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Head of Institutional Relations and Governance
About Charity Right
At Charity Right, we are a focused and passionate international food charity on a mission to free people from the devastating effects of hunger. Since our founding, we have provided over 40 million meals across 7 countries, serving those who need it most with dignity and care.
Our Mission
We believe that no child should go to school hungry. Our single-cause focus allows us to be exceptionally effective at what we do best: providing nutritious school meals that keep children in classrooms and give them the opportunity to break free from poverty through education.
About the Role
This is a newly created leadership role responsible for developing and embedding the governance infrastructure and strategic partnerships that will position Charity Right as a credible and competitive organisation for institutional funding. The Head of Governance and Institutional Relations will be responsible for cultivating relationships with institutional funders, multilateral agencies, and foundations, while also leading internal governance and capacity-building efforts to ensure Charity Right is fully prepared to secure and deliver such partnerships.
The role will build and oversee the development of international branch offices where appropriate, ensuring alignment with partner eligibility requirements and regulatory frameworks. This role is cross-functional and high-impact, sitting at the intersection of compliance, strategy, fundraising, and programme delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Management
- Identify and engage potential institutional funders and foundations both in the UK and internationally.
- Lead the full lifecycle of institutional donor relationships—from prospecting and due diligence through to application, stewardship, and renewal.
- Build a comprehensive pipeline of funding opportunities aligned with Charity Right’s mission and delivery capacity.
- Work closely with Programmes, Finance, and Fundraising teams to coordinate compelling funding proposals and aligned delivery models.
Organisational Governance & Capacity Building
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of Charity Right’s governance framework to meet international standards for institutional funders.
- Identify and implement structural, policy, and procedural enhancements that elevate Charity Right’s readiness to enter and sustain institutional partnerships.
- Conduct periodic organisational assessments and produce recommendations to close capacity gaps identified by funders or prospective partners.
International Presence & Localisation Strategy
- Design and oversee the establishment of Charity Right branch offices in key geographies.
- Ensure all international branches are compliant with local laws, reporting requirements, and brand/mission alignment.
- Collaborate with legal and operational advisors to manage entity registration, governance structures, and oversight models in each country.
Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
- Develop and implement a formal institutional partnering strategy.
- Identify and vet strategic implementation partners that complement Charity Right’s delivery capabilities.
- Negotiate, draft, and manage partnership agreements ensuring alignment with Charity Right’s values and strategic objectives.
Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation
- Develop and implement a framework to monitor the performance and outcomes of institutional partnerships and funded projects.
- Ensure robust reporting mechanisms, including narrative and financial reporting, are in place.
- Regularly brief the CEO and Board on the status of funder relationships, branch development, and institutional readiness.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Significant senior-level experience in institutional fundraising, partnership management, or international development.
- Strong understanding of governance frameworks, compliance standards, and operational due diligence requirements for international NGOs.
- Demonstrated success in securing and managing funding from institutional donors.
- Experience in establishing and managing international offices, branches, or subsidiaries.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong project management and execution capability.
- Values-driven, with a commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusion.
- Familiarity with safeguarding frameworks, donor audits, and risk registers.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience working in humanitarian or faith-inspired development contexts.
- Legal, compliance, or public policy background.
- Existing network within institutional funding or global development sectors.
Success Indicators
- Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Development
- Number of institutional funder relationships established (UK and international)
- Number of funding applications submitted per quarter
- Total value (£) of secured institutional or foundation grants annually
- Application success rate (%) across funding proposals submitted
- Donor retention and re-engagement rate (%)
Governance & Organisational Capacity
- Completion and implementation of key governance policies
- Improvement in organisational assessments conducted by external funders or partners
- Internal audit readiness and compliance rate
- Number of governance or compliance gaps resolved each quarter
- Staff training or briefings delivered on governance-related improvements
International Branch Development
- Number of international entities registered or formalised in target geographies
- Time taken from initiation to legal establishment of each branch
- Compliance rate with local registration, reporting, and governance requirements
- Annual cost-to-benefit ratio of each registered branch (qualitative + financial assessment)
Strategic Partnerships
- Number of partnership MOUs or contracts formalised
- Partner performance satisfaction score
- Number of co-designed or co-delivered proposals with partners submitted per year
- Strategic alignment index – measured via internal SLT reviews
Reporting & Monitoring
- Reporting compliance rate (%) with donor reporting deadlines and formats
- Timeliness and quality score of narrative and financial reports submitted
- Quarterly internal partnership performance reports delivered to SLT/CEO
- Monitoring framework adoption rate across new institutional projects
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Remote Working
Salary: £48,000 – 54,000 per annum, depending on experience
Reports to: CEO
Registered Charity
11 - 20
We are on a mission to end child hunger - one school meal at a time. Hunger doesn’t just mean an empty stomach. It keeps children out of school.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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To stand out you will bring your passion for conservation to the overlooked issue of the freshwater biodiversity crisis. You will be comfortable working in a small team, be self-motivated, and able to work independently, with a willingness to learn and adapt. Your interpersonal and communication skills in holding external relationships set you apart.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Closing date: 28th July 2025 12 noon
First stage interviews (Zoom): W/C 4th August 2025
Second stage interviews (Zoom): W/C 11th August 2025
Synchronicity Earth’s mission is clear: we blend passion and action to provide safe havens for endangered species, support communities living in harmony with nature, and turn conservation into a worldwide effort. By joining, you're not just taking part; you're weaving your own story into a future that's brighter and sustainable for all.
We understand that life sometimes takes unexpected turns, and we welcome candidates who may have taken a career break. Your unique experiences and fresh perspective will only enhance our team's diversity and strengthen our ability to tackle the complex challenges facing our planet. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds for this role, particularly non-graduates, and are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements.
Candidates from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities who meet the criteria (in the section of the job description headed ‘What you will bring to the team’) and opt-in to our Guaranteed Interview Scheme will enter the first recruitment stage. You can find more information in the Guaranteed Interview Scheme and Recruitment Process document.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.