Director of people and culture jobs in birmingham, west midlands

Change Grow Live is a national charity dedicated to helping people overcome challenges and build better lives. We’re seeking a Regional Volunteering Manager – London and the South to help grow and strengthen volunteering and student placements across our diverse services.

This role is perfect if you’re motivated to make a positive difference by supporting people and enabling services to embed volunteering at the heart of their work. You’ll provide expert advice, foster collaboration and learning, and shape how volunteering is developed and delivered across a wide range of communities and services. You’ll take a coaching approach in all that you do.

Your focus will be on ensuring best practice in volunteering. You’ll also be playing a significant role in increasing the impact of volunteering across the organisation. While no prior health or social care experience is required, you will demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting others and driving positive change.

As a connector, adviser, and leader, you will work collaboratively with services across your region, and with our central support functions. You will represent volunteering in important decision-making forums, and help develop policies and practices that put people first. With a focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion, you’ll help create environments where volunteers and those we support truly thrive.

We also have 2 other Volunteering Manager positions currently open.  1 role is covering Scotland and the North and 1 role is a National Specialist Services role covering all CGL’s specialist services. Please check our website for more details.

Full Time Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Permanent | Hybrid working with regular service visits within your regional area
Location: Flexible, with national travel as required
Full Time Salary: 40-44 CGL scale points

*please note: Full-time hours at Change Grow Live are 37.5 hours per week. For part-time roles, the salary and payments will be pro rata based on contracted hours.

Responsibilities

About You:

You understand the deep value of volunteering and are passionate about turning that passion into practical, strategic support across a wide-ranging organisation. You believe in the power of people coming together to make a real difference and are eager to help create volunteering opportunities that are inclusive, safe, and meaningful.

With strong communication skills and a talent for building positive relationships, you’re motivated by purpose and ready to learn and grow in this important work. Adaptable and solution-focused, you thrive in change and are confident facilitating learning, coaching others, and influencing how volunteering shapes services and communities.

You’ll flourish in this role if you:

• Are passionate about empowering others and championing inclusion
• Enjoy building connections and supporting learning
• Embrace change with optimism and flexibility
• Want to help influence policy and practice at a national level

What You Bring:

• Experience supporting and managing volunteers or placements, whether in a specialist or partnership role, demonstrating your ability to make a real difference.
• A strong understanding of best practices in volunteering, with knowledge of the frameworks that ensure safe, meaningful, and impactful involvement.
• Confidence in creating positive learning environments and coaching colleagues to grow and succeed.
• Awareness of safeguarding, safer recruitment, and working within a values-driven HR context that puts people first.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively at every level.
• A proactive and optimistic mindset, combined with a genuine commitment to a people-centered approach in all you do.

What We’re Excited to See:

• A genuine enthusiasm for volunteer management and engaging with communities.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills that foster collaboration and connection.
• A willingness to learn, grow, and develop specialist knowledge.
• The ability to support and guide teams as they embrace new ways of working.
• Step into a role where your efforts help thousands of people feel valued, supported, and empowered every day.

Why Join Change Grow Live?

• A role where you can make a genuine, lasting impact — supporting volunteers who change lives every day.

• A supportive, inclusive and forward-thinking team.

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service) + bank holidays.

• Flexibility and hybrid working arrangements.

• Ongoing personal and professional development.

• Wellness resources, employee assistance and lifestyle discounts.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Bring your unique skills and passion to a role that empowers volunteering across the country. We welcome all backgrounds and experiences - your voice matters here.

Apply today and be part of a future where everyone’s contribution to volunteering is celebrated, valued, and makes a lasting impact.

** Please note that we will be conducting for face to face interviews in London on the 31st July 2025.

Salary Range (pro rata if part time)

CGL points 40 to 44 (£44,471.72 - £48,906.23)

ILW / OLW /Fringe

N/A - Outside London Weighting Area

Interview Date

31/7/2025

Closing Date

22/7/2025

Are you an outstanding Christian leader with a track-record of collaborative international working? Are you looking for the next opportunity to use your skills and experience for the benefit of a global organisation? If this is you, then you are invited to apply for the role of Chief Finance Officer at Open Doors International.

The global Chief Financial Officer of Open Doors International has a key leadership role both within the line-managed Open Doors International entity, and more widely across the Global Finance Network of development and field offices. The CFO reports to the CEO and works closely with other executives on all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial Accounting (including transactional management and audit), Risk & Compliance, Treasury & Cash Management, Financial Data & Systems, Field Finance, Development Finance and Transformational Programs.

