Strategy Jobs

Do you have a passion to make a difference to the lives of young people and local communities in the Essex, Kent and London areas? YMCA Thames Gateway Group is seeking a Director of Finance and IT to join our outstanding executive team, and to take a lead in ensuring that our work continues to create supportive and energising communities that are open to all, where people can truly belong, contribute and thrive.

Joining our team is an opportunity to be part of a global movement that is inclusive, diverse and forward-thinking. YMCA is the largest and oldest charity working with young people in the world. We are one of the 97 YMCAs in England and Wales, and we are one of the 10 largest.

We are dedicated to helping people reach their full potential in mind, body and spirit. We provide support to around 10,000 people in our local communities through a diverse range of services including supported and move-on housing; health and wellbeing activities; and childcare, youth and family work.

This is an exciting time to join YMCA Thames Gateway Group. Our turnover has increased from £3.5 million to £10 million over the last few years, and we are two years into a new five-year strategy focused on strengthening our YMCA branches and business streams, whilst continuing to achieve our impact ambitions.

We seek a Director of Finance and IT who shares our values and ethos and brings:

• Strategic financial leadership experience in a similarly complex environment, ideally with relevant experience in charity or housing association contexts
• strong commercial acumen;
• accountancy qualifications and experience of treasury and cash management;
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a collegial, engaging approach.

This is a hybrid role which will include some home working and a regular presence at YMCA Thames Gateway Group sites in Essex, London and Kent (in particular the Romford site where many of the Finance and IT team are located).

As our CEO looks to step down in 2025 we are recruiting a dedicated leader, with clear management experience in the Voluntary Sector. Our work is centred around Rural Community Engagement with a particular focus on supporting children, young people and their families, although our venue, The TCR Hub, is open to all. We are looking for a Leader who is dedicated to getting the best for service users, passionate about community support with an eye for commercial and funded opportunities that will continue to sustain and grow our Charity. 

Location:  Remote with regular travel

Our office is based in Downton and that’s where our monthly Executive Team meetings are held. The charity’s board meetings are typically held in London, so applicants are likely to be living in the south of England. We are a remote working charity, and colleagues in the Services Directorate are based in geographies right across the UK – our Service Director will need to be able to travel to stay connected with our work and responsive to external commitments.

About us

At Help for Heroes, we believe those who serve our country deserve support to live well after service. Every day, men and women leave their careers in the Armed Forces because they are wounded, injured or sick; their lives changed forever. We help them, and their families, to recover and live well after service.

And who are we you’re wondering? We are experts and beginners. Generalists and specialists. Ordinary people with an extraordinary passion towards making a positive change to the lives of our veterans (and having fun while doing it).

As One Team we share a philosophy – I.C.A.R.E. It’s the way we walk and talk, the way we interact with others and how we approach everything we do. We are:

Innovative – Collaborative – Authentic – Resourceful – Energetic.

About you

You’re an energetic, highly motivated and compassionate professional focussed on making a definable and durable difference to those in the Armed Forces community who are facing challenges after service. You’ll have expertise in creating, leading and managing programmes of high-quality support which delivers impact. You’ll nurture a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement – and you’ll have all the skills to implement creative programmes which inspire funders and deliver in the most efficient and effective way for those we support. You’ll be a skilled communicator, adept at building collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and advocating for the needs of our veterans and their loved ones.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic leader to provide strategic and operational leadership for our charity, ensuring high standards of governance and, where appropriate, clinical and care excellence. The role involves increasing the impact and reach of our services through co-creation and development of our services and building strategic partnerships and relationships. As a key member of the Executive Team, you will act as an advocate on behalf of our beneficiaries; internally shaping the charity’s work, and externally working to influence others and increase our visibility.

For more details about this role, the application process and key dates please refer to attached role overview document.

Closing date: Tuesday 17th December 2024 at 9am
Please note that the turnaround time between both the first stage and second stage interviews will be short.

We have an exciting opening for someone to join our senior leadership team for a fixed term period during 2025 overseeing our strategy and brand development. We need a strategic expert who understands politics, campaigning and how to get the best out of campaigning organisations - and win credit for that across key stakeholders and with the public.

