Head of Equity

We are recruiting for a Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to join on a part-time basis, working 21 hours per week (0.6 FTE) as part of a job share.

About Alzheimer’s Society - who are we and what’s our mission? Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding ground-breaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

About the Opportunity Would you like the opportunity to play a key role in shaping our culture and driving systemic change that lasts? As Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, you’ll join a talented and dedicated People Directorate and contribute towards embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across every aspect of our work. We’ve already made meaningful progress launching EDI training, establishing employee networks, and developing tailored programmes for ethnically diverse colleagues and female leaders. But we know there’s more to do, and we’re determined that our efforts lead to permanent, impactful change not token gestures. This is more than a leadership role it’s an opportunity to influence the future of a national charity that’s striving to better reflect and serve a truly diverse community. We want someone who leads with integrity, courage, and compassion. Someone who exemplifies our values, challenges the status quo, and helps create a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 20th July at 23:59. We will be holding Involvement Panels on Friday 8th August, followed by interviews which are scheduled to take place on Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th August.

About you You’ll have experience of supporting the development and implementation of strategic and operational EDI work with the ability to use data, insights and evidence to support this. You’ll have specialist leadership and influencing skills with the ability to oversee teams and senior stakeholders with implementing our EDI strategy. Crucially for this role, you’ll be able to build collaborative relationships and use your communication skills to cultivate networks. You’ll have experience of using appropriate challenge and support methods, managing conflict and be able to demonstrate positive, values-led leadership. You’ll also be an effective decision-maker with the ability to consider and take accountability for risks and decisions which carry organisation-wide impact.

We actively encourage applications from candidates from ethnically diverse backgrounds and others who are underrepresented in charity sector leadership roles. If you’re ready to make a difference when and where it matters most, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll focus on:

• Leading the delivery of plans to implement our organisation-wide vision and strategy to become an inclusive organisation.
• Establishing yourself as a subject matter expert to engage with, influence and inspire people at all levels to drive prioritisation of and commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) goals.
• Recommending a range of EDI metrics to track organisational progress with inclusion, informed by the external good practice and organisational need.
• Using your subject matter expertise to develop and manage plans and budgets that create a step change in performance and impact in EDI.
• Providing specialist knowledge and expertise on legislation governing diversity and inclusion and shape organisational policy, processes and practice.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer’s Society. We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer’s Society. Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.

Our hiring process During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply. Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you’re considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours’ notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.

Giving back to you Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people’s lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer’s Society. You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.