Deputy country director jobs in Charing cross, greater london
Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement for people with refugee backgrounds. We support young people to build community, become leaders, and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home.
Each year, hundreds of young people from dozens of countries and living in London & Bristol take part in our residential programmes, leadership training and youth hubs. Our residentials are often the first step – immersive, relationship-rich spaces where young people connect, reflect and begin to see themselves as leaders. From there, many move into leadership training and take on volunteer roles within the movement.
Our work is youth-led and rooted in lived experience. We are now implementing our 2025–2028 strategy, focused on strengthening quality, embedding learning and ensuring our growth is sustainable and safe.
The Head of Programmes is a senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO and managing two senior colleagues. You will hold responsibility for the quality, coherence and safeguarding of all programme activity.
Responsibilities (abridged - see attached job description)
Programme Leadership & Strategy in Practice
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Lead implementation of OSH’s 2025–2028 programme strategy.
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Oversee the design, quality and coherence of residentials, leadership training and hubs.
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Take operational responsibility for residential delivery, including participant referrals, recruitment of staff and freelancers, programme content and educational standards.
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Attend and lead approximately five residential programmes per year.
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Identify opportunities to strengthen youth engagement and leadership pathways as the organisation scales.
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Ensure programme data is accurately recorded and used to improve delivery.
Team Leadership
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Line manage the Communities Manager and Leadership & Volunteering Manager.
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Provide structured supervision, clear objectives and professional development support.
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Ensure strong coordination between hubs, residentials and leadership pathways.
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Build a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding & Welfare
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Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and serve as DSL at events as required.
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Ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent and embedded across all activities.
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Respond to safeguarding and behavioural issues appropriately and oversee safe recruitment processes.
Partnerships, Budget & Oversight
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Maintain referral partnerships and represent OSH externally where appropriate.
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Hold programme budgets within agreed limits and ensure financial discipline.
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Embed monitoring, evaluation and reflective practice across the programme team.
Experience & Competencies (abridged - see attached job description)
Essential
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At least 5 years’ experience in youth or youth-centred programming, including residential or intensive settings.
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Experience designing and delivering leadership development or informal education programmes.
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Strong facilitation and training skills.
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Demonstrable experience managing staff and developing teams.
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Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and willingness to act as Deputy DSL.
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Experience working with young people from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, or strong understanding of the issues affecting them.
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Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a part-time senior leadership role.
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Strong organisational skills and commitment to inclusive, youth-led practice.
Desirable
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Level 3 Safeguarding training.
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Experience managing programme budgets.
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Experience contributing to organisational strategy or scaling programme models.
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Familiarity with Google Workspace, Beacon CRM, MyConcern or similar systems.
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Lived experience of migration or displacement.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Greenpeace is a movement of people who are passionate about defending the natural world from destruction. Their vision is a world where everyone has equal access to clean air, water, and energy; where the nature we love is protected, precious habitats are restored and communities are united by ambitious climate action.
This is a pivotal moment for the Key Relationships function as a newly formalised Events & Operations hub is established, with donor-facing events and the operational systems and processes that underpin high-value fundraising being brought together into a cohesive function. This integrated approach will ensure outstanding donor experiences alongside robust infrastructure to support pipeline management, forecasting, reporting and income growth.
We are looking for an exceptional Events & Operations Manager to lead this new hub, manage a team of two staff, and shape how events and operational infrastructure work together to support Major Donor, Trusts & Foundations, Legacy and Key Influencer programmes.
This role will suit a self-starter who is comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy and who takes genuine satisfaction in shaping a new role around the needs of the team. The postholder will be confident operating in ambiguity, able to take the lead in defining processes, and proactive in establishing clear, effective ways of working.
As Events & Operations Manager, you will:
- Lead the newly established Events & Operations hub within the Key Relationships team, managing and developing a team of two staff while actively delivering across both functions
- Plan, design and deliver high-quality donor-facing events, taking full ownership from briefing and creative concept through to meticulous execution and evaluation
- Deliver capital campaign ask events, donor networking events and supporter access moments for the key relationships team
- Work closely Team Heads to ensure events meet their objectives and are delivered to a high standard
- Work with Executive Directors to ensure they are well briefed when speaking at or attending events
- Lead on systems, infrastructure and compliance including CRM oversight, data integrity, GDPR, income reconciliation, forecasting, reporting and dashboarding in partnership with Finance and Data teams
- Oversee prospect research, pipeline management and performance tracking to ensure the operational backbone is in place for the Key Relationships team to be effective and drive income growth
- This is a hands-on leadership role that will actively deliver across events and operations while leading and developing others
Ideal skills and experience:
- Significant experience planning, delivering and evaluating high-quality donor or stakeholder events across in-person, hybrid and digital formats, with clear evidence of aligning events to cultivation and stewardship objectives
- Excellent project management skills, able to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously, meet deadlines, maintain high standards of detail and manage budgets effectively
- Demonstrable experience working in an operations or support role, with responsibility for coordinating systems, processes and infrastructure that underpin fundraising or relationship management activity
- Proven ability to design, improve and embed efficient, compliant systems and processes, including gift administration, data integrity, income reconciliation and structured pipeline management
- Strong experience using CRM databases or similar platforms, maintaining accurate data, overseeing data quality and confidently learning new systems and reporting tools
- Experience of leading and supporting others within a small team, contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture while remaining comfortable with hands-on delivery
- Clear evidence of working in a values-driven way, demonstrating commitment to collaboration, inclusion, continuous learning and role-modelling organisational values consistent with Greenpeace UK
Diversity and Inclusion
Greenpeace UK recognise the value in having a diverse workforce, as well as the importance of creating equal opportunities for all. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from people of all backgrounds.
