Business operations manager jobs

Fundraising Manager 

Location: Home-based, with regular travel across the Thames Valley region 

Salary: c.£38,000 per annum (pro rata if part-time) 

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer 

This role is offered on a full-time basis (37 hours per week), although flexible and part-time working arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.

Purpose: 

Ways Into Work is seeking a proactive and relationship-focused fundraiser to lead and develop income generation across the charity. 

As the charity’s sole fundraising professional, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering a sustainable fundraising strategy, with a particular focus on developing and growing corporate partnerships and business support across the Thames Valley region. 

Alongside corporate fundraising, you will identify and secure support from trusts and foundations, community organisations and individual supporters where appropriate. 

Key Responsibilities:

Corporate Partnerships & Business Development 

- Lead on developing and growing corporate partnerships and sponsorship opportunities. 

- Identify, research and approach prospective corporate supporters. 

- Build and steward long-term relationships with corporate partners. 

- Develop relationships with community groups to encourage fundraising support. 

Trusts & Foundations:

- Research and identify funding opportunities. 

- Write compelling funding applications and reports. 

- Work with colleagues to gather project information to support applications. 

Fundraising Strategy & Income Development:

- Develop and implement a fundraising plan. 

- Diversify income streams. 

- Monitor performance and report to leadership. 

Communications & Supporter Engagement: 

- Support fundraising campaigns and communications. 

- Share impact stories and case studies. 

- Represent the charity at events. 

Fundraising Operations:

- Maintain accurate donor records. 

- Ensure timely acknowledgement of supporters. 

- Support fundraising systems and processes. 

Governance and Compliance:

- Ensure all fundraising activity is ethical and compliant. 

Person Specification:

Essential Skills & Experience 

- Experience in fundraising or partnerships. 

- Strong relationship-building ability. 

- Excellent communication skills. 

- Strong organisational skills. 

- Experience working to targets. 

- Confidence networking externally. 

- Good IT skills and record keeping. 

- Commitment to the mission of Ways Into Work. 

- Full UK driving licence. 

Desirable 

- Experience in corporate partnerships. 

- Experience writing trust applications. 

- Knowledge of CRM systems. 

- Experience in a small charity environment. 

(We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications)

Ways into Work are committed to safeguarding all clients and staff. We adhere to all local and national policies aimed at promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Offer of employment is subject to a successful Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).

Job Title: Investment Operations Officer

Department: Core Team (Middle Office)

Reports to: Risk and Investment Operations Senior Manager 

Grade: Officer - Core

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £38,000 - £42,000 (depending on experience)

Location: Hybrid - London, EC1Y and homeworking

About Better Society Capital (BSC):

Better Society Capital (BSC) is the UK's leading social impact-led investor. Our mission is to grow the amount of money invested in tackling social issues and inequalities in the UK; we do this by investing ourselves and enabling others to invest for impact too.  Since 2011, we have helped the social impact investment market grow twelve-fold to over £10 billion. This capital has financed social purpose organisations tackling everything from homelessness to mental health and fuel poverty. BSC manages £634m of its own investments as well as acting as portfolio manager for the Schroder BSC Social Impact Investment Trust (SBSI) managing its £83m portfolio. As BSC begins delivering its next five-year strategy, the organisation is embarking on a period of significant opportunity, growth and impact.

The opportunity:

The Investment Operations Officer is responsible for supporting the day-to-day operational activities of investment funds. This role ensures the accuracy, efficiency, and integrity of fund processes, including trade settlement, reconciliation, operational checks for cash management, and data management. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills with attention to detail and an understanding of financial markets. 

What you will do:

• Monitor and support daily fund operations, including trade processing, settlements, drawdown checks, account opening

• Perform reconciliations across custodians, brokers, and internal systems to ensure data accuracy, counterparty management

• Liaise with internal teams (portfolio management, compliance, risk) and external parties (custodians, administrators, auditors)

• Maintain and improve operational processes and controls

• Fund documentation ingestion management and data inputs

• Project management and assistance with Investment team’s post investment decision deal onboarding

• Prepare periodic reporting requests / questionnaires for external stakeholders

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies, and support ongoing compliance reporting of the business

• Support KYC/CDD processes for all investment and advisory relationships 

• Participate in at least one ‘BSC Citizenship’ activity, helping to make BSC a great place to work – this could be helping to organise our summer or winter social, joining the Staff Council or helping with health and safety

What you will bring:

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience of your excellent analytical and problem-solving skills 

• Experience of working in an environment where high level of attention to detail and accuracy is vital 

Desirable

• 1–3 years of experience in fund operations, asset management, or financial services (preferred but not mandatory)  

• Understanding of financial instruments (particularly alternatives) is preferred but not mandatory  

• Proficiency in Excel and familiarity with AI, CRM and PMS systems 

Skills, Abilities and Attributes

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills 

• A genuinely service-orientated outlook – you take pride in making things run well 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities 

• Collaborative, with a hands-on approach to pro-actively solving problems with others and with a solution orientated mindset – someone who anticipates needs rather than waits to be asked 

• Prior knowledge or interest in social enterprise, charity or impact related work 

Embody Better Society Capital core values:

Ø  Purposeful –We are passionate and energetic in our work to bring about our long-term vision of a thriving social investment market that enables positive social impact.