The Director of Strategy and Brand will guide our strategic direction and public presence to amplify our mission, position 38 Degrees at the forefront of change, and build a resonant brand in the public sphere. They will partner closely with leadership to align 38 Degrees’ strategic goals with real-time social and political landscapes. By shaping organisational strategy, monitoring our progress, and refining public brand positioning, the Director of Strategy and Brand will ensure that 38 Degrees remains agile, cohesive, and impactful, continually driving growth and resilience in service of our mission.

The Director of Strategy and Brand will focus on formulating plans for our strategy, our tactics and how we are set up as an organisation to succeed. 

Your background and experience

We are looking for someone who understands 38 Degrees, our model and our organisational culture already. We want someone who shares our fierce determination to change our country - campaigning to do so without fear or favour whoever is in power. You will have worked at, or with, a similar organisation to us, where our supporters are our purpose, and you’ll be ready to engage in discussions about strategies, tactics and way of working from day one.

You will understand the challenges we may face from a change of government. Our power is the passion, and number, of our supporters. You will have insight and experience on how an organisation like ours should respond to a new environment - and capitalise on the changed landscape. 

You will understand not just the purpose and strategies of organisations like ours, you’ll know that we can only succeed if we have the right people, structure and culture. You’ll have experience of working in productive and positive environments, and you’ll have insight into how teams can be set up for success in a campaigning space.

You’ll be adept and experienced at project management, understand the pressures the team face working in a fast paced reactive environment and be able to get the best of people in this context to help deliver on longer term, strategic goals.

And most of all, you will be a positive, practical person who can work with others, bringing them with you, to solve problems in a collaborative way.

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

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

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

Why you’ll want to work here 

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

Benefits include: 

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

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We’re especially keen to hear from people who’ll bring lived experience of the issues we work on and who’ll make our team more diverse as a result.

So if you’re Black, Asian or from any other minority ethnic group, if you’re disabled, LGBTQIA+, or if you’re from a working class home, your application will be especially welcome. 

And thanks to our flexible home working approach and network of offices, we have a staff team that is increasingly based across the UK. We’re keen to continue diversifying geographically, so that we’re rooted in our supporters’ communities.

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

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

• Paying for childcare whilst you’re at 38 Degrees interviews or tasks

• Paying for your travel costs to the office and back – and for overnight accommodation if you’re travelling from a long distance for an interview although at present the majority of interviews are held online using zoom. 

• Making any reasonable adjustments – for example ensuring we have a BSL interpreters organised in advance if you’d need one

• If there anything else you’re concerned about or think we could provide, please let us know. 

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

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

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

1. Our mission is to ‘mobilise a growing and diverse community to collectively campaign for and win change’. What challenges and opportunities are posed by the election of a Labour government to a campaigning community with that mission?

2. Tell us about a time where you have been responsible for implementing an organisational strategy - what were the key challenges and how did you achieve positive results?

3. 38D is a digital first, people-powered campaigning organisation where millions of people do something small to add up to bigger political and corporate change. Tell us about a time you’ve worked with a similar model - and about how it can make a difference in the country. 

4. What is the most interesting campaign or campaigning initiative run by 38 Degrees in the last two years, and why?

Job Description

We are seeking an IT Strategy and Transformation Lead to spearhead CARE International UK’s IT strategy and oversee transformative projects that modernise and optimise our technology infrastructure. This role is a 24 months fixed term contract (subject to extension). You will work closely with senior leadership to develop and implement a forward-looking IT strategy that supports our mission and long-term goals. You will lead initiatives such as cloud migration, system integration, and enhanced data security, ensuring our systems operate efficiently and securely. The successful candidate will possess a strategic vision, a solid understanding of IT risk management, and the ability to lead complex IT projects aligned with CARE’s global operations.

Why work for us?

At CARE International UK we affirm the dignity, potential and contribution of participants, donors, partners and staff. Our actions are consistent with our mission. We are honest and transparent in what we do and say and accept responsibility for our collective and individual actions. We work together effectively to serve the larger community. We constantly challenge ourselves to the highest levels of learning and performance to achieve greater impact.