The CFO ensures Open Doors International is known for its excellent stewardship by delivering world-class and well-coordinated financial functions that contribute to excellent operations, risk management, forward-planning and mature governance.

You will:

• Be an experienced CFO with a strong track record of operating in international organisational structures, with exposure to developing markets, complex treasury and money transfer functions, and high-risk environments.
• Have experience of leading strategy formation, team supervision and timely delivery in a complex network or matrix style structures.
• Enjoy and have a matured gift of forward-planning, helping the Board, Executive Leadership Team and colleagues benefit from transparent budget plans in a dynamic missional context that will demand agility.
• Employ wise risk assessment in a context of faith, so that Open Doors can, with effectiveness and great sophistication, deliver its ministry in very challenging and at times restrictive environments.
• Bring a servant-hearted leadership gifting, including the ability to lead through influence and build consensus amongst divergent senior stakeholders; inspire trust; and take a highly relational and capacity-building approach with their colleagues.
• Have excellent communication skills - written, verbal and able to deliver insights with data; effective with a range of audiences from local staff to Board level
• Exhibit grace, to patiently but persistently mature a complex organisation moving through significant phases of growth in a rapidly evolving external environment

Your responsibilities are under the following headings (for a full explanation, please read the attached pdf):

• Strategic Financial Leadership
• Management Reports & Communication
• Accounting & Financial Controls
• Treasury and Cash Management
• Risk Management & Compliance
• Innovation & Transformation
• Leadership and People Management

Person Specification

KEY QUALITIES

Open Doors believes that spiritual maturity, character and behaviour are as important as financial competence, therefore the CFO is:

• A devoted follower of Jesus with a heart to strengthen persecuted Christians.
• Prayerful and able to take financial decisions, founded on faith in God.
• Able to build strong relationships across national cultures.
• Able to empower others and intentionally develop future finance leaders.
• Prepared to make difficult decisions and have honest conversations with grace.
• Active in a local church that supports their vocation and provides spiritual support.
• Emotionally intelligent and aware of the impact of their leadership on people.
• Experienced in negotiating and influencing at a senior level, combined with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.

KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

• A highly skilled Finance professional, who demonstrates an appetite for continued learning and personal development.
• Approximately 15 years of senior finance operational leadership experience prefered in multi-national commercial sector and/or international charity sector.
• Significant team management experience, including remote working across different time zones.
• Proven ability to lead change, including working well across many operational disciplines (Field programs, IT, Legal and HR teams, for example).
• Oversight of a complex treasury function providing financial access across geographical locations.
• Experience communicating and providing reports to Board Audit & Finance Committee.

Open Doors International will offer a competitive salary for the post. We are open to applications from anyone who is suitable for this role, regardless of their current location, with a willingness to be located within -6hours/+2 hours Central European Time zone for ease of communication within a dispersed global ministry.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an MS Teams Interview with the Open Doors International search panel. Finalist Candidates will be asked to come to Netherlands for in-person interviews on 5 September. The Open Doors International search panel members are very aware that this is a two-way discernment process, therefore we encourage each applicant to pray to the Lord and consult their trusted and closest fellow Christians as they consider this opportunity. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the post of CFO as soon as is reasonably possible.

Thank you for taking the time to prayerfully consider this opportunity and to learn more about the work of Open Doors International.

Who are we? 

Established in 2014, Beating Time is an award-winning charity operating across the UK, from two offices in London and Birmingham. We help people survive a prison sentence and thrive after release, ultimately to reduce their chances of reoffending. We run two continuous programmes: Choirs Beating Time, running weekly prison choirs and songwriting groups, and Inside Job, which uses a peer-led employment model to help people through release and into paid work. We have sung with thousands of people, directly supported 700+ people into employment, influenced policy and partnered with many high-profile organisations. 

The role

We’re hiring for an enthusiastic, organised and self-motivated Fundraising and Communications Officer to join us in London (Woolwich) or Bimingham (Digbeth). You will need to be based near to one of those offices, we do a mixture of WHF and in office working.

Idealy, we’re looking for someone with an interest in the criminal justice system, strong knowledge of fundraising (particularly for small charities) and communications expertise. 