Ø  Pioneering Spirit - We give our team the autonomy and flexibility to be entrepreneurial and creative. We have the courage to push boundaries and a restless drive for change

Ø  Openness - We listen, learn, experiment and collaborate.  And we are adaptive and flexible in responding to what we learn.

Ø  Rigorous - We take a rigorous approach in all we do.  We expect the highest standards and continually strive for excellence

Ø  Respectful - We are genuine in both our approach and aspiration.  We value each member of our team and our partners for what they bring.

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from racialised communities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How to apply:

Please apply via Applied which is designed to minimise unconscious bias in recruitment. We will review your CV and two written answers which should answer the two following prompts: 

 1. Think of one piece of professional work from the last 3 years that best demonstrates why you’d be a strong fit for this role at Better Society Capital. Please cover: 

• Context - Where were you working and what was the goal? 

• Your role - What were you personally responsible for? 

• Two key decision you made - What options did you consider, and why did you choose the path you did? 

• Impact - What changed as a result? Please include any concrete outcomes (numbers, stakeholder feedback, decisions taken, etc.). 

• Looking back - What, if anything, would you do differently now, and why? 

2. We want to understand why you are interested in a career here at BSC. Tell us about a time where you tried to do something to create a positive change. 

• What was the goal? 

• Did it happen? 

• What did you learn about yourself along the way? 

Your answers should be no longer than 250 words each 

NB We do screen for applications that appear to be heavily generated by AI. You’re welcome to use AI tools to support small edits, such as improving grammar, structure or clarity, but your CV and supporting answer should reflect your own experience, knowledge, skills and motivations. Applications that feel authentic and genuinely personal are most likely to receive a 5-star score. 

Closing Date:  9am - Wednesday 10th June 2026

Interviews

• Initial Screening calls will be held 17/18th June 

• Round 1 interview (virtual) will be held w/c 22nd June 

• Round 2 interview (in-person) will be held w/c 29th June 

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria will be considered for an initial screening interview. When application numbers are high and we are unable to interview everyone who meets the minimum criteria, we will prioritise those who best meet the essential requirements of the role.

We are defining a disability in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, as a person who has a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. You will be asked in your Applied application whether this applies to you.

If you have a disability or other access needs and require any support to assist you through the recruitment process, please get in touch.

You can find out more about our recruitment approach here

Other terms

Location: We are a UK-based business with an office in the Old Street area of London, accessible via a number of public transport links. Colleagues typically spend 40% - 60% of their working hours in the office, and the remainder from home. However, the exact requirements for this role can be discussed at interview. We hope that this working pattern encourages Better Society Capital employees to achieve a healthy balance between work and personal life, as we adapt to the needs of our diverse workforce.

Right to work: We are unable to offer work sponsorship for this role. Candidates need to have the existing right to work in the UK and for the duration of employment to be considered. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Better Society Capital is committed to being a diverse organisation that is truly representative of the communities we serve. We therefore welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those under-represented in the social impact investment sector (e.g. people from LGBTQIA+, racialised, disabled, or under-served communities).

We are an equal opportunities employer with an inclusive environment where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential. We want every colleague to be able to deliver their work with dignity, equality, comfort and independence. Our office is fully accessible with step-free access and an open-plan set up. We are open to accommodation requests regarding assistive technologies, accessibility tools, flexible working or any other reasonable adjustments that will make working or visiting here more accessible for you. If you have a disability or other access needs and require any support to assist you through the recruitment process, please get in touch .

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Location: Based in either Crisis Skylight Edinburgh (EH8 8BQ), Newcastle (NE1 2AF) or Merseyside (L1 5BD) at least three days per week. There is an expectation of regular travel across all sites and travel to our London head office approximately once every six weeks.

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract or secondment opportunity, including external secondments.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to step into a pivotal senior leadership role at a critical moment for Crisis. We are looking for a Director of Operations on a 12-month fixed term contract or secondment, someone who thrives in periods of transformation and can lead a geographically dispersed senior team. If you are energised by complexity, motivated by mission, and ready to make a real difference during a period of change, we want to hear from you.

With a bold new strategic direction placing Client Services at the heart of ending homelessness, Crisis is implementing a place-based approach to system change, becoming a housing provider, and scaling the impact of our nine Skylights and Christmas offer. This role sits at the centre of that change. You will provide strong, values-led leadership across our Skylights in Edinburgh, Newcastle and Merseyside, senior support to the Lead Clinical Psychologist as well the entirety of Client Services across Great Britain. You will be bold in driving continuous improvement, collaborative in your approach to partnerships, impactful in your use of data and insight, and equitable in your leadership.