About you

You are an accomplished IT leader with extensive experience in IT strategy and transformation, ideally within the not-for-profit sector. With a degree in Information Technology or a related field, and certifications in project management (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP) or cloud computing (e.g., Microsoft Azure), you bring the expertise needed to drive organisational efficiency and growth. Your project management skills, particularly in areas such as Azure migration and SharePoint implementation, are well-established, and you have a proven track record in integrating CRM, finance, and HR systems. Your leadership abilities, communication skills, and expertise in data protection and cybersecurity set you apart.

If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact through technology, we’d love to hear from you. Bring your expertise to CARE, where your skills can help drive positive change on a global scale.

About CARE

CARE International is one of the world’s leading humanitarian and development charities. We fight poverty and injustice in the world’s most vulnerable places.We save lives in disasters and conflicts. We stand with women, girls and their communities to achieve lasting change for a better future.

Safeguarding

CARE International UK has a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse to, sexual harassment of or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. CARE International UK expects all staff to share this commitment through our Safeguarding Policy and our Code of Conduct. They are responsible for ensuring they understand and work within the remit of these policies throughout their time at CARE International UK.

Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. All offers of employment at CARE International UK are subject to:

- satisfactory references. CARE International UK participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

- appropriate criminal record checks (including a Bridger check). 

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Equality and Diversity 

We are committed to Equality and value Diversity.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and particularly welcome applications from disabled people. We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. If you require the candidate brief or need to submit your application in an alternative format, because of a disability, please do get in touch by sending an email to the HR Team.

We also encourage people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds or LGBT+ to apply for roles at CARE International UK.

Please note that in compliance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, all job offers at Care International UK are conditional on eligibility to work in the UK

Closing date: 30 November 2024 at 11pm

Interview date: Week commencing 7 December 2024

This is a pivotal strategic role in our organisation which will focus on the growth and development of our engagement with our stakeholders, partners and supporters. Together with your counterpart, The Head of Fundraising and Communication (Public and Corporate), you will drive income growth and lead on developing our social capital and presence within the city.

We are currently undergoing a strategy refresh and are looking for someone with a proven record of securing and maintaining large, multi-year grants, strategic acumen, innovative thinking and a positive proactive outlook to support us on the next stage of our development.

This role will be based at our main office in Bristol and will require the post holder to be present at our offices with some homeworking.

At Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH), we are dedicated to supporting young Muslims' mental health and wellbeing through free, confidential, and accessible services. Our team is committed to understanding the unique challenges faced by our community and providing culturally competent, faith-sensitive guidance.

Our Vision: A world where young people are empowered to overcome challenges and live a God-centred life of meaning and purpose.

Our Mission: To provide compassionate services and support to improve the mental well-being of young people.

Following the recent relaunch of its vision, MYH is entering an exciting new growth phase on its journey to realising its potential. We seek a talented and strategic CEO to lead MYH to achieve its ambitious long-term strategy. Join us and make a tangible, positive impact on the lives of young people as we work towards our vision of a more compassionate and God-centred society.

What You Will Be Doing:

As the CEO of MYH, you will lead the charity’s growth, ensuring its services remain innovative, impactful, and culturally relevant. You will oversee the strategic direction, ensuring the successful implementation of MYH’s vision and long term strategy. You will work closely with the Executive Team and Board of Trustees to maintain financial health, develop sustainable income strategies, and drive meaningful impact for young Muslims. Your leadership will ensure the continuous development of our services, foster key partnerships, and maintain a high level of stakeholder engagement. Additionally, you will champion safeguarding practices, cultural competency, and monitoring the charity’s impact, shaping the future of MYH as a leader in Muslim mental health.

What We Are Looking For:

We are looking for a compassionate, experienced leader with a strong understanding of the challenges young Muslims face today. You should have a proven track record in senior leadership, managing strategic and operational success. Strong financial skills and a commitment to cultural competency are essential. We seek a leader who inspires a high-performing team, engages with diverse stakeholders, and upholds MYH’s values of empathy, inclusivity, and faith sensitivity. A passion for youth mental health, experience with the Muslim community, and a knowledge of safeguarding and charity governance are highly desirable.

For more details about the role, please refer to the attached job description and person specification.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Muslim Youth Helpline is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. We celebrate the diversity that makes our community strong and strive to provide a workplace that reflects our core values of empathy, respect, and understanding.

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

This role is a core part of Pecan’s senior leadership team (SLT), working to develop strategic direction and playing a play a key role in the organisation’s aim to transform the lives of the most disadvantaged people in our community.

