Director of operations and finance jobs

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  Established in 1984, with an active presence in over 45 countries, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. IRUK’s focus is strengthening effective funding, mobilising for change through advocacy and awareness-raising, and strengthening programme development and delivery. IRUK works with various partners and institutions, from governments, non-governmental organisations and local authorities to grassroots communities.

Islamic Relief UK (IRUK) is recruiting for the position of ‘Strategic Marketing Planner’ to join its award-winning Marketing division on a permanent full-time basis, to be based from its Waterloo Office, London. The organisation is currently operating to a hybrid working model.

Job purpose:

• Be a catalyst for change, driving robust data-driven, audience-led and integrated approaches to marketing decisions and plans. 
• Drive planning excellence across the marketing teams, and cross-organisational initiatives requiring marketing support, to increase collaboration and build marketing capability.
• Lead on the audience and supporter insights programme, and work with key internal stakeholders to ensure the insights support the work of teams across the organisation in their own strategic planning.
• Develop the IRUK brand strategically to continually grow brand awareness, engagement and relevance.

The successful candidate must have:

• Proven experience of managing marketing teams/projects and/or managing brands, working across a range of projects for multiple audience groups.
• Experience of running marketing campaigns and/or developing content geared towards the British Muslim community.
• Experience in leading audience research projects and translating insights into actionable marketing strategies.
• Significant experience in audience segmentation strategies and personalisation to maximise on marketing performance.
• Experienced in interpreting data to make marketing decisions.
• Hands-on experience of using project management tools such as Asana.
• Experienced in relationship and stakeholder management.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships, communicate effectively and influence a wide range of individuals both internally and externally.
• Significant experience of managing and motivating agencies to drive maximum value from relationships.
• Understanding of charity sector marketing.
• Experience of developing and managing annual plans.
• Good understanding of KPIs and marketing metrics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Solution focused in the face of challenges.
• Superb attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate highly technical and complex information and requirements. relating to marketing to non-specialist management and internal stakeholders to gain buy-in.  
• A data-driven, analytical mindset with experience of interpreting results and recommending opportunities for optimisation.
• Excellent knowledge of the creative process from start to finish.
• Excellent knowledge of all marketing channels, both online and offline.
• Strong understanding of the major technology-driven changes and trends affecting the online media and advertising industries.
• A confident collaborator, able to influence and build positive working relationships
• Outstanding organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities and respond quickly to last minute changes.
• Flexible and adaptable – responding positively to change.
• A data-driven, analytical mindset with experience of interpreting results and recommending opportunities for optimisation.

For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.

If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.

For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit our website.

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews are expected to take place on 23rd July 2025.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• screening clearance
• proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK
• receipt of satisfactory references

Please note, for UK-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer