Chief operating officer jobs in Central london, greater london

Ataxia UK is in an exciting phase of expansion in its Fundraising activity, specifically regarding investment in a Philanthropy function with a dedicated member of staff. In the past, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) have been managed reactively by the CEO and other Fundraising staff as opportunities have arisen. Ataxia UK (AUK) now wants to make a step change, in response to identified potential within the current fundraising landscape, towards strategic management of a pipeline of HNWI. As part of this, AUK is looking to engage a consultant on a fixed term contract, to work closely with the Senior Philanthropy Manager to undertake comprehensive research & scoping, in order to populate a HNWI pipeline for AUK. 

Please note, due to the large number of applications we receive, you will only be contacted should we wish to invite you to interview.

Our mission is to foster community-led green space management through collaboration, advocacy, and education.  We believe that green open spaces can be better sustained by empowering communities and our existing network numbers 150 plus members throughout Birmingham. As our Operations Director, you will direct and control the ongoing operations of Birmingham Open Spaces Forum (BOSF), to achieve the strategic and business performance objectives required by the Trustees. 

Prospectus is pleased to be collaborating with a UK charity founded by families who lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide to recruit for a new CEO to join them on a 12-month fixed term contract to start in March 2026. The charity operates as a fully remote working organisation however there will be some UK travel required as part of the role.

The Chief Operating Officer is the most senior staff role within the organisation, responsible for the day to day running of the charity and, in close coordination with the co-founders, delivering the organisation’s strategy. During this fixed term contract, the interim COO will be responsible for overseeing major change and growth as they move into a new funding system through the statutory gambling levy. In addition, the interim COO will ensure the ongoing delivery and quality of the charity’s services and activities, and will lead and support their expert and agile staff team.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in a senior leadership role within a small charity setting. You will have demonstrable experience leading, developing and nurturing teams including remote workers. Having worked successfully at a strategic level, you will be adept at delivering strategic and operational plans, with the ability to stay on top of all aspects of the organisation. In addition to the inward facing parts of the role you will also demonstrate the drive and experience to work externally, with a range of stakeholders and contractors. You will demonstrate passion for the mission, operating with a strong political awareness and sensitivity around the subject area.

To apply please submit your CV and a two page supporting statement, preferably in Microsoft Word/PDF format. The statement should outline your motivation for joining the charity and why you feel you would be a good fit for this role. You should also demonstrate your experience and skillset with examples relating to the Person Specification section in the Job Pack. If you have any further questions or would like to know more about this opportunity please contact Steven Fraser from Prospectus.

As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Goodman Masson are partnered with an award-winning, pioneering organisation dedicated to preventing human suffering caused by armed conflict, as they seek a Finance & Operations Director to join their Directors' Group.

They work globally with civil society, protecting human rights and promoting humanitarian action. Their brand is built on strategic engagement, reputation, and impact.

You Will Be:

• The financial compass, driving fiscal excellence, rigorous control, and compliance across international operations.
• A strategic partner shaping long-term organisational strategy, providing expert financial advice, and managing organisational risk.
• Hands-on in day-to-day functions, ensuring best-practice financial systems, leading statutory reporting, and managing fund investment compliance.
• A mentor cultivating a high-performing, supportive Finance Team.

You Will Have:

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in financial planning, budgeting, and reporting
• Leadership experience within an international charity setting.
• Deep technical expertise in Charity SORP, regulatory compliance, and managing complex international finance/currencies.
• Proven experience supporting governance through Board liaison (Audit/Risk).

Salary range is £70,000 - £80,000 Depending on Experience + Benefits.

Applications are being reviewed as and when they are received, therefore please apply ASAP to ensure your details are considered.

The Head of HR is a new role for the organisation. Over the last few years, the organisation and our staff team have grown significantly. To enable us to achieve our mission to give all young people a home, it is crucial that we make a significant shift in our HR and people plans so that staff and managers have all the support they need to succeed in these challenging times. To do so, we need to make a strategic shift with our HR capacity, improve our people systems, and make NHYC a great place to work for our 70+ strong staff team. You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement NHYC’s People strategy for 2025-2030, taking on a varied role around key areas of organisational development and HR operations. You will need to build strong and trusting relationships with staff from across the organisation and act as a key advisor to the Executive Team.

We are happy to consider candidates taking their first step into leadership and we will consider exceptional part time candidates to ensure we find the right person or people for the role. We particularly welcome candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as these are overrepresented communities in our services and yet underrepresented within our leadership.

• Permanent, full-time role in our Leadership Team (part-time considered)
• Salary: £46,800 (salary scale £46,800-£52,000)
• Deadline to apply: 9am, Wednesday 11 February 2026

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and values-led Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead East London Waterworks Park in this next phase of our development. This is a rare opportunity to shape the first paid executive leadership role in a pioneering environmental charity.