About you

• Significant senior leadership experience in a relevant sector, such as homelessness, adult social care, health, education, or employment, with a strong track record of inspiring and empowering people and teams through change.
• Excellent networking, partnership-building and influencing skills, adaptable to a range of audiences from frontline staff to senior politicians and funders
• A proven track record in operational leadership: implementing quality standards, compliance assurance, governance, and driving continuous service improvement
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using data to generate insight that improves service effectiveness, alongside experience managing significant and complex budgets
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and an understanding of psychologically informed, trauma-informed approaches when working with people who have experienced complex adversity
• A genuine commitment to Crisis’ purpose and values, and a passion for ending homelessness — we particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members, volunteers and supporters are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 23:59

Stakeholder panel interview: Thursday 25 June 2026 online via Microsoft Teams

Main panel interview date and location: Thursday 2 June at Crisis Skylight Edinburgh

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094

We are 4 Day Week employer

Purpose of the role

Brook is the UK’s leading sexual health and wellbeing charity, providing inclusive, confidential services and education to support people of all ages.  We are committed to changing attitudes, challenging prejudice and championing equality.

We are seeking an exceptional, values-driven operational leader to join us as Assistant Director of Clinical Operations, providing strategic leadership and oversight across our national portfolio of clinical services. This is a pivotal senior role responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, innovative and financially sustainable services, while contributing to organisational strategy, growth and continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive and working as part of the senior leadership team, you will lead operational performance, governance, service transformation and quality assurance across Brook’s clinical services. You will oversee an allocated portfolio of services and contracts alongside providing leadership to the Head of Clinical Operations.  

You will drive operational excellence through robust performance frameworks and continuous improvement, lead the mobilisation of new services, and provide senior escalation for complex issues, ensuring strong risk management and full compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements.

With substantial experience of leading complex healthcare or public health services, you will bring strong strategic, analytical and leadership skills, alongside a commitment to delivering outstanding, person-centred care and fostering a culture of accountability and inclusion.

Essential criteria

• Significant senior operational leadership experience within healthcare, public health or related services. 
• Significant experience of providing strategic operational leadership across complex, multi-site healthcare or public health services. 
• Proven experience of delivering high quality services within complex contractual and regulatory environments. 
• Experience of leading organisational change, service transformation and operational improvement programmes. 
• Experience of budget management and financial oversight across multiple services. 
• Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with commissioners, partners and senior stakeholders. 
• Experience of contract mobilisation, redesign and performance improvement. 
• Experience of leading high-performing teams through periods of change and growth. 
• Experience of accountability for organisation-wide operational performance, governance and service improvement. 
• Experience of managing complex complaints, incidents and operational risk. 
• Experience of supporting complex staffing and workforce management issues. 
• Experience of developing and managing external stakeholder and subcontractor relationships. 

To learn more about the role and person specification please read the attached 'role specification' which can be found on the application form.

About the role:

• Hours: Full-Time 37.5 Hours per week

(Upon completing your probationary period, you will be eligible to join the 4 Day Week program, which allows you to work 20% fewer hours without a decrease in salary)

• Contract: Permanent
• Location: This is a UK-wide role that can be primarily remote, with a designated base at the nearest Brook office or service.
• Salary: £72,000
• Closing date: 30th May 2026 
• First stage interviews: 10 June 2026

Application Tip: Ensure your supporting statement refers to the person specification as this will assist in a successful sift through to the interview stage.

About Brook:

Brook is the UK’s leading sexual health and wellbeing charity. We are committed to changing attitudes, challenging prejudice and championing equality. 

Our unique combination of clinical services and education programmes are designed to meet individual needs and instill positive behaviours that influence their whole lives. Our digital solutions help us reach even greater numbers of young people and professionals, and our expansion into all-age services ensures that whole communities can benefit from our inclusive, non-judgmental approach to sexual and reproductive health. 

We are continuously listening to and learning from our service users and the communities we support. We amplify the voices of those who face barriers to access, ensuring that sexual health remains high on the political agenda and that law, policy and practice is aligned with what they need. 

Benefits of working for Brook:

• 4 Day Week (Working 20% hours less without salary decrease)
• Annual leave – 28 days per annum, increasing up to 33 days plus 8 bank holidays 
• Sick pay (from 3 up to 12 weeks fully paid) 
• Flexible working 
• Gratitude scheme 
• Assisted purchase scheme 
• Cycle to Work up to £1k 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 
• Long service awards 
• Maternity and paternity pay 
• Pension scheme – Employee pension contributions matched by Brook up to 4% of qualifying earnings
• Training and development opportunities 
• Coaching

Please note - this role requires the successful applicant to undertake an enhanced DBS check. Candidates must be able to provide paperwork demonstrating their right to work in the UK.

Please note: internal applicants with live sanctions will not be considered for this role. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible. 

Due to the high number of applications for this post, it will not be possible to respond to every application. We will contact you within 4 weeks of the closing date if you have been shortlisted for the role. 

Thank you for your interest in working for Brook.
 

Brook Safeguarding with Purpose

Working with People Safely. Safe Place, Safe People.

Job Title – Senior Delivery / Programme Operations Manager

Reports to – Director

Working Hours – Either full-time (37.5 hours per week) or part-time (minimum 22.5 hours per week / 0.6 of a full-time equivalent). If part-time, hours can be worked across 3 to 5 days depending on preference.

Location – London - Clapham / Hybrid working (minimum 33.3% - 40% of working time in the office depending on hours worked)

About Us

For over 30 years, The Money Charity has been the UK’s Financial Capability charity. We proactively provide education, information, advice and guidance to people of all ages, helping them to manage their money well and increase their Financial Wellbeing.

