with extensive experience of engaging, influencing, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including senior political figures, policymakers, funders and sector leaders.

· Ability to confidently and flexibly deal with volatile political environment, anticipating potential developments and adapting to emerging situations to meet aims

· Highly experienced in developing and shaping policy positions, using insights, research and data sets to inform and guide decision-making

· Understanding and experience of the role of the broader external environment to shape policy asks and political influencing, including the implications of a policy ask in one sector on another.

· Experience of influencing key political events such as budgets, national elections and the legislative process.

· Significant experience of coaching, supporting and managing the development of a team, with the ability to make difficult decisions and challenge where needed to deliver the organisational strategy.

Desirable

· Experience of education, food insecurity, child poverty or childcare sectors

Skills and Abilities

• Effective leadership mentality with confidence to step away from the detail and delegate responsibility, enabling others to use judgements, make decisions, learn from failures and continuously improve.

• Analytical and evidence based decision making, with the ability to turn data and analysis into policy and advocacy related recommendations or outcomes for action.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and project management skills. Able to organise self and team to meet planned objectives and strategic direction with the ability to pivot and manage the unexpected.

• Strong, influential and impactful interpersonal and communication skills and to advocate for own specialism, department and Magic Breakfast's mission, effectively conveying the organisation's impact and needs to a wide range of audiences.

• Operational and financial acumen and analysis: understanding and practical application of knowledge as required around funding considerations, budget development and management, risk management, and ensuring systems in place for efficiency by setting and maintaining policy and procedural frameworks.

• An outward looking and forward thinking approach that drives a sense of curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. Always thinking what can we learn from others, what new developments can be explored and what are the opportunities for the function to improve and grow with others too.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.