The CEO role is wide-ranging and dynamic, and will evolve as East London Waterworks Park grows. The CEO will provide strategic leadership to help realise our ambition to purchase the Thames Water depot site in East London, while strengthening our capacity to deliver community-led rewilding and nature-recovery projects across London in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders.

An important aspect of the role will involve introducing a sustainable staffing model that complements and develops East London Waterworks Park’s existing volunteer ecosystem, and strengthens our culture, vision and values. The CEO will be supported in this work by long-standing volunteers at both trustee board and operational level, who believe in the benefits this organisational change will bring.

About East London Waterworks Park

East London Waterworks Park is a community-led charity working to reconnect people and nature. Starting from nature-first principles, and with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do, we work with communities to co-design spaces to unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place.

Our work includes:

• co-designing East London Waterworks Park with the East London community, working towards purchasing a 14-acre Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest and transforming it into a biodiverse urban park with free, accessible wild swimming and welcoming community spaces

• co-designing other nature-first spaces on disused or brownfield land in London, returning land to nature in collaboration with local communities to encourage long–term community stewardship

• hosting engagement, education, and empowerment activities that build skills, confidence and deeper connections to nature.

East London Waterworks Park is a sociocratic organisation, with a decentralised organisational structure and a transparent and collaborative approach to decision making. We have grown organically since 2019, responding flexibly to the challenges we have encountered but always committed to our core vision: creating a new kind of urban green and blue space: one that is ecologically rich, inclusive, and shaped by the people and wildlife who use it.

East London Waterworks Park is currently entirely run by volunteers but we recognise the need to transition to a more sustainable structure. We want to introduce paid employees to ensure we can deliver the exciting projects planned in 2026 and beyond, while retaining our strong community-led ethos.

More information

If this sounds exciting, please review the attached recruitment package.

Permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Remote working with some UK and international travel

We are looking for an ambitious, experienced and passionate Chief Financial & Operations Officer (CFOO) to join The Lifescape Project, leading the evolution, management and delivery of our financial and operational capacities as the organisation grows.

Our impact as a charity depends on excellent financial management and the efficient provision of supporting operational structures, policies and ways of working. As the organisation grows and diversifies, we need a dedicated Chief Financial and Operations Officer to lead the management and development of these critical functions in close liaison with the CEO. The CFOO will be second in command to the CEO and a key member of the Management Team.

About us and the role

We are a small and quickly growing UK-registered charity whose mission is to protect and restore wild, natural landscapes. We use the skills and expertise of our multi-disciplinary team (spanning science, law, economics, technology and culture) to develop projects that pursue this mission.

We use the approach of combining disciplines to design and deliver our work because the biodiversity crisis is driven and impacted by social, economic, legal and other complex factors. It is increasingly recognised that the urgent transformative change needed for a sustainable future on our planet is most effectively achieved through this approach. The Lifescape Project has a unique ability to apply these diverse areas of expertise to our mission whilst maintaining the agility of a smaller organisation in delivering our work.

Working in pursuit of our 2020-2026 strategy, the Lifescape Project has seen rapid growth in its impact, team and revenue since commencing work in 2020. Our annual revenue has increased from £265,000 in FY 2020/2021 to £1.2m in FY 2024/2025, with further growth expected in the current FY. Our team has grown from just one to a team which will number 20 at the time of the successful CFOO candidate joining. This growth to date and planned future growth requires constant evolution of our financial and operational infrastructure and an experienced hand to guide this process, which is the core purpose of the CFOO role we are seeking to appoint.

We are excited to be hiring for this role, which will be transformational for the organisation, allowing us to develop our approach to financial and operational matters and support the continued growth of our team and impact. The role will act as second in command and will deputise for the CEO when absent. We are therefore looking for a highly capable and experienced finance and operations leader with the vision to ensure that we continue to grow in a sustainable, effective and efficient way.

We currently have a full-time manager and officer in our Finance and Operations team (F&O Team), which the CFOO will be joining to oversee, develop and guide all relevant functions. With the small size of the team at this time, the CFOO will be expected to jump into the detail in some areas. In the short term this will include delivering some of the more complex areas of the F&O team’s work, such as the audit process, multi-year financial planning and legal compliance, with support from other team members and external advisers as appropriate. If we continue to succeed in delivering our growth strategy, the role will progress over the medium term with increasing team size/supervisory duties and reducing involvement in immediate implementation. Remuneration would also increase in line with growth and assuming strong performance in the role.

For further information, please download the job pack below. Candidates must review the entire job pack before applying.

To apply, please email a cover letter and CV (each a maximum of 2 pages).