We believe that being on top of your money as a part of everyday life reduces stress and hardship, helps you achieve your goals and live a happier life as a result, so we empower people from all backgrounds across the UK to build the skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to make the most of their money throughout their lives.

We also work to promote Financial Wellbeing in the UK by working with the financial services industry to improve practices and outcomes for their consumers, and influencing policy-makers, media, industry and public attitudes.

We are a small, passionate team with a big reach and an open mind, committed to quality accessibility and inclusiveness. We offer a flexible work environment that values creativity, personal growth and collaboration. For more information about us, please visit our website.

About The Role

We’re looking for a Senior Delivery / Programme Operations Manager who thrives on delivering efficient and pragmatic processes, procedures and systems to support the impactful delivery of our growing suite of Financial Education and Wellbeing Workshops and Programmes. You will help us get stuff done! And deliver important functions and projects yourself.

As we grow the charity, it is ever more crucial that we break down silos and duplication between our two main delivery teams (Children & Young People and Adults). You will lead on reviewing and consolidating the two processes into one for the support functions of the programme delivery teams, initially progressing priority tasks identified for 2026 as part of our recent strategy refresh, and building a pipeline of future continuous improvement projects for 2027 and beyond.

This will be a vital new role bringing order and cohesion to the vital delivery support functions. You will own and champion key programme delivery-related functions in the charity, ensuring that they are fit for purpose and are understood and used throughout the charity. Reporting to one of the Directors, you will play a key role in bridging and where appropriate joining the two teams, whilst respecting and promoting their technical specialisms and differences.

Closing Date – 11:30pm, Monday 25 May 2026

Interviews – 1st round early June (virtually)

Please visit our website for the full job description including the key responsibilities, person specification and application details. Note that we are currently recruiting for two Senior Manager roles, and further information on the other role can be found on our website as well.

Business Support Manager - Philanthropy

Department: P&A Business Operations
Grade and Salary: £45,031 - £52,514 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance
Job ID: 145507

About Us

Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement (P&A) provides a fundraising and alumni engagement function in support of King’s College London. We are proud to work with colleagues across the university and its health partners to help them serve society through world-leading education, research and healthcare.  Our work also includes a partnership with the Maudsley Charity in support of children’s mental health initiatives between the university’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and the South London & Maudsley NHS Trust.

​We are a committed team that brings together fundraisers working across different channels, alongside colleagues who promote King’s College London’s engagement with its worldwide alumni community. Our work is underpinned and enhanced by a range of dedicated professionals in supporting areas covering proposition development, supporter engagement, supporter operations and business operations.

​We have an impressive, well-established track record of success in securing support that allows the university and partners to deliver on their missions. This includes our global, award-winning World Questions: King’s Answers campaign, which set the standard in the sector and enabled us to raise substantial funds to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Ambitious and innovative, the team has won awards such as a CASE Platinum Award for Fundraising and a CASE Gold Award for Donor Relations and Stewardship. We are strongly values-driven with a focus on sustaining an excellent and supportive culture, which we see as key to creating a successful team that can support the university and its partners in making a real and positive difference to the world we live in.

More on King’s College London

​King’s College London is an internationally renowned university delivering exceptional education and world-leading research. The university is dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change in society and realising our vision of making the world a better place.  Through its commitment to exceptional education, impactful research and genuine service to society, King’s College London is creating positive change in its communities, both in London and on the world stage. The Strategic Vision 2029 looks forward to King’s College London’s 200th anniversary in 2029 and sets out ambitious plans in five key areas:  

· ​Educating the next generation of change-makers

· Challenging ideas and driving change through research

· Giving back to society through meaningful service

· Working with our local communities in London

· Fostering global citizens with an international perspective

About the role

The Principal & International Giving (PIG) team is responsible for securing principal and transformational gifts of £5m+, and high-level gifts of £50k+ from across the international philanthropy portfolio.

The Business Support Manager provides critical operational, programme and business support and management to enable the continued success and evolution of the Principal and International Giving programme.

This is a fast-paced and varied role, spanning business operations, cross-team coordination, and international activity management. The postholder will work closely with the Principal Giving and International Philanthropy teams and sit within the wider Business Operations unit, ensuring P&A operates in an efficient, joined-up and high-performing way. They will therefore report to the Senior Business Manager, with their day-to-day activity supporting the Associate Director of Principal & International Giving and the Head of Philanthropy (International).

The role suits an ambitious self-starter who enjoys working with people, processes, and systems; can manage complexity and competing priorities; and can act as an active enabler and connector, bringing together the right people at the right time to support fundraising success.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week) and you will be offered an indefinite contract. P&A has a hybrid working approach, with a minimum of 40% of time in the office. Typically, this equates to two days per week, but we’re very happy for colleagues to be in more frequently if they so wish.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

· Proven experience in project or programme management or complex coordination

· Ability to prioritise, manage competing deadlines, and work calmly under pressure

· Highly organised and process-orientated, with strong attention to detail and an ability to see the bigger picture

· Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams

· Proactive approach with the ability to manage own workload and deliver to objectives

· Confident stakeholder management skills, including working with senior leaders

· High level of IT literacy, including strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and databases

· Strong analytical ability, with experience synthesising and presenting complex information clearly

Desirable criteria

· Experience of fundraising or working within a fundraising operation

· Knowledge of a fundraising database (e.g. Dynamics, Raiser’s Edge)

· Experience supporting senior leaders or high-performing teams

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including part-time, compressed hours and/or job shares, as appropriate and in the context of the business needs associated with the role. 

