Head of Core Service (Temporary)
Salary:
- Starting salary £44,256 p.a. pro rata
Hours:
- Up to 35 hours per week (Mon-Fri)
- Normal working hours 9.30 to 5.30
- Open to part-time, job-share, and flexible working
Contract type: Fixed Term. This is a temporary contract to cover staff absence from 01 Sept – 31 Dec 2026
Responsible to: Chief Executive
Responsible for: Service Managers, Project Managers, Advisers and caseworkers, Volunteers
Location: Hybrid. Split between our offices in Battersea and Roehampton and home working. Usual expectation is for at least 60% office based.
About us
We’re a thriving advice organisation that is part of the national Citizens Advice network. Our services are delivered by a team of around 40 paid staff and 60 volunteers. We have a typical annual turnover of £2 million and in addition to our core advice service, funded by Wandsworth Council, we have a range of projects funded by trusts, foundations and our local Integrated Care System.
While we’re proud of the number of residents we support, we know that we can’t meet demand for advice and that marginalised communities don’t always come to established organisations for support. Because of this, we place equal value on improving reach and access through creative collaboration with equity-led organisations, partnership development and capacity building.
The role
Our Head of Core Service has overall responsibility for a range of projects and services funded by organisations including Wandsworth Borough Council. They work closely with other members of our Senior Management Team (SMT) to lead the charity, with a focus on partnerships with statutory organisations. They lead a team of managers and frontline staff who are responsible for day-to-day delivery and, as manager and leader, their key responsibilities are:
- Ensuring we live up to our values, standards and ambitions, including being a more inclusive workplace where everyone gets the support they need to do their best.
- Managing contracts and relationships with funders, partners and other stakeholders such as senior council officers, local councillors and MPs.
- Developing and delivering on our organisational strategy, as well as identifying new funding and partnership opportunities.
Our core service is the foundation of everything we do and is highly visible to residents and local partners because it provides the main access points for our projects and services. The Head of Core Service has a particular responsibility for supporting the organisation with:
- Managing service issues such as quality of advice, safeguarding, information assurance and complaints.
- Managing relationships with local statutory organisations and the local voluntary sector.
- Ensuring that our core service is responsive to feedback from community partners and the diverse communities we serve.
Why you should join us
We’re a dynamic organisation with a culture of quality and innovation. We’re ambitious about delivering advice services that make a real difference to local people and being a great place to work and volunteer. You’ll be part of a diverse and friendly team of staff and volunteers who are passionate about helping the people who need us most. Working with us means seeing yourself and your colleagues have a positive impact on the lives of ordinary people and helping to protect our communities from hardship, poverty and crisis.
Our commitment to EDI
We are committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity, and fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and supported. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We particularly encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ people, as these groups are currently under-represented in our team.
How to apply
To apply for this role, please send your CV and a supporting statement to recruitment@cawandsworth.org before the closing date. Your supporting statement shouldn’t be longer than two pages of A4 and should demonstrate how you meet the person specification. Your supporting statement and CV should be Word files, not PDF or another format.
If you want to discuss the role before applying, please email recruitment@cawandsworth.org with your contact details and daytime availability.
Closing date: 10am on Monday 13 July 2026
Interviews: Week starting 27 July 2026, Battersea Library, SW11 1JB