Closing date: 9.00pm on 29th January 2026, however we will be reviewing applications as they come in and reserve our discretion to extend the deadline if necessary.

First interview: First round interviews are expected to take place virtually on Microsoft Teams between 3rd-6th February.

Second interview: Second round interviews are expected to take place between 23rd-27th February.

Assessed task: There will be an assessed task which candidates will be asked to complete, either before the first round or second round interview.

Start date: The role will commence as soon as possible from 1st April 2026, subject to the successful candidate’s availability.

This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.

You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact. 

The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.

We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.

As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 10am on Monday 26th January 2026.

The website form will ask you to:

1.Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2.Upload your current CV

3.Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional, and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.

Selection Process

We will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th February, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February.

We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they provide some evidence of relevant experience or skills in relation to the essential criteria.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma and of the housing and welfare system, who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.

Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

CEO

We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader to guide a purposeful organisation through its next chapter.

Location: Fully remote within the UK with occasional national travel
Salary: £55,000 to £65,000
Contract: Full time, permanent
Benefits: Pension, generous annual leave, Christmas closure, family leave and sickness policies available on request
Closing date: Monday 9th February

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a new CEO! Can you uphold the thoughtful shaping and delivery of an impactful charity? Do you have senior experience in a purpose-led organisation with financial and business skills you can bring? Then you might be the right person to guide this team.

This is a great opportunity to make a life-changing difference to people living with disability!

If this is something you are passionate about, then a CEO role is a great way to use your professional experience to be a nationwide change-maker.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

Whether it’s mobility, daily living, or hobbies and sports, the charity creates solutions that change lives. At the heart of their work is designing and building custom made equipment, tailored to each person’s unique needs.

Volunteers bring together creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving expertise, including metalwork, carpentry, electronics, computer programming, and 3D printing, to deliver solutions that can’t be found anywhere else.

IF YOU JOIN THE TEAM…

You’ll have the rare chance to take the helm of a charity with a powerful social mission and build on their proud 60-year history, stewarding them into a new era of growth. A vibrant, passionate community of innovators and problem solvers will be right there with you.

You’ll join the vision for the charity to be a place where people of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel welcomed to work, volunteer or seek help. The organisation encourages flexible working and a culture that prioritises people, wellbeing, and collaboration.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We are searching for a CEO who can help ensure REMAP remains resilient, relevant, and well-prepared to respond to emerging pressures and opportunities.

We are particularly seeking someone:

• Who will strengthen financial sustainability and income generation
• Has a proven track record of senior responsibility
• Energise and support a nationwide volunteer community – strengthening relationships between central staff and locally rooted branches

You do not need to meet every requirement to be considered. If you can demonstrate the experience, passion, and capability to lead with purpose, we encourage you to apply.

WHAT’S NEXT

If you are excited by this opportunity and ready to bring energy and expertise to a mission-driven organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Chief Executive, Executive Director, Managing Director, Head of Operations, Director of Services, Director of Strategy, Director of Programmes, Operations Director, Charity Director, Social Impact Director, Senior Leader, Development Director, Leadership Consultant, Transformation Lead, Governance and Strategy Lead  #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

The Head of Safeguarding is a new role for the organisation. You will lead our safeguarding strategy and practice, ensuring we provide the highest standards of safety and care for the young people we support. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing quality, consistency and continual development of safeguarding practice across the organisation. You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement relevant safeguarding policies, facilitate staff training, embed learning from incidents, and ensure safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility.

We are happy to consider candidates taking their first step into leadership and we will consider exceptional part time candidates to ensure we find the right person or people for the role. We particularly welcome candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as these are overrepresented communities in our services and yet underrepresented within our leadership.

• Permanent, full-time role in our Leadership Team (part-time considered)
• Salary: £46,800 (salary scale £46,800-£52,000)
• Deadline to apply: 9am, Friday 30 January 2026

Barnet Mencap is a very well-established local charity which provides services and support for people with learning disabilities, autistic people, and their family carers, while also campaigning alongside them to improve their lives. The organisation aims to create a world where people with learning disabilities are valued equally, have their voices heard and are included in the community. 

We are looking to appoint a new CEO to lead the organisation and ensure it continues to provide its much-valued services.

The successful candidate will have: 

• Experience in a senior role in a relevant service i.e. Learning Disabilities, Children or Adult Services

• Experience of developing a strategy and monitoring framework in a similar environment 

• Experience of effective partnership working at a strategic and practical level 

• Proven track record of income generation and financial management 

• Knowledge of charity governance, regulation for a medium size charity, and working effectively with a board of trustees.