We offer the opportunity of an “Ask Us Anything” Teams call on Wednesday 20th May at 11am. During this call you will be able to ask any questions you might have about the role, the selection process, our department, our core values and work culture, our current hybrid work policy, or simply listen to others’ questions.   

 Close Date: 25-May-2026

​This role will have two interview stages, a standard skills-based interview followed (for up to two appointable candidates) by a Core Values interview. 

​First stage interviews are due to be held on Monday 8th June. Core Values interviews are due to be held during w/c 8th June or w/c 15th June.

We’re looking for a senior leader to join our Senior Management Team and take overall responsibility for the organisation’s operational core.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a high-impact organisation as a key member of the Senior Management Team, working in close partnership with the Chief Executive to drive organisational excellence, sustainability, and transformation.

As Executive Director, Operations, you will sit at the heart of the organisation leading critical  services and ensuring everything we do is underpinned by strong governance, robust finances, effective systems and an engaged, high-performing workforce. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping strategy, enabling delivery, and ensuring we remain fit for the future.

This role requires a strategic leader who thrives on complexity, brings clarity to challenge, and is motivated by delivering meaningful impact.

What you’ll do

• Lead core corporate functions including Finance, HR, IT, Governance and Facilities 
• Contribute to organisational strategy and decision-making as a member of the SMT 
• Ensure strong financial oversight, planning and risk management 
• Drive continuous improvement across systems, processes and services 
• Support and develop high-performing teams and a positive organisational culture 

What you’ll need

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation
• Expertise in one or more corporate service areas, with the ability to lead across a broad portfolio 
• Strong financial understanding and confidence overseeing organisational performance 
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to influence at senior level 
• Sound judgement, resilience, and the ability to manage complexity and competing priorities 

You’ll join a collaborative and purpose-led leadership team, with the opportunity to shape how the organisation operates and grows. This is a role with real influence, where your leadership will directly enable delivery, improvement and long-term success. Please find out more from the candidate pack. 

Why join us

• Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and medical specialties
• Hybrid working – up to 60% remote
• Modern working environment with home‑working equipment provided
• Generous annual leave, plus the option to buy up to 5 extra days
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave (maternity, paternity and adoption) for those with 2+ years continuous service 
• Excellent pension scheme
• Sabbaticals (5+ years’ service) and secondment opportunities
• Interest‑free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Long service recognition awards

Help shape financial decision-making at one of the UK’s leading universities

King’s is a large, complex and internationally engaged university with ambitious plans for the years ahead. We are looking for an experienced finance leader to join us as Deputy Director of Finance Business Partnering (Operations), playing a key role in strengthening financial performance, decision-making and long-term sustainability across our Professional Services directorates.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a real impact. You will be part of our Financial Strategy, Planning and Performance function, helping King’s maintain the sustainable financial foundation needed to support our education, research and wider contribution to society.

The role

Reporting to the Director of Finance Business Partnering (Operations), you will lead high-quality finance business partnering services across a range of Professional Services areas, including Student Services, IT, Philanthropy and Alumni, Executive portfolios and other directorates.

You will directly line manage a team of Finance Business Partners and their Management Accountant teams, with overall responsibility for a team of around eight people, including three direct reports. You will also play a substantial leadership role across the wider Operations Finance Business Partnering team, supporting a team of around 19 colleagues.

This is a hands-on senior leadership role. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, providing expert advice, constructive challenge, analysis and timely decision support. You will help ensure financial plans are robust, risks and opportunities are understood, and resources are aligned with King’s strategic priorities.

What you will be doing

You will model excellent finance business partnering, using high-quality data and insight to support leaders across King’s Professional Services and Operations directorates. You will help stakeholders understand financial performance, make evidence-based decisions and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, value for money and long-term financial resilience.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the delivery of finance business partnering across multiple Professional Services areas.
• Providing strategic financial advice, scenario modelling and long-term forecasting to support decision-making.
• Leading and supporting annual planning, monthly reporting, quarterly updates and forecasting processes.
• Developing clear, robust reporting and commentary for senior stakeholders, including Executive-level audiences.
• Supporting business cases, complex financial issues and cross-cutting initiatives.
• Ensuring income and expenditure are recorded correctly and that management accounts provide meaningful insight.
• Promoting compliance with financial policies, controls, data protection and secure use of financial information.
• Championing improvements to reporting, tools, dashboards, templates and processes.
• Supporting the Director in leading the Operations Finance Business Partnering team, including culture, priorities, development and ways of working.
• Deputising for the Director when required.

About you

We are looking for a qualified accountant with significant experience of leading financial advice, planning, forecasting and reporting services in a large, complex organisation.

You will bring strong leadership skills, a service-focused approach and the ability to develop high-performing teams. You will be comfortable operating in complex stakeholder environments, managing competing priorities and influencing senior leaders with clarity, confidence and credibility.

You will be someone who can combine technical financial expertise with sound judgement, strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to continuous improvement.