You will enable Pecan’s frontline team to deliver the highest possible standards of service. You will have responsibility for developing a strategy and vision for all community food activities and developments within Pecan. You will focus on ensuring the programmes have dignity at their heart and work towards seeing an end to foodbanks. You will work with the projects to support them to collaborate and work together. You will play a key role in the organisations aim of transforming the lives of the most disadvantaged people in our community.

When working for Pecan, you can expect to become a valued member of a diverse and supportive team. In addition to a place in our 35-year legacy, you will receive a generous holiday allowance, pension contribution and life assurance cover. You can also expect regular team meetings and social opportunities, and a variety of other benefits as outlined in our recruitment pack.

Main Responsibilities:

• Line manage and appraise staff in line with Pecan’s procedures: Foodbank Manager, Pantry Manager, Operations Manager, and the Development Manager Community Food Programmes.
• Demonstrates strong financial literacy and business acumen.
• Develop and oversee food strategy for Pecan’s food services, implementing the vision to end the need for food banks, re‑imagining the food services offer and including a cash-first approach.
• Develop and manage partnerships with authorities, corporates, churches, community groups and networks to support the successful development of programmes.

Key Requirements (specific skills, qualifications required):

• Strong experience of managing multiple projects.
• Experience of managing staff and volunteer teams.
• A strong understanding of community food programmes. 
• Demonstratable history in achieving targets.

Desirable knowledge/expertise

• An effective networker.
• Experience of the voluntary and community sector.
• Experience of working across a spectrum of church cultures and types.
• Experience of organisational development.

To apply please submit the following:

• CV
• Covering Letter, no more than 2-sides of A4 paper, expanding on your passion for this area of work and describing how you meet the Job Description/Person Specification, as set out in the Recruitment Pack.

Closing Date: Wednesday 4th December 2024, 9am

Interview Date: w/c Dec 2 onwards; details TBC.

Start Date: December 2024 or January 2025

Please note that applications that do not contain BOTH the CV and Covering Letter as described above cannot be considered. Candidates that have not been contacted by the interview date or within 2 weeks of submitting an application if it is an open recruitment, have not been shortlisted for interviews.

Deputy Head of Strategic Planning (Student Numbers) | £55,000 - £60,000 + benefits

For a large, London-based University, we are recruiting a Deputy Head of Strategic Planning (Student Numbers) to lead on all matters relating to student numbers. Managing a small team, this role will develop and provide reporting on all stages of the student journey from forecasting and budgeting to recruitment, enrolment and continuation reporting. Working with the Statutory Returns and Data Governance team, this role will provide accurate students numbers for use across internal processes and Academic Workload Planning.

Main Duties:

• Lead the University's provision of accurate student number data and reporting to stakeholders across the full student lifecycle
• Manage the use and development of systems used to model and visualize student number data
• Act as point of contact for student number planning, advising on academic programme development
• Lead the delivery of data transformation projects and support the development of strategy and sub-strategy KPIs
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge relating to University strategic planning and student number planning as well as the Higher Education sector's data, policy and regulation landscape.
• Lead, motivate and manage a team of highly performing staff

Person Specification:

• Expert knowledge of student number data, planning, forecasting and reporting
• Experience in developing reporting systems on student numbers across the student lifecycle
• Staff management, leadership and development
• Experience of higher education including a solid understanding of wider higher education external data requirements (e.g. UCAS, OFS, DfE, JISC/HESA, SLC, EFSA etc.)
• Experience of working with student record systems such as Banner or SITS.
• Experience of league table methodologies and strategies and tactics for improving organisational performance.

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

About the role

The Head of IT Services is responsible for the management of all IT services for the Motability Foundation and delivery of our digital, data and technology strategy. Working in a single site environment, with a focus on Microsoft technologies, you will ensure that our business continues to operate successfully day-to-day and continues to evolve to meet future challenges.  

Role Accountabilities

Network and Systems

· Oversee and direct the development of infrastructure of IT applications, networks, security and telecoms.

· Ensure we have a robust IT business continuity plan that forms part of the overall business continuity strategy.

· Oversee and direct the procurement of IT hardware, software and maintenance in line with company policy.