• Knowledge of the Health and Social Care environment, including key policies and legislation 

• Understanding of Health and Safety and Safeguarding in a service delivery environment 

• Understanding of the Social Model of Disability and how to apply it to deliver empowering person-centred projects and services 

Please read the full Job Description, Person Specification and Recruitment Pack for further information on the role. 

To apply, please send your CV alongside a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria in the person specification. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service application in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.   

 Closing Date: 16th of January 2026 

Interview dates are planned for the 10th and 11th of February 2026.  

Inclusive Boards is delighted to be supporting Lambeth Links in their search for their CEO.

Lambeth Links is a small charity with a big ambition: to be a central point of rallying, communication and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ Community who live, work and socialise in Lambeth – the largest borough in London. The organisation aims to strengthen the links between individuals and groups while also highlighting the many issues that continue to adversely affect the community.

Lambeth has a deep and rich history of LGBTQIA+ activism. From being home to founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) to hosting Europe’s first EuroPride in Brixton in 1992, the borough has long been the beating heart of the LGBTQIA+ Community. Lambeth Links exists to continue that legacy of championing collective voice and driving forward change.

As CEO, you will lead the operational and strategic running of the charity, make sure that the organisation runs well every day and that it has the people, systems and income to grow.

The ideal candidate will have :

• Significant experience of leading at senior level in a charity, social enterprise, public or community organisation. This might be as a Chief Officer, Director or Head of a significant function with clear accountability for people, budgets and organisational performance.
• Experience of working directly with or supporting a Board of Trustees or similar governing body, including preparing papers, giving honest advice and implementing decisions.
• Experience of organisational development or change, for example improving systems, structures, culture or ways of working in a small organisation.
• Understanding of the issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people, including those who are Black or from other communities of colour, disabled people and people with insecure immigration status, and a commitment to intersectional practice.

​​​​How to Apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please supply the following by 11.59pm on 18/01/2026:

• A detailed CV, setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements. 
• A cover letter (maximum two sides of A4) highlighting your suitability for the role. Please explain how you meet the essential criteria and give one or two examples that show how you have already operated at, or very close to, Chief Officer level. For example, leading an organisation or major function, managing whole organisation budgets or income plans, or steering a Board or governing body through a key decision. 
• Details of two professional referees together with a brief statement of their relationship to you and over what period of time they have known you. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.

To find out more and received the Candidate Information Pack, request support when applying, or have an informal confidential discussion before applying, please get in touch with Inclusive Boards.

Lumos works to realise every child’s right to a safe and loving family by transforming care systems around the world. As we enter an exciting new phase of global growth and organisational transformation, we are seeking an exceptional Executive Assistant to the CEO to join our CEO’s Office.

This is a pivotal role providing high-quality executive, organisational and governance support to the Chief Executive Officer and the Head of CEO’s Office. You will help ensure the smooth running of the CEO’s Office, manage complexity with confidence, and enable senior leaders to focus on strategy, governance and delivery.

We’re looking for someone who is highly organised, calm under pressure, and comfortable working at pace with senior leaders, trustees and international teams. You’ll bring strong communication skills, excellent judgement, and experience providing senior-level executive support, ideally in a complex or international environment.

In return, we offer the opportunity to work at the heart of a values-driven global organisation, with flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to contribute directly to transformational change for children worldwide.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.

Closing date: Sunday 18 January

Lumos is committed to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Role details are based on the attached job description.

Prison Fellowship (PF) is seeking a dynamic and highly motivated Head of Volunteer & Church Engagement to lead and develop our work with volunteers and churches across England and Wales.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, this role offers both strategic influence and hands-on leadership. You will shape the development of PF’s volunteer engagement and church partnerships, ensuring that volunteers are inspired, equipped and mobilised to deliver transformational support for people in prison and their families.

You will lead volunteer recruitment, induction and leadership development, supporting a large and geographically dispersed volunteer base. Working closely with colleagues, you will help ensure volunteers are aligned with PF’s programmes and priorities, while developing new and innovative ways for people to engage in PF’s work.

A key element of the role is church engagement. You will develop and lead PF’s church engagement strategy, building and sustaining strong relationships with churches across denominations. You will represent PF at churches, events and festivals, and work with the Chief Executive to cultivate relationships with senior and denominational church leaders.

About you

The successful candidate will have experience in volunteer management and leadership development, strong communication and public-speaking skills, and a good understanding of the UK Church. You will be a collaborative and resilient leader, able to think strategically while delivering operationally. Experience in a faith-based organisation is essential, and experience in prisons or criminal justice is desirable.

Working arrangements

The role requires regular travel across England and Wales, flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed, and operates on a hybrid basis combining national travel, home working and PF’s London office.

Genuine Occupational Requirement:
This role is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement for the post holder to be a practising Christian, in accordance with Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010.