Vacancies
We’re a highly collaborative team here at the Vivensa Foundation. We like to plan and be prepared, but we also like to be flexible and responsive to new ideas. We’re committed to making our contribution to understanding what it takes to improve health outcomes in older age and to the much-needed systemic change in health and social care for older people – so we want to work with people who share that commitment. We list our current vacancies and other opportunities to work with us here.
Member of the Board of Trustees
Board vacancy
Owing to a Trustee retirement, we welcome applications for the position of Trustee from candidates with expertise in one of the priority areas set out in our new plan.
In the spring of 2025, the Dunhill Medical Trust changed its name to the Vivensa Foundation as part of a wider plan to better reflect its work as a funder and impact-intentional investor. The name ‘Vivensa’ is inspired by the Latin word vivens, meaning to live, be alive, or to reside in — a reflection of the work we support our award-holders and investees to do. But this is more than a change of name — it reaffirms our commitment to funding the remarkable science and radical social change needed for people to age well on their terms.
It was back in the 1980s that the Board of the predecessor charity recognised that the shifting demographics would drive a need for investment in a high-quality research base to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of ageing and ageing-related disease and the delivery of innovation in the health and social care of older people. Since then, the Foundation has been funding some of the very best of the UK’s researchers and community innovators to do just that.
The Foundation plans to play its part in three broad ways:
– investing in ideas
– connecting research and practice and
– fostering flourishing communities.
With our new identity and with our refreshed Strategic Framework and priorities for the next five years launched in April, we are looking forward to writing our next chapter.
We will prioritise applications, from either:
– research active geriatricians or gerontologists with demonstrable expertise in translating research and evidence into practice or;
– professionals with a background in delivering innovative change in NHS or local authority settings, social care or housing provision with the experience and networks to turn the latest evidence into practice.
The work we fund means that we know all too well the negative impacts of inequity. We are therefore committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our work and improving the diversity of representation on our Board of Trustees and on our Committees and we welcome applications from under-represented groups.
How to apply
It’s an exciting time to be joining us and we’re looking for people with the commitment, vision and expertise to support and work with our small but highly experienced and professional executive team and make your contribution to writing the next chapter in our story.
If you think this could be you, please send your CV, with a covering letter of no more than two pages addressing how you meet the needs of the role description and person specification to jobs@vivensafoundation.org.uk, together with the optional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) form.
Our EDI form is optional and you do not have to answer any / all of the questions. However, gathering this data helps us to know if we are succeeding in involving different groups of people, and to change our approach if some groups are not represented.
Your application will be anonymised before it is considered by the recruiting panel and the panel will not have access to any information you have provided in our EDI form.
CVs without covering letters will not be considered. We also recognise the potential of generative AI to contribute to the creative process and we encourage its ethical and constructive use. This includes acknowledging it whenever it is used. Therefore, please reference generative AI in your written application if you have used it.
The closing date is 17.00 on 10 July 2025.
Applications are invited from across the UK and Board and Committee meetings are held quarterly (the time commitment for each is around six days per year). While our office base is in central London, we offer the opportunity to attend meetings either in person or virtually. Although the role is unpaid, reasonable expenses, including travel and the need to cover caring responsibilities, will be reimbursed.
We recognise the inherent benefits of having a diverse board and workforce and the negative impact of discrimination on us and the communities that we serve. We work hard to promote a culture of respect and dignity and work within the practice – and the spirit – of the Equality Act 2010. We do our very best to proactively combat behaviours and barriers that can lead to discrimination. If you wish to make your application in a different format to the one stated, please contact us and we will endeavour to accommodate your needs.
Grants Officer
We now have a full time, permanent vacancy for an aspiring grants management professional to help us to deliver our strategic plan.
Grade 4 on the Vivensa Foundation Pay Spine: currently £34,506 (rising to £35,541 pa on 1 August 2025) plus 12% contribution to pension, health cash plan, life assurance and income protection and on-site gym. 30 days’ holiday + public holidays.
Range of family-friendly leave benefits after qualifying period. Flexible work proposals considered.
Location: hybrid (office base is in central London with a minimum expectation of two days per week in the office).
In the spring of 2025, the Vivensa Foundation launched its new strategic framework and identity. Formerly known as the Dunhill Medical Trust, it was back in the 1980s that our founder’s niece recognised that the shifting demographics would drive a need for investment in a high-quality research base to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of ageing and ageing-related disease, together with the delivery of innovation to improve health and social care services for older people.
Our charitable objects were never more relevant than they are today and the opportunities are immense to support our academic and clinical researcher community to make real systemic change.
Today, we are the stewards of an endowment valued at around £170M, and have committed to distributing at least £30M over the next five years in in grant funding. We have also ring-fenced a part of our endowment for social investment. You can read more about our Strategic Framework here.
As a member of the Grants Team and reporting to the Director of Research, you will be a primary point of contact for organisations applying for funding for academic or clinical research, as well as working with the team to develop, implement and evaluate our funding streams. As such, you will make key contributions to the development and delivery of our core services, reinforcing our reputation for high quality and support for the research community. If you’d like to explore using your grants management experience or research training in a subject area relevant to the work of the Foundation in a slightly different context, identify with our values and have the great attention to detail, flexible “can do” attitude and restless curiosity essential to the success of a small, expert team, go to our website to download the full job description and person specification and find out how to apply.