This role is an opportunity to shape how we present ourselves to funders and supporters and maintain long-term partnerships with them. You will play an active role in determining our future fundraising strategy while meeting the day-to-day demands of keeping a small charity afloat. You’ll contribute to our efforts to diversify income streams by securing support from corporates and other partners – this requires an ability to think creatively and strategically. 

An advantage of doing this work in a small team is you’ll be able to see the direct effect of your work on how we deliver Choirs Beating Time and Inside Job, often in practice during prison visits. You’ll work closely with senior management to stay on top of budgets and cashflow to inform your fundraising decisions and grow a culture of income awareness across the charity.

Communications play an important role in maintaining relationships with funders and stakeholders. We want to keep up a strong, involved presence on LinkedIn, while contributing to sector-wide advocacy, and boosting visibility through online and in-person events. An important part of our comms strategy is conveying our impact; you will also prepare regular impact reports for internal and external use. 

What we’re looking for

• Excellent writing and editing skills – your day-to-day tasks will involve writing grant applications and reports to new and existing funders (majority trusts and foundations). You will collate and write quarterly newsletters, circulated to funders, partner organisations, supporters and our employer network.
• Fundraising expertise – you will research and identify potential funders/corporate sponsorship to feed into the prospect pipeline. You will also develop and maintain a database to keep track of new/existing/past funders and monitor fundraising impact. 
• Strong organisational skills – previous experience working or volunteering with a small charity is a plus. You will often be working to deadlines and need to be able to plan ahead and organise your schedule accordingly. Your role as part of the central team will include taking minutes at weekly meetings, liaising with prisons and freelance musical directors, and actively reaching out to government and sector bodies where necessary. You’ll be able to multitask effectively and be highly organised with very strong attention to detail.
• Interest in the criminal justice system – we are active members of the criminal justice third sector, championing people with lived experience (especially within our own team). You may be asked to attend sector-wide events, participate in roundtables, and contribute to reports. 
• Solid knowledge of social media management – you will use Canva and other resources to design and post on our accounts, particularly LinkedIn. Posts might include internal updates (e.g. new hires, staff milestones), reactions to sector events (e.g. our response to the Sentencing Review), news about our employer partners, and beneficiary case studies. 

Why join us?

• Be part of a meaningful initiative that directly helps reduce reoffending and improve life outcomes for people leaving prison.
• Opportunity to work in a small, supportive environment where your efforts will have a real social impact.
• Competitive salary and the chance to develop your skills in the fields of employment support, criminal justice, and rehabilitation.
• Opportunity for frontline work and regular visits to local prisons. 

We're recruiting for an Engagement Lead, to work in our Innovation & Practice team. 

As Engagement Lead you will play a central role in our team – developing, leading and managing significant projects for us, including citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries, deliberative workshops, and participatory processes. You will need to have a good understanding of deliberative processes, have excellent project leadership and project management skills, as well the ability to build and maintain good relationships with a wide variety of people, including members of the public, project partners, colleagues and decision-makers.

The role sits in the Innovation and Practice team that designs and delivers high quality practical engagement work leading to better decisions, more engaged citizens and helps address critical challenges of our society. We are constantly balancing high quality standards with innovation to ensure that we stay at the cutting edge and that our engagement processes break down entrenched inequalities of power.

You will be a proven project leader looking to make your next move and develop your leadership skills and profile in this interesting and important area of public participation work. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in the design and delivery of large scale deliberative engagement projects. 

BACKGROUND

Church of England Birmingham (CofEB) is on a journey of growing churches at the heart of every community. Through this we are seeing growth in many exciting ways. Financially we are at a challenging point. We have had an operational deficit for a number of years and this cannot continue. There are current conversations happening with the National Church around how we get to a sustainable platform through partnership. One key aspect of this is for us to increase our Common Fund returns (the giving from our parishes that supports the costs of our life together). We are taking a radical new approach to our finances which includes intentional reallocation of income to support the costs in our most economically deprived parishes and deeper relationships with each parish around finance through conversation rather than correspondence. Over the next five years we are hoping to be able to move to a financially sustainable platform which will enable us to better serve our communities in the future. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

We need a Head of Generosity to lead the team, and project, that will focus on developing long term relationships with all of our parishes leading to:

• Greater support for our parishes.
• Increased generosity by, and within, our parishes.
• Increased Common Fund.

A steering Group has been established, which the Head of Generosity will be a part of, to plan, design and implement the activities needed to deliver our vision. Through partnership with the National Church we are expecting that there will be four members of this Generosity Team. 