Applications are particularly encouraged from people of colour, disabled people, and people who identify as working class now or in the past.
Candidates will be selected based on how well they meet the criteria for the role and all applicants will be treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
Anti-racism and inclusion commitments
Greenpeace UK wants its team to reflect the diversity of the communities it works alongside. It is committed to fairness, inclusion, and challenging discrimination and oppression in all its forms.
The environmental sector still has further to go when it comes to representation. Greenpeace UK has published ambitious race representation targets and, through its Anti Racism Plan, is working proactively to achieve stronger representation of people of colour, particularly within leadership positions.
As part of this commitment, a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) is being piloted. Greenpeace UK aims to offer an interview to everyone who opts into the scheme and meets the essential criteria. Guaranteed interview applications will be processed by QuarterFive and shared only with the Greenpeace UK recruiting manager and HR team.
If you identify as a person of colour and meet the essential criteria for the role, you can choose to opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Research shows that women and people of colour may hesitate to apply unless they meet every area of the person specification. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet all the criteria, you are encouraged to apply.
Employee benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave for full-time staff, with additional leave accrued according to length of service up to a maximum of 32 days
- Once a month, all Greenpeace staff take an organisational ‘breather’ day where the office closes with no expectations of output on these days
- Office closure normally occurs between Christmas and new year and staff are not required to use annual leave to cover this period
- Employer pension contribution of 8.5% of basic salary, provided employees contribute at least 3%
- Interest free season ticket loan, or a tax efficient bicycle loan
- Life assurance scheme (4 x annual salary)
- Employee Assistance Programme that includes access to free confidential advice with a qualified counsellor
To apply, please complete the form below and upload your CV, making sure it reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes section to share any additional information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with the formal application process.
Round 1 interviews – Thursday 26th March
Thank you!
Help transform global care systems so children can grow up in safe, loving families, not institutions.
Join Lumos at a pivotal moment as we scale our global ambition to reform childcare systems and improve the lives of millions of children worldwide.
Lumos Foundation is an international NGO working to end the institutionalisation of children and support governments and partners to build sustainable, family-based care systems. Founded by J.K. Rowling, Lumos works across Europe, Africa, Latin America and beyond to drive lasting systemic change for children and families.
As our Senior Technical Advisor, you will play a critical global role providing expert leadership on child protection and childcare reform across Lumos programmes and partnerships. This is an opportunity for an experienced specialist to influence national reform processes, strengthen programme quality, and support governments and partners to deliver meaningful change at scale.
You will work closely with country teams, senior stakeholders and international partners, ensuring that Lumos’ programmes reflect global best practice while responding to local contexts.
What you will do
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Provide high-level technical expertise on child rights, child protection and care reform
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Support the design, implementation and evaluation of country and regional programmes
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Deliver technical advice and capacity building to governments, partners and Lumos teams
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Develop guidance, training materials and learning products
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Support evidence generation and knowledge sharing across programmes
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Contribute to donor proposals and programme reporting
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Represent Lumos in international technical networks and partnerships
About you
You are a collaborative and experienced professional with deep expertise in childcare reform or child protection programming and a strong commitment to children’s rights.
You will likely bring:
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Significant experience working in child protection, care reform or related international development programmes
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Experience working with governments or large institutional partners
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Strong analytical, facilitation and communication skills
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Experience developing training, technical guidance or policy materials
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Ability to work effectively across cultures and global teams
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Excellent written and spoken English
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Willingness to travel internationally when required
Additional languages and experience working across multiple countries are an advantage.
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience.
The advertised salary range applies to candidates based in the UK. For candidates exceptionally appointed in another Lumos country office (Colombia, Kenya, Moldova or Ukraine), salary will be benchmarked and aligned with local market conditions and Lumos’ country-specific salary framework.
Location
London (UK) preferred. Exceptional consideration may be given to candidates based in Lumos country offices in Kenya, Colombia, Moldova or Ukraine.
Candidates must have the right to live and work in the country from which they apply.
Contract
Fixed-term until 31 December 2027, aligned with Lumos’ current strategy, with potential extension subject to funding.
Why join Lumos?
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a bold global mission during a period of organisational growth and impact. You will work alongside passionate international colleagues committed to ensuring children grow up in families and supportive communities.
Benefits vary by location and include flexible working arrangements, generous leave provisions, learning and development opportunities, and wellbeing support.
Safeguarding and Inclusion
Lumos is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and operates a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, exploitation and harassment. Employment is subject to appropriate checks and references.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter through the application portal. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To realise every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.