You will need to bring

• A professional accountancy qualification.
• Experience of leading financial support, advice or business partnering services relevant to this role.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to manage and develop professional staff.
• Experience of leading short- and long-term planning, forecasting and reporting processes.
• The ability to deliver change and financial improvement across a finance function and wider organisation.
• Resilience and the ability to manage multiple objectives across teams and complex stakeholder groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present clearly to senior stakeholders and committees.
• Strong numeracy and IT skills, including Excel and experience using corporate finance and reporting systems.

A degree-level qualification and experience of working in or with the university sector would be advantageous, but are not essential.

Why join King’s?

This role offers the chance to help shape a step change in finance business partnering at King’s. You will be joining at a time when the team is embedding a refreshed business partnering offer, improving reporting and forecasting tools, strengthening stakeholder support and building financial capability across the organisation.

You will have the opportunity to work on high-profile priorities, influence senior decision-making and contribute to financial sustainability across a university with a powerful mission in education, research and service to society.

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV by 25th May 2026. 

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Phil Southern at Ivy Rock Partners. 

At Woodgreen Pets Charity, our mission is simple: to support pets and their people through every step of their journey together. Behind that mission is a growing and ambitious organisation powered by data, technology, and innovation.

We’re seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Enterprise Systems Senior Manager to shape the future of technology across our charity. In this strategic, hands-on role, you will oversee critical enterprise systems, lead operational delivery, manage key supplier relationships, and work with senior leaders across the organisation to ensure technology supports and strengthens our impact.

Reporting to our Head of Data and Technology, our successful candidate will lead a small specialist team, alongside a range of outsourced partners, with responsibility for enterprise systems operations, continuous improvement, and strategic development across Woodgreen.  They will play a key role in ensuring that our systems are secure, reliable, integrated and aligned to business need whilst also helping to drive innovation and long-term technology planning.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys balancing operational leadership, stakeholder engagement and strategic thinking within a purpose-driven environment.  Acting as a trusted partner, helping teams to maximise the value of technology and systems across the charity, you will work closely with members of our Leaders’ Forum to understand business needs and provide expert systems guidance across all areas. 

If you have;

• Substantial experience leading enterprise systems functions across complex environments, with a strong track record of delivering operational excellence and technology change over multiple planning cycles.
• Experience leading enterprise systems across cloud and on-premise environment
• Strong people leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Experience managing outsourced service providers and technology partners
• A collaborative and business-focused approach
• Experience delivering technology projects and operational improvements
• Strong understanding of enterprise applications, integrations and service delivery

We would love to hear from you!

This full time, permanent opportunity will operate in a hybrid working environment and although much of it can be done remotely our successful candidate must be able to attend our offices near Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire (PE29 2NH) for an average of 2-3 times per month.

The starting salary for this position is £46,876 - £57,293 per annum depending on experience. This is complemented by;

• 36 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays) rising by 1 day each year to a maximum of 40 days after five years
• Up to 8% employer pension contributions
• Support towards healthcare costs (cashplan)
• Employee wellbeing package to include free access to Headspace
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Enhanced parental leave (subject to qualifying period)
• Benefits hub – exclusive discounts on popular brands
• 25% discount in our charity shops

Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this opportunity as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.This role is subject to a range of pre-employment checks to include a basic DBS check.

Woodgreen is committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and, as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.

Early application is encouraged as this position may close sooner than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is found. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date.

Woodgreen is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and protecting anyone that comes into contact with us from harm. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Skillway (part of the Warehouse Christian Trust) is dedicated to supporting vulnerable young people by providing them with essential life skills through hands-on training in metalwork, woodworking and crafts. The charity aims to develop both practical vocational skills and personal growth, fostering self-confidence, resilience, and employability in a safe, supportive environment.

Job Purpose:

The Head of Operations at Skillway oversees all operational aspects of this arm of the charity, ensuring the successful delivery of all our educational programmes. This role requires strong leadership, strategic vision, and day-to-day management, including student recruitment and retention, staff oversight, fundraising, and partnership management. The ideal candidate will be passionate about social impact and committed to improving the lives of vulnerable young people.

Key Responsibilities:

1.  Management and Delivery

• Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of training in woodwork, metalwork and other crafts.

• Ensure the training meets the educational and personal development needs of vulnerable young people.

• Monitor student progress, providing support to overcome barriers and ensuring high-quality, impactful learning experiences.

• Develop new initiatives and adapt the existing training programmes to meet the evolving needs of students, schools and the community.

• Develop a long-term strategy for the growth of Skillway.

• Set and model high standards for the staff team, volunteers and students.

• Site housekeeping and management of Skillway’s woodland site.

2.  Leadership and Staff Management

• Lead, motivate, and manage a team of staff and volunteers.

• Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture, fostering professional development and ensuring that all staff members are supported.

• Manage recruitment, training, and performance of staff and volunteers.

• Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all participants and staff including responsibility for risk assessments.

• Develop and apply our safeguarding policy as Designated Safeguarding Lead.

3.  Strategic Planning and Development

• With the Board of Trustees, develop and execute the charity's strategic goals.

• Develop and manage the charity’s budget and resources to ensure financial sustainability and impact.

