Director of Regional Engagement

Spinal Injuries Association

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Spinal Injuries Association is committed to a singular vision: a fulfilled life for everyone affected by spinal cord injury. Everyone has a right to live a fulfilled life, and that means the life they choose, a life that has the same opportunities as everyone else. We are the expert guiding voice for life after spinal cord injury.

About the role

At Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), we're entering an ambitious new phase of our Strategy 2030 journey. As a member of our Executive Team, our new Director of Regional Engagement will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the organisation and transforming how we support people affected by spinal cord injury across the UK.

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most significant developments in SIA's recent history. Over the coming years, we will continue our transition towards a stronger, regionally led model that expands our reach, deepens local connections and ensures more people can access the support, opportunities and community they need to flourish.

Working alongside the CEO and Executive Team, you will help shape organisational strategy, culture and delivery, while leading the development of a sustainable national network of regional partnerships, volunteers, community groups and support services. If you're excited by the prospect of building something that will leave a lasting legacy for people affected by spinal cord injury, we'd love to hear from you.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead a diverse portfolio encompassing regional support services, volunteering, partnerships, community development and people leadership. This is not a role focused solely on maintaining existing services. You will help design and implement the next stage of SIA's regional engagement model, influencing how we work with communities, partner organisations and volunteers across the UK. 

Responsibilities

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Regionalisation: Leading all aspects of the next phase in the development of SIA’s regionally based support network to achieve a structure that can oversee regional coordination of a network of partners, community groups and volunteers
• Volunteering: Develop, budget and roll out a volunteer strategy (frame developed by a consultant through 2024/25), including supporting the fundraising and campaigning teams to achieve growth in local fundraising and campaigning.
• Community Groups: Scale, embed and empower SIA’s network of Community Groups to lead its frontline for programming as well as the platform for SIA’s members, partners, public affairs and fundraising across each region of the UK
• Partnerships: complete development of the partnerships model including identifying and signing up local service providers, charities and all key NHS hubs in each region
• Programmes: work with the sister Programmes teams including Specialist Services teams ( Clinical, Counselling and Advocacy ), Frank Williams Academy, Communications including the Membership team) and Public Affairs to build more efficient and effective links
• People leadership: As part of the Executive, the role will take responsibility for :
  • Oversight of the People function, led by the Head of People, ensuring organisational capability, workforce planning, leadership development and cultural change supporting SIA's evolving regional model
  • Executive leadership of the direction of SIA towards and beyond Strategy 2030
  • Leadership and Management: alongside fellow Directors, lead and support the SLT and management to set out annual two -year plans and budgets reflecting capacity needs and the long -term strategic aims of SIA
• Reporting and governance
  • Line management of the two Support Network Managers and the Head of People
  • Oversight of the development and management of the goals, objectives and milestones for all teams within the Support Network and People Departments
  • Delivering detailed reports against milestones, financial targets and risk planning, every quarter for review at SLT, the Board’s Programmes Committee and the full Board’s quarterly meetings
• With Executive colleagues, oversee
  • The safeguarding of our staff, volunteers and members to meet the highest standards expected of the charity
  • Goals for equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do as well as our ambitions for sustainability and becoming carbon net -zero
• Act as a public ambassador for SIA and its cause
• Support the development and oversight of performance management and staff development across the organisation
• Support SIA’s public and institutional fundraising work
• Act as a role model, upholding the values of the charity

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Senior-level leadership
• Budgeting and reporting
• Strategic development and oversight - particularly in the voluntary sector
• Experience delivering through volunteers, community groups or partnership and regionally structured national charities
• Significant experience of leading organisational change and transformation
• Experience of developing strategic partnerships and external stakeholder relationships
• Experience of leading geographically dispersed teams, networks or services
• Experience of reporting to Boards, Committees or Trustees
• Human Resources experience
• Lived experience of a spinal cord injury
• Financial knowledge including forecasting, profit & loss and balance sheets
• Knowledge of the UK voluntary sector, preferably disability charities
• Fundraising, especially in cultivation, design, development and reporting to trusts, foundations and institutional donors

Behaviours & Competencies:

• A strategic thinker
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Good organisational, planning and coordination skills
• Ability to multitask and prioritise
• A leader including strengths in collaboration, delegation and communications
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Mission oriented and self -motivated
• Analytical, especially in the context of strategic, financial and programmatic challenges and opportunities
• A problem solver
• Values driven and role model for colleagues and stakeholders 

Compensation & Benefits

• A genuinely supportive and values-led culture
• Chance to build your finance career within a well-regarded national charity
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• 28 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, rising to 30 (pro rata) after two years
• Group pension scheme with 6% employer contribution
• Group life assurance and healthcare cash plan
• Employee Assistance Programme and discounted gym membership
• Employee volunteer days
• Free car parking at SIA House
• Genuine investment in your development, with a dedicated budget for training and growth

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the Milton Keynes office and remotely

How to apply

• Apply on our website
• Please complete all supplementary questions on your application form and create a Full Profile, as these will inform our initial sift.
• Please note that once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to return to the questions, so please be prepared to complete the full application in one sitting. If you do need to make amendments, please email [email protected] for assistance.

Interviews

• 1st Interview Dates is Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th November 2026 at SIA House, Milton Keynes
• 2nd Interview Date is Monday 16th November at SIA House, Milton Keynes.

Policies

At SIA, we value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment as we believe diversity fosters a more innovative, creative, and caring culture. We are striving to create a culture that fully represents all the communities we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, family or parental status, or disability status. Disabled candidates who meet the standard job criteria will be offered a guaranteed interview. Fully remote working is considered for the right candidate. No agencies, please.

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