· Ensure that all other IT policies and procedures comply with statutory and regulatory requirements, are regularly reviewed and the required audits are in place to ensure compliance.

· Oversee all data exchange procedures with Scheme Partners and Government Agencies.

· Ensure compliance with all hardware and software licensing requirements.

· Responsible for the management of hardware and software updates ensuring that all systems remain within support and meet the on-going requirements of the business.

· Ensuring that system and data security is continuously tested for new IT viruses, be alert to new security risks and have plans in place to deal with them.

IT Strategy

· Design and implement an IT roadmap for all hardware and software in line with the overall Motability Foundation digital, data and technology strategy.  

· Provide technical and professional support to the Executives in their longer-term review of IT investment strategy based on future business needs and processes.

· Provide leadership with regards to emerging IT opportunities and threats, providing recommendations to executives as and when required.

· Maintain our structured project development methodology to ensure that only relevant and supported projects are initiated.

· Ensure the successful delivery of approved IT projects against agreed timelines, deliverables, and budgets.

Partnering with the Business

· Act as a partner to the business in identifying and delivering digital, data and technology solutions to support business aims.

· Work with Senior Management, Scheme Partners and Suppliers to propose, agree and deliver an IT service to defined Service Level Agreements.

· Continuously seek feedback from the business on the service provided by IT and develop action plans to put in place improvements.

Leading the Team

· Manage, develop, and motivate the thriving internal IT team of 12.

· Monitor performance against service level targets ensuring constructive and rapid solutions to problems.

· Maintain staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees; maintaining a safe and secure work environment; developing personal growth opportunities.

· Empower employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals. Delegate responsibility and expect accountability and regular feedback.

· Role model our values of being collaborative, respectful and evolving.

Managing our Costs

· Responsible for IT budget of c. £1.7million.

· Provide regular and ad-hoc reports to present to the Executive Team.

· Analyse problems, research solutions and present to the Executive Team.

· Raise and approve regular and ad-hoc IT purchase orders.

What will make you great in this role?

You will have excellent communication skills and a naturally collaborative approach to identifying problems, bringing together solutions, and creating a plan to deliver the changes to make a real difference to the system users. Your ‘can do’ attitude will be balanced with a pragmatic approach to problem solving and the ability manage a range of stakeholder expectations.

You will be passionate about IT adding value to the business and delivering support to our busy teams. Your ability to translate technical issues into meaningful plans will greatly help colleagues who will look to you to learn about new concepts and technologies.

Your experience

Must haves:

· Significant IT experience which includes a strong knowledge of Microsoft technologies (M365) and Networking (Lan/Wan Cisco technologies).

· Experience in IT infrastructure planning and development and managing significant capital projects and budgets.

· Possesses good knowledge of different software systems, client/service architectures and various compatibility requirements.

· Experience of managing suppliers and supplier relationships.

· Able to communicate and influence clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.

· Ability to motivate and develop a diverse team.

· Maintain a broad and long-term perspective of IT developments to influence forward planning.

· Take ownership of and analyse problems, implementing practical solutions.

· Maintain organisational effectiveness and efficiency by defining, delivering and supporting strategic plans for implementing information technologies.

· Experience working within a not for profit environment.

Nice to haves:

· IT degree level (IT) or equivalent.

· MCSE/MCP certification.

· ITIL Foundation.

· Experience with Virtualization technologies.

· Experience of BCP/DR planning, implementation and testing.

· Experience of Cloud Computing/SaaS.

· GDPR awareness.

Reporting lines and relationships

Reports to: Executive Committee.

Key relationships: Motability Foundation Executive Committee, Board of Governors, Heads of Departments and Managers.

Direct reports: Team of 12 across Service Desk, IT Operations, Systems and Data and Security.

Extra Information

The role is based at our offices in Harlow, Essex which is easily commutable from London (30 minutes from Liverpool Street or 18 minutes from Tottenham Hale). We offer both blended and flexible working arrangements which can be discussed as part of the application process. It is expected that the role will be required in the office 2-3 days per week.

In Your Corner are entering an exciting phase of growth, having recently converted to a charitable legal structure. After eight years of successful leadership, our founder is stepping down from their current post as CEO, and their position on the board. We are now looking forward to our future as a charity and seek a strategic leader with the passion to drive us forward. 

