Salary: £94,851 plus benefits (Our pay philosophy ensures consistency across locations and salaries. The starting salary for this opportunity plus benefits depends on location of the candidate).
The role:
We are delighted to be recruiting for a visionary, mission-driven leader to join Mary’s Meals International (MMI) as Executive Director. In this new role, you will be reporting to our Board of Trustees, through our Board Chair, and working in collaboration with our President & Founder of Mary’s Meals. As Executive Director, you will provide inspirational strategic and operational leadership of MMI, ensuring delivery of its key responsibilities within the global strategic plan.
Leading with humility, clarity and courage, you will champion faithful adherence to the vision, mission and values of Mary’s Meals, as we strive to grow our global movement and reach the next child waiting for Mary’s Meals.
As Executive Director, you will:
- Lead MMI in delivering its objectives across the three strategic pillars: Feed, Grow and Strengthen.
- Oversee the coordination and implementation of global strategy.
- Provide inspirational leadership to MMI and the MMI Executive Leadership Team.
- Strengthen organisational systems, governance and development.
- Foster strong collaboration across the global network.
- Work closely with the Board, President and Founder and MMI teams to support sustainable growth across Affiliate organisations.
About you:
You are an inspiring, effective and authentic leader with significant experience at executive or CEO level, in a complex organisation, ideally with an international footprint. Experience in an international non-profit, charity or social impact organisation would be advantageous, though not essential. Strong preference will be given to candidates with a deep understanding of our work gained through prior engagement with our mission.
You will also bring:
- Proven ability to inspire and lead senior teams, while cultivating a strong organisational culture.
- Demonstrated success in developing and delivering strategy to drive growth, innovation and organisational strengthening.
- Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse audiences.
- Proven experience of leading transformational change, while maintaining stability and mission focus.
- A deep personal commitment to the vision, mission and values of Mary’s Meals.
About us:
We are a global movement supported by people from all walks of life, united by one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. As an organisation, named after Mary the mother of Jesus and shaped by Christian values, we feel that the way we do things is as important as the result and we welcome all who wish to play their part in our important work. We continue to change the lives of over 3 million children who today will receive Mary’s Meals.
We are a values-driven organisation - we believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life and believe in good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, we are fully committed to a culture of safeguarding, we are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work and we expect all the Mary's Meals family to share this commitment and work in the best interest of the communities we serve. Our safe recruitment practices ensure that only those that are committed to our high standards join our movement.
We believe in the innate goodness and dignity of every person. In line with this, Mary’s Meals is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. All applicants will be considered fairly and on merit, without discrimination of any kind.
We are happy for you to work remotely and flexibly, in a way that best supports your work-life balance. We have an office in Glasgow for those who would like to work from here occasionally or on a regular basis. Some travel to Glasgow, other locations across the UK and to countries where Mary’s Meals operates will be required.
Our Benefits:
- 34 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time working patterns) including bank holidays, increasing by 1 day each completed calendar year, to a maximum of 39 days (+ option to buy another week)
- Flexible working
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Life assurance
- Pension
Additional Information:
Salary advertised is for UK based candidates, our salary philosophy ensures consistency across locations where Mary’s Meals operates, please visit our website for more information about salaries in other locations.
To apply:
If you are inspired to join our movement and our vision, mission and values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. Please click Apply and include your CV and a succinct covering letter, of no more than one A4 page, highlighting your motivations, suitability and outlining your participation in our mission.
Closing date for applications is Monday 22nd June 2026
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our vision is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
About Adolescent Health Study
The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) (Registered Charity Number 1213337) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records.
There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.
Purpose of the post
The Engagement and Involvement Lead will engage with young people, families, schools and other interest-holders in the process of designing, delivering and ensuring the best outputs from the Adolescent Health Study, and is critical for the success of the project. We are at the early stages of laying the foundations for this and in this new role we are seeking an experienced and passionate individual to co-ordinate and lead AHS’s cross-UK participant and public involvement and engagement activities.
This is a role that requires high levels of confidence, autonomy, enthusiasm and skill. The postholder will be responsible for delivering the project’s new Engagement and Involvement Strategy, including: coordinating a Young Persons’ Advisory Group for AHS; developing and delivering AHS public engagement and involvement activities; outsourcing and supervising engagement and involvement activities that are better provided by external partners; scoping and advising on which routes for involvement and engagement activities are best suited to different tasks.