This role, and the team, will need to work closely with Archdeacons and Area Deans, Directors of Mission, Ministry and Finance (and their teams), the Head of Communications and many others. We have one strategy and this is a part of that so needs to link well with all other parts. 

The Head of Generosity will also be Bishops Advisor for Common Fund. Bishop Michael is passionate about supporting our parishes and seeing Common Fund increase and this role will both channel his desire to parishes and help reflect what is learnt back to the Bishop as we progress.

The post holder will have the support of the National Giving Team who have extensive experience and resources to support those responsible for giving and generosity. They will also be given access to a strong and growing national network of people in similar roles. Their experience has proven invaluable to people in roles similar to this, building on best practice and learning from others across 41 Dioceses.

The role will have the following key responsibilities:

• Support in the recruitment and the establishment of the Generosity Team.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the members of the Generosity Team.
• Support the delivery design of this project and deliver the actions agreed by the Steering Group.
• Lead on Parish engagement across all areas of generosity, including the spiritual / theological nature.
• Appropriately discern and allocate team members to support different phases of the process and the different and wide-ranging developmental needs of parishes. 

Through the team:

• Create a bespoke multi year plan for Common Fund with every parish with key stakeholders including Archdeacons.
• Provide consultancy, resources, and hands-on support to parishes to grow regular giving, legacies, and other forms of financial support. This work will be able to draw on the resources developed by the national church as well as the data held on their Cornerstone Platform. The post-holder will be expected to engage in the work of the National Giving Team as part of the development of these wider resources.
• Develop and deliver training for clergy, lay leaders and PCCs, on financial management and giving and generosity with the Ministry team.
• Encourage and assist parishes in the implementation of the Parish Giving Scheme, introduction of contactless giving mechanisms and related diocesan initiatives.
• Source, develop and curate practical resources (digital and print) to support local stewardship campaigns and initiatives.
• Evaluate the impact of stewardship and generosity initiatives and adapt strategies accordingly to achieve the project outcomes.
• Create compelling communication tools that articulate the impact of generosity with our communication team.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven leadership experience preferably in financial management, fundraising, or stewardship within a faith-based or nonprofit organisation.
• Strong understanding of church governance structures and financial operations and requirements.
• Knowledge of generosity principles and Christian financial stewardship.
• A prayerful Christian with a deep commitment to the Church’s mission (Genuine Occupational Requirement).

Essential Skills & Attributes:

• Resilient and adaptable, able to handle challenges and maintain momentum in a demanding role.
• Strong people skills, able to engage effectively with parishes and church communities.
• Good communicator being able to engage a wide range of stakeholders and hold their attention.
• Trustworthy and credible, able to build and maintain confidence with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Empathetic towards parishes and deeply committed to supporting the local church.
• Excellent conflict resolution skills, capable of handling difficult conversations with care and professionalism.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and keep track of numerous ongoing responsibilities.
• Team leadership ability. A good line manager able to set a positive team culture.
• Capable implementer, ensuring initiatives are successfully delivered, both at a local and diocese wide level.
• Financially literate, with a good understanding of budgets, stewardship, and sustainability within the Church.

Other Considerations:

• The role requires significant evening and weekend work, demanding flexibility and commitment.
• Local presence is essential—the role must be delivered in an incarnational way, engaging directly with communities.
• Must be able to balance multiple demands, effectively managing several "spinning plates" at once.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The post-holder will be employed by the Diocesan Board of Finance for five years.

Salary and Pension: Salary of £48,000 plus membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with 12% employer contribution. We are open to discussion especially if you are ordained and are moving out of parish ministry.

Hours:  Full-time 35 hours (5 days) per week. Weekend and evening work will be required, for which the equivalent time may be taken back from standard working hours. We are happy to consider requests for flexible working, and please do mention in your application if you would be interested in looking at alternative working hours. 

Holidays: 5 weeks per year plus Bank Holidays and 3 Discretionary Days between Christmas and New Year 

Employer: Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance 

Responsible To: Director of Strategic Transformation

CLOSING DATE: 18th July 

INTERVIEWS: 1st August

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where all can be themselves and bring their unique identity to their ministry and/or work.  

We welcome applications from any individuals who feel that they meet the person specification for any post, in particular from those who are currently under-represented in or staff teams such as those from Global Majority Heritage or UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQI+. 

We offer a range of inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and other services to our staff teams.

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment.

Interim Head of Finance & Operations

Career Ready is a social mobility charity that believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding future.