We are an award-winning social enterprise whose mission is to support young people to develop the emotional and relational skills that will support them to thrive, through combining non-contact boxing with evidence-based ideas from psychological intervention.  As a values-based organisation we're seeking someone with a commitment to our mission, vision and values; as-well as a solid understanding of youth work, mental health, or boxing/sport for change work and ability to use this to guide leadership decisions and actions. 

The CEO will lead IYC’s services and charitable activities, ensuring effective day-to-day management and development of services and income, while maintaining a positive stakeholder engagement that aligns with its strategy, and ensures future success, financial sustainability, and impact.

This role is part-time and will include occasional evenings to support core project delivery times and board meetings. Regular in-person working in Inner London locations for project visits and meetings is a requirement. However, other activities can be completed via remote working.

We welcome applications from first-time CEOs who feel they have the skills, experiences and vision for this role. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities and people with lived experience.

You can find all information, specifications and requirements within our role pack. Please note that all applications must be received by 23:30 on Sunday 8th December 2024.

Deputy Head of Strategic Planning (Statutory Reporting and Data) | £55,000 - £60,000 + benefits

For a large, London-based University, we are recruiting a Deputy Head of Strategic Planning (Statutory Reporting and Data) to lead the delivery of statutory reporting, and the data governance and data quality required to ensure accurate data submissions. This is a key role in compiling, completing and assuring data quality on Higher Education Statutory Returns such as HESA Student, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) returns and Unistats. The role will provide oversight to the entire University data lifecycle, ensuring it informs internal analysis and external returns via robust governance and accurate completion and submission of all data returns.

Main Duties:

• Lead the University statutory data returns processes
• Act as the champion for data quality, ensuring process redesign and quality assurance are robust
• Own the start-to-finish cycle of statutory returns including HESA Student, Initial Teacher Training (ITT) returns and Unistats
• Oversight of other statutory data returns e.g., HEBCI and EMR
• Support further implementation of HESA Data Futures for future returns and shift to in-year reporting
• Lead, motivate and manage a team of highly performing staff

Person Specification:

• Expert knowledge of UK Higher Education statutory data submissions including data collection and manipulation
• Track record of improving data governance and data quality
• Excellent knowledge of the Higher Education sector, its data, policy and regulations and requirements of statutory reporting
• Experience of the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) and external data requirements including OFS, HESA, HESES, TEF, SLC, EFSA
• Staff management, leadership and development
• Strong experience of data preparation, extraction and visualisation i.e., Alteryx, SQL, Power BI or tableau

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

About the Role

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. MAP is the leading UK charity delivering health and medical care to those worst affected by conflict, occupation and displacement, in the occupied Palestinian territory and Palestinian refugee camps of Lebanon.

We are seeking a dynamic Supporter Retention Manager to take MAP’s retention programme to new heights and contribute significantly to sustainable income growth. In this pivotal role, you will develop and implement retention strategies and plans with a focus on regular giving and supporter journeys that deepen loyalty and grow life-time-value. You’ll lead multi-channel campaigns and innovate supporter journeys, ensuring MAP’s loyal supporters stay engaged and inspired. You’ll champion excellence in all aspects of campaign planning and execution, introducing  new products and propositions that align with MAP’s Individual Giving and Fundraising strategies. You’ll develop and manage annual budgets, including setting income and expenditure targets and providing regular forecasts and risk assessments. Beyond the role’s core responsibilities, You’ll have opportunities for professional growth and access to training and development to further enhance your direct marketing skills. 

About You

we’re looking for a motivated and pro-active individual with a strong background in fundraising or marketing. You’ll have a proven track record of planning and executing campaigns that build long-term supporter loyalty and grow sustainable income. Your ability to manage external partners and analyse campaign performance will be key in optimising results. Strong project management, leadership and communication skills, coupled with your pro-active and collaborative mindset, will set you up for success in this role. If you’re a results-orientated individual who takes a a supporter-centric approach and thrives on leading innovative campaigns, we’d love to hear from you. This is your opportunity to make a tangible difference for MAP supporters and contribute meaningfully to MAP’s vital mission.

 Duties and key responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy 

• Build and inspire a high-performing, results-oriented team focused on delivering sustainable income to maintain and build on recent growth.  

