Service Support Officer Jobs in Manchester

Strategic Lead - International Nature and Climate 

Salary: up to £50,000  

Location: Home-based, or based at the main office in Newark, Nottinghamshire (Tues-Thurs)  

Full time: 35 hours per week (Mon-Fri)  

Permanent  

Closing date for applications: 19th January 2025  

First interview: 30th January 2025  

Second interview: 3rd February 2025 

About Us  

The Wildlife Trusts are a federated movement of 46 charities, supported by a central charity, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Together we have over 900,000 members, 32,500 volunteers and 3,400 staff across the UK. We are at an exciting moment in our 110- year history, with the implementation of an ambitious new strategy, setting out a vision of nature in recovery, with abundant, diverse wildlife and natural processes creating wilder landscapes where people and nature thrive. 

Wildlife Trusts have restored and care for some of the most special places for wildlife in the UK. Collectively we manage more than 2,600 nature reserves, operate 123 visitor and education centres and own 29 working farms. We undertake research, we stand up for wildlife and wild places under threat, and we help people access nature. 

The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. We recognise that this will require big, bold changes in the way The Wildlife Trusts work, not least in how we use and create data and evidence to ensure that we act with the biggest impact possible for nature and people. 

About You  

We are seeking an expert on international nature and climate policy and practice, including on global treaties and negotiations, to lead our growing international work programme at The Wildlife Trusts. 

We are looking for an experienced and knowledgeable strategic lead to oversee our international work programme across The Wildlife Trusts. Reporting to the Director of Climate Change and Evidence, the postholder will lead on developing our linkages to international treaties and programmes on nature and climate, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity and IUCN. The postholder will help to link our work at local and national level through to the global context. They will provide dedicated support to the Chief Executive, Deputy CEO and Senior Leadership Team in providing advice, giving strategic direction and managing our relevant work programmes, as well as developing our comms work on international climate and nature. 

The Wildlife Trusts value passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism and strength in diversity. Whilst we are passionate in promoting our aims, we are not judgmental and are inclusive. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector, including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. 

The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For applicable roles, applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level.  

RSWT take safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. Please read our commitment statement on our website.  

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible.  

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact us to discuss this further and understand other options. 

Purpose of the post

HDR UK and the BHF Data Science Centre are committed to meaningful involvement and engagement where patients and the public are actively involved in shaping our work and decision-making. Reporting to the Centre’s Operations Director, this is a pivotal role that will be integral to ensuring the patient and public voice is embedded in our work at all stages.

You will work closely with public members, research and NHS communities, internal colleagues, charity partners, and funders to develop and implement plans for PPIE activity across all of our key areas of interest, in addition to the governance of the Centre.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who has a passion for meaningful involvement and engagement of patients and the public, to shape and influence our work on the safe, ethical and scientifically robust use of data for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of all diseases of the heart and circulation.

The successful candidate will have a track record in working with individuals, groups and communities and have the ability to communicate complex information in clear, engaging ways. The post holder will have excellent influencing and negotiation skills, experience of working on complex projects with multiple partners and be comfortable with working at pace. Patient and public involvement and engagement in data-driven research is a growing field. The successful candidate will show a willingness and experience of developing and delivering innovative approaches to involvement where previously opportunities may not have been obvious.

Main responsibilities

Embedding PPIE in our work

• Lead on the delivery of the PPIE strategy for the BHF Data Science Centre, with oversight from the Operations Director, incorporating regular (e.g. annual) reviews and updates of the strategy.
• Lead and facilitate meetings with public contributors to integrate meaningful PPIE throughout all aspects of our work.
• Undertake and manage specific involvement and engagement activities, including but not limited to focus groups, engagement events, developing and undertaking surveys, supporting the writing of plain English summaries of projects and their outputs. In collaboration with senior colleagues, support involvement of patients and the public in the governance of our work.
• Review and provide advice on PPIE elements of research applications ensuring adequate PPIE is incorporated and provide advice where needed to researchers. 
• Develop methods to expand reach and ensure diversity of perspectives and work with the HDR UK PPIE team to grow involvement of currently underrepresented and underserved groups in health data science.
• Build and manage relationships with colleagues within the BHF Data Science Centre, working collaboratively to support and manage involvement and engagement across all areas of work.
• Work closely with the internal communications colleagues to create and disseminate engaging content (e.g. news stories on outputs and impact, videos, infographics, case studies) on our work and involvement and engagement activities using a variety of communication tools.
• Horizon scan and liaise with colleagues across the BHF Data Science Centre and HDR UK for opportunities to increase visibility of the institute’s engagement and involvement impact, i.e. through conferences, festivals, journals and other publications.