Main responsibilities
Planning & strategy delivery
- Ensuring the study delivers the values and approaches set out in the AHS engagement and involvement strategy
- Planning, delivering and reporting on an ongoing, regular and important programme of engagement events and activities
- Reviewing/revising/adding to existing policies, processes and procedures to support effective working together with people and communities (such as reimbursement, compensation, making reasonable adjustments)
- Developing and implementing appropriate evaluation, monitoring and reporting of Community Engagement & Involvement
- Keeping up to date with good practice & sector advances and sharing these with the AHS team.
Practical engagement and involvement
- Developing methods to enhance engagement and involvement, and helping to build positive relationships with young people and stakeholder groups, including charities, third sector & advocacy groups
- Overseeing day-to-day planning & delivery of a high-quality engagement and involvement programme. To include, for example:
- Managing and supporting Youth Advisors
- Running a standing Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG)
- Organising & delivering other ad hoc engagement activities as necessary
- Securing external partners where necessary, and managing contracts and delivery of their work across the UK
- Ensuring that any external parties (e.g. organisations, freelancers, consultants) supporting AHS’s involvement and engagement work have clear roles, responsibilities & goals
- Working with the Head of Communications to develop and manage provision of relevant information to members of the public, teachers, young people & researchers
- Keep clear records of involvement and engagement activities, ensuring results are used to inform the study and the wider research community.
Team support
- Checking for and capitalising on possible opportunities for engagement and involvement to be embedded in the work of the wider team
- Ensuring appropriate induction, training, mentoring and support is organised for the research team and communities involved
- Sharing examples of emerging good practice and impact across the research team.
- Line managing an Engagement and Involvement Officer
Wider
- Contributing to shared learning and future sustainability as part of wider communities of practice
- Acting as a key point of contact for community members and partners involved in the research
- Representing and presenting the AHS study’s engagement and involvement work to the wider research community at a senior level, including in national engagement & involvement networks as necessary.
Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential criteria
Engagement and involvement
- Experience developing and delivering engagement and involvement activities with young people and other relevant interest-holders (such as parents, families, teachers and schools)
- A proven track record or professional background in working with young people – such as in youth work, counselling, mentoring, education, or a related setting
- Understanding and experience of good practice in youth engagement and involvement, including the principles and implementation of safeguarding, data protection, and inclusive practice
- Awareness of culturally sensitive approaches and methods to be inclusive of all relevant perspectives, including marginalised and vulnerable groups
- Ability to design and deliver workshops, focus groups or meetings that encourage open dialogue and collaboration
- Demonstrated commitment to youth participation and the meaningful inclusion of young people’s perspectives.
Other essential criteria
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
- Experience of successful project management and ability to deliver, working independently.
- Ability to manage a budget and report on financial activity accurately
- Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, with experience of working alongside and influencing senior level professionals
- Research literacy, with a clear understanding of large UK-wide research initiatives and the various competing demands and pressures the study will face
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills - able to communicate effectively and confidently with a range of stakeholders and to summarise and report key information clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing
- Confident using online tools (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom), and collaborative platforms (e.g. SharePoint, Microsoft 365)
Desirable criteria
- Relevant qualification in engagement and involvement
- Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience
- Understanding of key concepts and challenges in young people’s health and wellbeing and the transition to adulthood
- Familiarity with health research and data governance frameworks
- Understanding and knowledge of key potential partners across the UK for delivering youth engagement in the sector.
- Experience using digital engagement and facilitation tools for online workshops (e.g. Miro, Mural, Mentimeter, Canva, PowerPoint)
Dimensions
- This has been designed as a full-time role, although part-time work could be considered for the right candidate.
- Flexible working across several geographical locations in the UK. Travel may be required to AHS locations and partner organisations.
- AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK.
Application Process
This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available).
Please apply via CharityJob, making sure to answer the screening questions in full.
The closing date for this position is midnight on Sunday 31st May.
Interviews are currently expected to be held Wednesday 1st/Thursday 2nd July.
Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.
Values
It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.
Please ensure you answer each screening question in full, while staying within the specified word limits.
Please note cover letters will not be accepted for this role.