We were founded in 2002 by leading business figures with a mission: to boost social mobility by empowering young people and giving their talents a platform from which to flourish. Since then, we’ve grown in England and Scotland to support young people in areas of need.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, qualified Finance professional to lead our Finance & Operations function.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Interim Head of Finance & Operations leads on and assumes day to day responsibility for providing high quality, strategic financial management for Career Ready.

You will lead on business operations to ensure the ongoing effective functioning of the charity and drive sustainable growth.

The Interim Head of Finance and Operations plays a key role in leading greater organisational efficiency and simplifying processes and will continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy.

You will play a critical role in driving the increased quality of Career Ready’s offer to our stakeholders in line with our strategy, vision and values.

Member of our SMT, comprising of the CEO, Director for Scotland, Director of Programme and Partnerships and Heads of functions.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

· Lead, direct and manage the finance and operations functions, overseeing two direct reports, ensuring they deliver a high-quality service to all internal and external stakeholders and are seen as adding value, in enabling Career Ready to achieve its vision and strategic objectives through its people. 

· Continue the delivery of a project plan reflecting the 2025-30 strategy, ensuring that activities happen at pace, are deadline-driven and achieve a high level of impact.

· Assume overall responsibility for the financial management of Career Ready, working with the SMT to ensure high quality and effective use of charitable funds.

· Input into and review the financial elements of funding applications and ensure that fund accounting processes align with funders’ requirements for project reporting.

· Produce financial reports for various stakeholders, as well as leading on financial modelling.

· Have oversight of all financial and accountancy matters including month end reports, management accounts, cash flow management, compliance, tax liability, presentation of management information and KPIs. Ensure that the CEO and Trustees are provided with accurate, timely information and analysis. 

· Oversee and coordinate the fully managed payroll services with the external bureau for all Career Ready employees and for some internship students (Jun to Aug during the Summer)

· Administration of the Staff Opt-In Pension Scheme, including onboarding new staff (Royal London)

· Act as a role model in our ‘one team’ culture. Lead in the development of efficient working practices across the charity, creating momentum and supporting motivation within the charity. 

· Lead risk management strategies and internal control procedures to minimise the risk of loss, or damage to, Career Ready’s assets. 

· Prepare and submit annual operational budgets and annual accounts to the CEO for review and approval.

· Draft and deliver papers for Trustees and Finance and Fundraising Committee (F&FC) meetings. 

· Attend Board and F&FC meetings to present papers and answer questions related to areas of expertise. 

· Provide day to day line management of the Senior Finance Officers and support their ongoing growth and development.

· Management of organisational governance and compliance activities, including policy management.

· Oversee and manage the organisation’s risk management register and process, with input from SMT.

· Oversee reviews and renewals of all insurance policies that affect the organisation.

· Lead on the compliance of statutory and charity regulatory reporting, giving guidance to colleagues where required.

· Ensure any changes to processes and procedures across the function are clearly documented.

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

•  Belief and commitment to Career Ready’s mission and values
• Qualified (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT) accountant with at least 5 years’ experience in financial management including budgeting, preferably in the charity sector.
• Significant experience in producing management and financial accounts
• Skilled in financial reporting and producing VAT returns
• Preparing for and ensuring a successful year-end audit, and demonstrable knowledge of UK Charities SORP and other reporting standards
• Experience in budgeting to support strategic decision making.
• Financial dexterity and strong analytical skills.
• Strong IT skills, including advanced MS Excel skills and extensive of using an accounting software, preferably Xero
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills and ability to work independently and with autonomy
• Strong starter finisher with ability to lead and drive projects
• Knowledge of charity governance and compliance requirements
• Ability to build excellent relationships and have effective engagement with stakeholders
• Good communication skills and ability to communicate financial concepts to non-finance staff
• Attention to detail
• Ability to present financial information to various audiences
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitivity of financial information
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to cope with competing demands to deadlines
• Honest and dependable

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience of leading a team, strong team building skills
• Line management experience
• Experience of using MS Planner or other project management tools
• Genuine interest in the work done by the Charity
• Experience of using a CRM (Salesforce)
• Degree in financial management or accounting

Full details are provided in the candidate pack

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £52,000 to £54,000 FTE (salary will be pro-rata for part time hours)

28-35 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns.

Permanent and remote.  Travel to London required on an occasional basis

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025 

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

This is an interim role to cover a period of maternity leave, with a provisional start date of late September for a handover period.