Opportunities Manager

Job title: Opportunities manager
Team: Marketing and Communications
Reporting to: Head of marketing and communications
Location: The New Granary, Station Road, Newport, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3PL
Salary: c£40,000, depending on experience

Closing date: 13th November 2026

Contract: Full-time, office based

Please read the 'How to apply' section before submitting your CV.

About the NCTJ

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) is the charity at the heart of journalism education and training in the UK. We are the guardian of the gold standard in journalism training and qualifications, and we champion equality, diversity and inclusion so that journalism is accessible to people from all backgrounds.

Through charitable initiatives including the Journalism Diversity Fund and the Community Reporting Fund, we widen participation in journalism, support community reporting, and strengthen trusted journalism at a time when misinformation and public scepticism make high professional standards more important than ever.

NCTJ is financially stable and widely respected within the industry. However, diversifying and growing charitable income is a strategic priority for 2026–27. We have developed our first fundraising strategy to support sustainable growth and impact, and this role is central to delivering it.

Purpose of the role

To attract people who might not otherwise consider journalism, widen access to the profession and support career progression, with equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of the role. The opportunities manager will lead the hands-on management and continuous improvement of the NCTJ’s opportunity programmes, including the Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF), Community Reporting Fund (CRF) and internship schemes, careers and outreach activity, and the ambassador network.

The postholder will contribute to programme design, feasibility, costings and delivery partnerships, and take responsibility for implementation once programmes are approved and funded. The role combines programme management and development with hands-on administration and responsive support for participants, partners and colleagues.

Key contacts

• Chief executive, senior leadership team and colleagues across the NCTJ
• Journalism Diversity Fund applicants, bursary recipients and alumni
• JDF advisory group members, mentors, interview panellists and delivery partners
• NCTJ ambassadors
• Accredited course providers, journalism employers and industry partners
• Schools, colleges, universities, careers advisers and community organisations

Key responsibilities

Programme portfolio and development

• Manage and continually improve the JDF, CRF and internship schemes, careers and outreach activity, and the NCTJ ambassador network, translating priorities into practical plans, budgets, timetables and measurable outcomes.
• Contribute to the design and feasibility assessment of new programmes, including target audiences, delivery models, costings, risks, evaluation and delivery partnerships; make evidence-based recommendations and lead implementation once activity is approved and funded.
• Build effective relationships with participants, alumni, education providers, employers, community organisations, ambassadors and other delivery partners.

Delivery and administration

• Deliver substantial hands-on administration across the portfolio, including enquiries, applications, eligibility and selection processes, onboarding, agreements, payments, records, databases, schedules, meetings and participant communications.
• Manage the JDF application and recipient journey, mentoring and development opportunities, and support the JDF advisory group, maintaining an organised, inclusive and reliable service.
• Plan and prioritise work across competing deadlines, especially during busy JDF periods and the introduction of new initiatives.

Governance, authority and assurance

• Embed robust JDF and programme procedures, including consistent eligibility and selection processes, accurate decision and authorisation records, appropriate checks on important communications, and prompt escalation of complaints, exceptional cases and safeguarding concerns.
• Make routine operational decisions within agreed policies, budgets and delegated authority. Seek approval for bursary awards, unbudgeted or higher-value expenditure, material exceptions, and commitments to external partners before they are communicated or made.
• Maintain accurate and confidential programme, participant, financial and decision records in line with data protection, safeguarding and NCTJ policies.

Budgets, evaluation and communication

• Develop costings with relevant colleagues, monitor agreed expenditure, process invoices and payment information accurately, and report risks or variances promptly.
• Track reach, participation, experience, progression and impact; use data and feedback to improve programmes and provide clear updates for senior colleagues, funders and partners.
• Work with marketing and communications colleagues to promote opportunities and maintain accurate, accessible and inclusive careers and programme information.
• Undertake other duties consistent with the purpose and level of the role.

Person specification

Essential experience, skills and knowledge

• Experience of managing and improving programmes, projects or services involving multiple participants, partners and stakeholders.
• Strong programme-management, organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to maintain accurate databases, budgets, records and processes while retaining oversight of wider objectives.
• Experience of supporting people from varied backgrounds with empathy, sound judgement and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Strong written and verbal communication and relationship-management skills, with confidence working with participants, partners, funders and senior colleagues.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, assess practical risks and resource needs, and know when approval or escalation is required.
• A demonstrable passion for equality, diversity and inclusion and an understanding of barriers to entering and progressing in journalism.
• A genuine interest in journalism and its future; direct industry experience is not required.

Desirable

• Experience of developing a new programme, service or pilot from initial need through design, costing, delivery and evaluation.
• Knowledge of journalism, journalism training, the NCTJ or routes into the media industry.
• Experience of bursary, grant, scholarship, mentoring, careers, outreach, internship or widening-participation programmes.
• Experience of funding proposals, donor reporting, safeguarding, data protection or working in a charity, education, membership or not-for-profit environment.

Personal qualities

• Approachable, inclusive and able to build trusted relationships.
• Strategic enough to see how programmes contribute to wider goals, while willing to take responsibility for detailed delivery.
• Calm, resilient and solutions-focused.
• Conscientious and dependable, with high standards of accuracy and follow-through.
• Proactive, collaborative and comfortable recommending better ways of working.

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

Opportunities Manager
NCTJ – National Council for the Training of Journalists
Circa £40,000, depending on experience| Full time, office-based

Help more people discover journalism and build their careers

Journalism needs people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and perspectives. At the NCTJ, we want to encourage people who might never have considered journalism as a career, help those facing barriers to entering the profession and create opportunities for journalists to develop and progress.

We're recruiting an opportunities manager to run and help develop the programmes that support this work.

The role includes managing the Journalism Diversity Fund, Community Reporting Fund, internship schemes, careers outreach and our network of ambassadors.

You'll be responsible for the day-to-day organisation and administration of these programmes, working directly with applicants, bursary recipients, training providers, employers and other partners. The work ranges from processing applications, organising interviews and supporting participants to managing budgets, keeping accurate records and reporting on outcomes.

You'll also contribute to developing new programmes and partnerships as we put the NCTJ's ambitious five-year strategy into practice.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for someone with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, a genuine interest in journalism and the organisational skills to manage several programmes at once.

You'll need experience of managing or co-ordinating projects or programmes, excellent administrative skills and the ability to work confidently with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

You should be comfortable taking responsibility, managing competing deadlines and dealing with sensitive information. Experience of bursaries, outreach, education or charitable programmes would be an advantage.

You don't need to have worked in journalism, although this would be an advantage, but you do need to be interested in the industry and enthusiastic about helping people enter and progress.

Why work for the NCTJ

The NCTJ is an independent charity with a long-established reputation in journalism training and professional standards. We work with leading news organisations, educators and journalists across the UK.

You'll join a small, friendly team where you can take real responsibility, build relationships across the journalism industry and see the results of your work. There will also be opportunities to develop your skills and contribute to new initiatives.

We offer:

• A competitive salary
• 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays and additional days off for team events and at Christmas
• 5% employer pension contribution and salary sacrifice options
• Opportunities for training, professional development and progression
• A supportive working environment at our offices in Newport, near Saffron Walden

You'll be joining an organisation that is ambitious for journalism and committed to creating opportunities for the people who work with us.

To apply: email [email protected] with your CV and cover letter

Pay: £40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme

Application question(s):

• Please read the 'How to apply' section to understand the information that is needed in your cover letter to be considered for this role. Please confirm that this has been done.

Work Location: In person