You can download the full job description and person specification here.
To arrange an informal conversation about the role and/or find out more about us, drop us a line at jobs@vivensafoundation.org.uk.
How to apply
Send your CV, with a covering letter of no more than two pages addressing how you meet the needs of the person specification to jobs@vivensafoundation.org.uk, together with an optional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) form.
Closing date: noon on 25 July 2025.
CVs without covering letters will not be considered.
While we do not use AI in the process of reviewing applications, we also recognise its potential to contribute to the creative process and we encourage its ethical and constructive use. This includes acknowledging it whenever it is used. Therefore, please reference generative AI in your written application if you have used it.
EDI form
The work we fund means that we know all too well the negative impacts of inequity. We are therefore committed to promoting EDI in all areas of our work. Our EDI form is optional and you do not have to answer any / all of the questions. However, gathering this data helps us to know if we are succeeding in involving different groups of people, and to change our approach if some groups are not represented.
Your application will be anonymised before it is considered by the recruiting panel and the panel will not have access to any information you have provided in our EDI form.
Data Protection
The information you provide in your application will only be processed for the purpose of this recruitment process as described above. By applying for this role you have consented that the data you provide will be processed and stored as described above. For more information, please read the Vivensa Foundation’s Privacy Notice.
Members of the Social Financing Committee
In the spring of 2025, the Vivensa Foundation launched its new strategic framework and identity. Formerly known as the Dunhill Medical Trust, it was back in the 1980s that our founder’s niece recognised that the shifting demographics would drive a need for investment in a high-quality research base to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of ageing and ageing-related disease, together with the delivery of innovation to improve health and social care services for older people.
Our charitable objects were never more relevant than they are today and the opportunities are immense to support our academic and clinical researcher community to make real systemic change.
The Foundation plans to play its part in three broad ways:
- investing in ideas
- connecting research and practice and
- fostering flourishing communities.
With our new identity and with our refreshed Strategic Framework and priorities for the next five years in place, we are now looking forward to writing our next chapter. As an independently endowed charitable foundation, with an endowment now valued at c. £170M, we are keen to leverage all the resources at our disposal in pursuit of our mission – not just the funding we distribute annually in grants. That has led us on a journey of reviewing how our money is invested, resulting in the Foundation making a commitment to allocate £5m of its investable assets, for the purpose of making social investments. You can read more in our Social Financing Policy.
VACANCY FOR INDEPENDENT EXPERT MEMBER OF THE SOCIAL FINANCING COMMITTEE
Our Social Financing Committee is one of three Committees reporting to the Board of Trustees and oversees our social investment strategy. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and assessing potential investment opportunities, as well as monitoring the performance of the portfolio. A range of financial mechanisms may be deployed, such as repayable grants, low interest loans, outcomes-based contracts or equity investments – providing capital both directly to purpose-driven organisations (such as charities or social enterprises), or indirectly through investment into pooled funds whose underlying investments are in companies which are substantially supportive of our mission.
We’ve made four investments so far, so it’s still early days. But with internal resource and processes now in place, the volume of investments under consideration is likely to increase over the coming years.
From 2026, the Social Financing Committee will be moving to a quarterly meeting cycle and while meetings are conducted in a virtual format, we aim to bring committee members together at least once each year for an in-person meeting. While our office base is in central London, we invite applications from across the UK. The total time commitment for the role is expected to be no more than four days per year, including preparation and reading time. Although the role is unpaid, reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
The Social Financing Committee is drawn from members of the executive team, suitably experienced members of the Board of Trustees and independent experts who can bring their specific expertise and experience to the decision-making and governance process. The Foundation is now seeking to recruit additional independent expert committee members.
The role will also provide opportunity for committee members to explore aspects of the Trust’s wider activities, including attendance at the Trust’s Annual Symposium and other areas of interest.
HOW TO APPLY
It’s an exciting time to be joining us and we’re looking for people with the commitment, vision and expertise to support and work with our small but highly experienced and professional executive team and make your contribution to writing the next chapter in our story.
If you think this could be you, please send your CV, with a covering letter of no more than two pages addressing how you meet the needs of the person specification to jobs@vivensafoundation.org.uk, together with the optional Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) form.
Your email header should indicate the role for which you are applying. The closing date is 17.00 on 31 July 2025.
Our EDI form is optional and you do not have to answer any / all of the questions. However, gathering this data helps us to know if we are succeeding in involving different groups of people, and to change our approach if some groups are not represented.
Your application will be anonymised before it is considered by the recruiting panel and the panel will not have access to any information you have provided in our EDI form.
CVs without covering letters will not be considered. We also recognise the potential of generative AI to contribute to the creative process and we encourage its ethical and constructive use. This includes acknowledging it whenever it is used. Therefore, please reference generative AI in your written application if you have used it.
We recognise the inherent benefits of having a diverse committee and the negative impact of discrimination on us and the communities that we serve. We work hard to promote a culture of respect and dignity and work within the practice – and the spirit – of the Equality Act 2010. We do our very best to proactively combat behaviours and barriers that can lead to discrimination. If you wish to make your application in a different format to the one stated, please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.