• Identify and pursue new opportunities for growth, including partnerships, new funding streams, and relationships with local schools, businesses and other community organisations.

• Maintain effective and safe digital organisation of key data.

• Support the other arm of our charity - The Camino Café - as and when required.

4.  Fundraising and Financial Oversight

• Lead fundraising efforts to secure funding from diverse sources, including grants, donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

• Oversee the preparation of funding applications and reports for donors and grant-making bodies.

• Maintain financial oversight, ensuring effective use of resources, monitoring expenses and reporting financial performance to the Board using Quickbooks as the primary accounting and reporting tool.

• Improve branding and awareness of Skillway and its aims and purpose.

5.  Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, schools, community groups, donors, and business partners.

• Represent the charity in public and at events, advocating for the charity's mission and the importance of vocational education for vulnerable young people.

• Ensure the charity’s work is widely known and respected in the community.

6.  Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Implement systems for monitoring and evaluating the impact of Skillway’s work.

• Gather feedback from participants, staff, and stakeholders to assess programme effectiveness and make improvements.

• Provide regular updates and reports to the Board of Trustees, funders, and other stakeholders on the charity’s impact and outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential:

• Proven experience in a management role, ideally within the charity or education sector.

• Background in vocational education, youth work, or a related field, with a focus on supporting vulnerable young people.

• Experience in leading and managing a diverse team, with the ability to inspire, support, and develop staff.

• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities effectively.

• Demonstrated ability in fundraising, securing grants, and building donor relationships.

• Knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and reporting.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and build relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

• A commitment to the mission and values of the charity.

Desirable:

• Experience in working with metalwork, woodworking, or a related technical skill.

• Familiarity with the challenges faced by vulnerable young people and the ability to create a supportive and empowering learning environment.

• Experience working with boards of trustees or governance bodies.

Personal Attributes:

• Innovative and proactive, with the ability to think creatively and solve problems.

• Empathetic and understanding, with a genuine commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals.

• Strategic thinker, able to balance day-to-day operations with long-term planning and development.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Housing Operations Manager located at our Head Office in Islington.

£59,535.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x pensionable salary (T&Cs apply)
• Free DBS

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

Housing operations and tenancy management

• Lead the day-to-day landlord function across supported housing services, keeping standards consistent and addressing issues before they escalate.

Safeguarding and Risk Management

• Take responsibility for ensuring housing management activity actively identifies and responds to safeguarding risks, including where concerns emerge through non-engagement, property condition, or repeated enforcement action.

Property, Estates and Void Management

• Oversee a planned programme of estate inspections, tenancy audits, and housing-led health and safety checks, ensuring actions are clearly recorded, owned, and followed up where standards fall short.

Compliance and Resident Safety

• Take day-to-day responsibility for housing-led compliance activity, working closely with Property and Compliance teams to make sure statutory requirements are met in practice, not just on paper.

Leadership and Team Management

• Line manage Housing Officers, setting clear expectations around performance, accountability, and professional conduct, and addressing issues promptly where standards slip.

Cross-Departmental Coordination

• Act as the main operational link between Housing, Property, Compliance, Care and Support, and Income teams, ensuring issues are addressed collectively rather than passed between services.

Customer Involvement and Tenant Experience

• Promote meaningful resident involvement in housing services, ensuring opportunities for engagement are accessible and appropriate to the needs of supported housing residents.

Performance, Quality and Assurance

• Use performance data, case audits, complaints, and service insight to identify emerging risks, recurring issues, and gaps in housing management practice.

Key relationships

• Head of Housing
• Housing Officers
• Income Team
• Care & Support operational teams

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, networks in local business community.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Ideally educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 3 or other business/management qualification.

Desirable:

• Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications are desirable.

About us:

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed

Do you have experience delivering exceptional events and are ready to take the next step in your career?

Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity is hiring for two Event Managers to join our Special Events team. One position is permanent and the other is a 6 month FTC. 
 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and wants to play a key role in creating high-profile, memorable events that make a real difference. From concept to delivery, you’ll help bring inspiring experiences to life while developing your skills within one of the UK’s leading charity events teams.

Salary

The salary for this position is £42,131 per annum and we operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. 

In line with our EDI strategy and Total Reward policy, we calculate our salaries based on benchmarking data across the charity sector.  To ensure fairness for existing staff and new joiners, we do not offer salaries above the advertised rate.

Key Responsibilities

As an Events Manager, you will lead the planning and seamless delivery of a portfolio of high-profile Special Events throughout the year, ensuring every event aligns with and supports GOSH Charity’s fundraising strategy.

You’ll play a central role in building strong relationships with the committees that support our events, working collaboratively to deliver exceptional experiences, maximise fundraising opportunities, and inspire long-term supporter engagement. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact while delivering memorable events for one of the UK’s most recognised charities.
 

This is a hugely varied role where you will be involved with:
 

• Full management of event logistics.
• Ensure all events and other associated work undertaken are delivered to the highest standard.
• Work with and managing high level supporters and committees to develop events income.
• Day to day management of project team members who are working on the same event.
• Support and attend the portfolio of events and committee meetings (regularly requiring out-of-hours work.)
• Contribute to the Special Events team business planning processes on a regular basis. 