• Hire, performance manage, support and develop the Individual Giving Fundraising Officer.  

• Lead the development and delivery of Individual Giving strategies, leading on MAP’s Individual Giving retention strategy with a focus on loyalty, regular giving and lifetime value.   

• Work across and develop MAP’s retention products and journeys, including developing loyalty and regular giving appeals.

Planning and Management of Campaigns

• Collaborate with the Head of team and peers to develop team plans aligned with the Fundraising strategy.  

• Ensure the team create and optimize insight-driven, supporter-led campaigns, working with the Marketing Manager and Insights lead.

• Ensure processes and systems are in place to track and meet KPIs, including the development of robust testing plans to optimize campaigns based on insights.  

• Manage and motivate a range of agency partners and suppliers.  

• Ensure compliance with relevant fundraising legislation and stay updated on changes in relevant thinking and laws. 

Innovation 

• Lead the investigation, testing, and implementation of product innovations using agile methods to test and learn with efficiency. 

• Develop bespoke, audience-led supporter journeys, including ongoing journeys for UK and international supporters.   

• Proactively stay ahead of emerging trends, and thrive working in a fast-paced, agile manner, acting on learnings to optimize activity. 

Budget Management 

• Create annual budgets for the Individual Giving programme, setting income and expenditure targets, with support from the Head of team.  

• Manage the retention budget, including the regular giving budget, and report on management accounts, reforecast, and assess risk levels.  

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education/training

• Relevant direct marketing/fundraising qualification and/or equivalent experience. 

Knowledge / Experience

• Relevant experience in fundraising and/or marketing, with experience of direct marketing and developing supporter/customer journeys and campaigns to build long-term loyalty, engagement and income growth. 

• Experience managing a regular giving or loyalty programme. 

• Confident with end-to-end project management, including managing multiple projects and priorities at once.   

• Experience leading multi-channel, data-led campaigns, including loyalty and cross/upsell/reactivation activity - with evidence of engagement and income growth across channels including mail, email, SMS and TM.

• Strong track record in developing direct marketing strategies.    

• Experience in strategic planning, project management, budgeting and forecasting.   

• Experience managing external stakeholders and agency partners – including creative/DM, print, SMS/TM and fulfilment agencies.    

• Experience in analysing and presenting data for informed decision-making, as well as leading others to develop testing plans and optimise campaigns. 

Skills

• Able to confidently analyse results, digest complex data, and extract insights to inform strategies and campaigns. This includes regular giving and audience analysis.

• Expertise in digital and written communication, with a supporter-centric approach.  

• Able to balance short and long-term priorities and manage opportunities and risks.  

• Effective management and leadership skills, with experience of line management.  

• Highly proactive - excellent at networking, communicating, and influencing.  

Personal attributes and other requirements

• Commitment to maintain high standards to promote trust and confidence in MAP’s fundraising initiatives.  

• Commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation & abuse/safeguarding. 

• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.

• An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work

• Commitment to the aims, values and ethos of MAP.

• Ability and willingness to work weekends/evenings in emergencies, and to travel overseas where necessary.

• Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace

• Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work

• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices

• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private or sensitive information about individual organisations and or clients or staff and MAP data.

Note: We encourage all interested applicants to apply even if they don’t meet all criteria in the person specification. 

Safer London is passionate about its work with the most vulnerable and at risk young Londoners and we are looking for someone who understands the importance of working in true partnership with the organisation to support our employees to deliver Safer London’s objectives.

If you are a committed and resilient HR professional, a member of the CIPD and believe you have what it takes to help us to improve the lives of young Londoners and their families by providing high quality support to our staff please apply.

What the role involves: leading on the development of our People and Leadership strategies: monitoring and supporting compliance with HR policies; talent acquisition and retention; supporting employee well-being; developing our equity, diversity and inclusion processes; leading on organisational change and development.

In exchange we offer: a range of benefits including agile working, flexible working, a contributory pension scheme, interest-free Season Ticket Loans, a Cycle to Work Scheme, access to a Mental Health Helpline, Death in Service Benefit, an initial Annual Leave allowance of 28 days holiday, rising to 30 days after 3 years and 33 days after 5 years, plus bank holidays and other statutory holidays; part time employees receive a pro-rata entitlement.