Developing PPIE best practice and collaborative working

• Incorporate best practice in our work, learning from examples of successful patient and public engagement that could influence our work
• Provide briefings for colleagues to share best practice and examples of successful patient and public engagement
• Collaborate with PPIE colleagues to coordinate public outreach initiatives and other events, ensuring that stakeholders are afforded opportunities to contribute their input and provide feedback. Establish effective working relationships and ‘ways of working’ with strategic partners to maximise opportunities for collaboration in patient and public involvement and engagement.
• Act as an internal and external ambassador for public, patient and practitioner engagement and involvement.
• Monitor and report on performance of PPIE across the Centre, make effective use of digital approaches to maximize the ability to collaborate, communicate and continuously learn.

Supporting PPIE members

• Be the point-of-contact for all BHF Data Science Centre public contributors, ensuring they are kept updated, receive all information in a timely manner and that any issues are dealt with in a sensitive manner.
• Lead on the recruitment of new public contributors as required. Adapt, develop and provide training for public contributors where necessary identifying training requirements as needed.
• Working with BHF Data Science Centre colleagues, maintain patient and public contact lists in Hubspot (CRM).

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Experience

• Experience of working with patients, carers and members of the public with diverse interests.
• Experience of running patient/public involvement activities and evaluating these activities, strategies and methodologies, preferably in a research environment
• Experience of promoting the need and value of engagement and involvement to a wide range of stakeholders and acting as an advocate
• Experience of writing / developing content for public and research audiences and delivering presentations
• Experience of demonstrating an understanding of health research and the needs of patients and the public
• Planning and organisational expertise with a proven track record of delivering challenging projects with multiple partners to deadlines
• Experience of organising and facilitating a range of events and meetings including: event preparation, chairing of meetings, delivering presentations, use of tools to gather views and feedback, follow-up communications and evaluation
• An understanding of the public sensitivities of using health data for research
• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Skills

• Excellent planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage complex and multiple areas of work with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent people and interpersonal skills to build collaborative partnerships across diverse groups and the ability to handle sensitive issues positively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with different groups of stakeholders and people at all levels.
• Evidence of ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines using a flexible and adaptable approach
• Good influencing and coaching skills.
• Able to grasp the complexity of work across HDR UK and process complex scientific information to communicate it in a way that is clear, engaging and inspires the public to get involved.
• Strong analytic skills with the ability to frame problems and solutions in a logical manner.
• Ability to work autonomously and make decisions without supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Please note, as we are a UK-based organisation, applicants must be living in, and eligible to work in, the UK. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  

• Salary: £53,500 outside of London, £55,500 inside of London
• Hours: 35/week
• Contract type: Permanent 
• Location: Home-based with regular travel to London and Bristol offices 
• Closing date: 5 January 2025
• WC interview date: 13 January 2025

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Brand and Content  to join our Brand and Marketing Communications team.  This is a brand new role and exciting opportunity to bring your passion and experience to deliver bold, impactful and innovative work.

Your creative flair and highly strategic approach to developing brands will enable you to establish the Brand and Content team as a centre of excellence, trusted and respected in the sector and across the organisation.

You will be motivated to achieve system change in cancer care for children and young people, able to inspire and drive change, trying new ways of working and collaborating with colleagues across the charity to work in an integrated way to achieve shared goals.

We will become an audience-led organisation, driven by insight and outcomes and we can’t wait for you to join our team to make this happen.

Young Lives vs Cancer is open to and in support of flexible working. Your flexibility requirements and that of the role will be discussed at interview stage with you. 

This role is remote and can be based anywhere in the UK with regular visits to our London and Bristol offices and occasional visits to our accommodation services across the UK.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

• Leading a team and developing a culture in which people are supported to reach their potential and deliver high quality work with demonstrable impact.
• Demonstrate the importance of diversity, accessibility and inclusion in everything we do.
• Lead the team and colleagues across he organisation to embed our brand positioning
• Establish a brand activation programme that enables the delivery of our organisational strategy 
• Deliver a step change in our creative output, internally and with agencies. Stay on top of trends and audience insight and external innovation and inspiration.
• Take an active role in team planning, developing and embedding new ways of working, establishing relationships with other teams, raising the profile and reputation of the Brand and Marketing Communications team across the charity.
• Proactively seek external opportunities to represent and advocate on behalf of Young Lives vs Cancer’s work and work collaboratively in development of the Children’s Cancer Care or the wider voluntary sector.

What do I need? 

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Extensive experience of developing brand strategy and identities for high profile corporate and/or not for profit brands.
• Leading teams to deliver, implement and evaluate brand, creative and content strategies which demonstrate impact.
• Extensive experience of leading creative teams to deliver outstanding work which has an impact on brand awareness, engagement and income generation.
• Passionate about leading and developing teams, driving a high performance culture through your ability to coach, inspire and empower people.
• Creative thinker, with a passion for working in a creative environment, drawing on insight and the external environment to inspire teams and encourage innovation.
• Involving people with lived experience through co-creation, co-production and evaluation.

What will I gain?

 For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing days: four days a year to do what works for you – from catching up on training to going for a walk
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website. 

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

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