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Good working knowledge of events production, venues, potential suppliers etc. 
• Proven track record of managing and delivering high level events.
• Evidence of working with external fundraising committees/HNWI to deliver successful events.
• Prior experience of budget management, including forecasting and planning.
• Exceptional communication skills both written and verbal. 
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a proactive approach and mind-set.
• Brilliant time management and task prioritisation skills.
• Highly resilient with the ability to manage changing priorities. 

About the team 

The Special Events team manages a comprehensive and diverse programme of 20-30 high-end events per year to raise funds, raise awareness and support the work of the hospital. The team produce many of the charity flagship events, such as black-tie gala dinners at the Natural History Museum and our annual Christmas Carol Concert, with the events raising between £100,000 to £1.5 million. In addition, the Special Events team works on a range of enrichment events for the patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, like the annual winter party, The Snow Ball. The team holds relationships with a large external supporter base of high-value senior volunteers and committees who are pivotal to the success of the events. The team also act as an event agency for the rest of the charity, working with colleagues to deliver their event needs such as drinks receptions and stewardship events.

Salary: £33,475 per annum (pro-rated for part time hours). We are an accredited member of the Living Wage Foundation.

Location: Hybrid. (Hybrid approach with some working from home days. Regular travel to client sites as well as infrequent travel to Unseen’s head office in Bristol).

Contract type: Permanent, Full-time (Part time may be considered), Mon-Fri (occasional weekends/ evenings). Flexibility is important to meet the demands of the role.

Unseen is working towards a world without slavery. We provide safehouses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery. We also run the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline and work with individuals, communities, businesses, governments, other charities, and statutory agencies to stamp out slavery for good.

Purpose of the role:

This role is key in ensuring effective delivery of a range of business services to clients. Working within a small, dynamic team, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring our range of services focused on worker wellbeing are delivered professionally and sensitively. This is an exciting role that sits at the heart of Unseen’s response to worker exploitation, engaging with clients, interviewing workers at diverse client sites across the UK, supporting colleagues on providing allegation management and business portal services for clients as well as supporting on delivering the Seasonal Worker Scheme Support Line.

The role requires a professional individual who is a confident communicator, self-motivated, displays empathy and is an independent critical thinker.  Experience working in a corporate environment or with business clients is highly desirable, along with experience transforming data into actionable insights for a range of stakeholders, large-scale project management, and the application of auditing principles or experience visiting labour-based sites.

Knowledge of how to engage with vulnerable individuals and businesses of all sizes is a strong advantage, particularly within the construction, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors.

We are looking for the successful person to commence this role from July 2026.

To apply:

• Please complete Unseen’s application form on our website for the role which includes a personal statement of 500 words outlining your suitability for the role, some personal details and equal opportunities questions, and;
• Please send a copy of your CV to jobs @ unseenuk. org with reference to the job title.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 31 May 2026.

Interviews will likely be held the week commencing 8 June 2026.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive the requisite number of applications. For this reason, we encourage interested candidates to apply early.

As an organisation focused on equality and diversity, we welcome applications from all sections of the community and all backgrounds, including those with a lived experience of modern slavery, those from ethnic minority groups, those with disabilities and those from the LGBTQ+ community.

Any questions, please contact jobs @ unseenuk. org.

North & West Gloucestershire Citizens Advice is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our strategic leadership team and help shape the future of our services and communities.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established and respected charity with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality advice and support services. We are proud to be an organisation that values collaboration, innovation, and professional development, making it a great place to work and grow your career.

As part of our leadership team, you will work closely with colleagues and partner agencies to strengthen services, drive continuous improvement, and achieve the best possible outcomes for the people and communities we support.

You will play a key role in shaping and strengthening operational delivery across the organisation, ensuring high-quality services while supporting innovation, growth, and long-term sustainability.

Key details

Position: Head of Operations

Location: Flexible within North & West Gloucestershire (hybrid working available)

Hours: 1.0 FTE (approx. 37 hours per week)

Salary: £44,163

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Annual leave and benefits:

27 days plus Bank Holidays

Contribution of 7% based on 4% employee contribution

Employee Assistance Scheme

Birthday Leave

Christmas Closure

Flexible Working Policy

What are the responsibilities?

• Lead and support advice, health, and community service teams to deliver high-quality and effective services.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, service performance, staffing, and resource planning.
• Use data and insight to support continuous improvement, decision-making, and operational performance.
• Support workforce development, including staff training, volunteer engagement, and organisational capacity planning.
• Work with senior leaders, partners, and funders to support service development, organisational growth, and positive outcomes for communities.
• Ensure services operate in line with quality standards, safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection requirements.

What are the requirements?

This job is for you if you:

• Have strong operational leadership and people management experience.
• Can lead teams, manage performance, and drive continuous improvement within a fast-paced environment.
• Are confident using data and operational insight to support planning and decision-making.
• Have excellent communication, organisational, and relationship-building skills.
• Are collaborative, adaptable, and committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred services.
• Share our values of inclusion, professionalism, integrity, and continuous learning.

It would also be beneficial if you have experience working within the charity, advice, health, or community sectors, knowledge of commissioning or funding environments, or experience mobilising new services or projects.

Application deadline: 14th June 2026 (may close early if a suitable candidate is appointed)