Executive assistant to the deputy chief executive jobs

Quest for Learning is an education charity on a mission to close the gap for primary school children in Oxfordshire who are falling behind - often due to complex and compounding disadvantage. Many of the children we support are growing up in poverty, with limited access to books, low parental literacy, and challenging home environments. Some face health inequalities, live in areas affected by crime, or have recently arrived in the UK as refugees or asylum seekers.

We work closely with schools to provide targeted, high-impact literacy and numeracy programmes that give these children the chance to catch up, thrive, and believe in their potential. On average, our small-group tutoring helps pupils make 13 months of progress in just 10 hours - building not only essential skills, but also confidence, motivation, and a renewed sense of possibility.

The impact extends well beyond the classroom. By supporting children early, we help prevent the need for more complex and costly interventions later in life, from mental health support to exclusion and social care. Our work contributes to stronger, fairer communities by giving every child the foundation they need to participate fully in society. In doing so, we are advancing social sustainability and helping to meet global goals such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Good Health and Wellbeing.

About the role

We're looking for a dynamic, relationship-focused, and highly organised individual to oversee our teaching programmes, school partnerships, and tutor network.

This role is crucial to ensuring our programmes are high-quality, well-managed, and meeting the needs of schools. You will be the first point of contact for schools, building strong relationships with headteachers and SENCOs, and ensuring that we offer the right support at the right time.

You will manage our team of tutors, ensuring they have the resources, training, and support needed to deliver our programmes to the highest standard. You will also oversee safeguarding and the measurement of programme impact, working closely with the fundraiser to ensure we have strong data for funding applications.

If you have experience in education, relationship building, programme management, or charity leadership, and you’re passionate about ensuring all children get the support they need, this role is for you.

Key responsibilities

School relationships and programme development (account management) 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with schools and other stakeholders, ensuring our programmes align with their needs.
• Be proactive in identifying opportunities for growth, understanding school funding challenges, and positioning Quest for Learning as a key partner.
• Stay abreast of educational trends, school funding pressures, and local needs, using this market intelligence to shape programme delivery and ensure our offer remains relevant, impactful, and responsive to the challenges schools and pupils face.
• Support marketing efforts by sharing impact stories, case studies, and insights from schools.
• Support and develop approaches that foster meaningful engagement with parents and carers, helping them to feel confident and involved in their child’s learning journey.
• Maintain a strong understanding of school funding arrangements (e.g. National Funding Formula, Pupil Premium, EHCP funding), using this knowledge to position our programmes effectively and align with school priorities.

Tutor management and quality assurance

• Manage the tutor team, ensuring high standards of teaching and professionalism.
• Oversee tutor recruitment, training in programmes, and performance management.
• Ensure tutors are properly equipped with resources and training to deliver high-quality sessions and further relationships in schools.
• Provide pedagogical guidance and support to tutors where needed, drawing on strong educational knowledge to help resolve teaching queries or challenges.
• Actively develop the tutor pool, ensuring we have the right expertise and capacity across Oxfordshire.

Programme coordination and delivery

• Oversee the scheduling and logistics of our tutoring programmes, ensuring smooth delivery and efficient coordination of tutors and bookings.
• Ensure end-of-programme reporting is completed by tutors and shared with schools and other necessary stakeholders.

Safeguarding (Designated Safeguarding Lead - DSL)

• Act as the DSL for Quest for Learning (once trained) with support from the Chief Executive as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring all safeguarding policies and processes are followed.
• Train tutors in best safeguarding practices and ensure incidents are properly reported and recorded.
• Liaise with schools and external agencies where necessary. 

Impact measurement & fundraising support

• Ensure a strong framework of assessment and impact measurement for pupils and our programmes.
• Analyse and collate data on programme effectiveness, reporting to the team.
• Work with the fundraiser to provide teaching-related content for funding bids and reports.

Person specification

Essential:

• Strong experience in account management, partnerships, or relationship management (preferably in education or the charity sector).
• Experience working in education or service delivery (e.g. as a teacher, tutor, or programme manager).
• Strong pedagogical knowledge and the ability to support tutors with teaching-related queries.
• Excellent people skills, able to build relationships with schools, tutors, and funders.
• Highly organised and proactive, with strong project management skills.
• Strong ability to problem-solve, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities.
• Understanding of safeguarding in education (or willingness to train as a DSL).
• Ability to gather and analyse data to measure impact. 

Desirable:

• Good understanding of school funding streams and financial pressures in the primary sector, including national funding formulas, pupil premium, and SEND-related funding (e.g. EHCPs).
• Experience managing a team (e.g. teachers, tutors, or volunteers).
• Experience in developing education programmes or training.
• Familiarity with funding applications and impact reporting.
• Knowledge of the Oxfordshire school landscape.

Why join us?

• Make a meaningful difference beyond the classroom. This role is perfect for experienced educators - whether you’re a teacher, SENCO, literacy lead, or school leader - looking to apply your expertise in a more flexible, strategic, and mission-driven setting.
• Stay connected to what matters: improving outcomes for disadvantaged children and supporting high-quality teaching across schools.
• Enjoy a supportive team culture, hybrid working, generous leave, and the opportunity to help shape the future of a growing charity with a strong reputation in Oxfordshire.
• Bring your knowledge, build partnerships, and be part of something that’s both impactful and personally rewarding.

Role Overview: 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Trusts and Foundations income stream at Global Canopy, bringing exemplary relationship management and stewardship strategies to continue establishing the programme for long-term impact. This role will also nurture a small but successful team, supporting them to reach in-year and future income targets.

You will contribute to a culture of kindness, collaboration, rigour and accountability in equal measure. You will come to work with a sense of urgent mission, but one balanced by emotional intelligence. You will share our conviction that it is not just what we do that matters in our working life, but how we do it too.

Key Responsibilities
As a confident and energetic member of Global Canopy’s Development team, you will:

• Oversee the delivery of our Trusts and Foundations programme, shaping plans to ensure outstanding donor engagement and stewardship, future income growth and the delivery of our mission for forests, people and nature
• Personally manage a portfolio of prospects and existing funders at the six- and seven-figure level, inspiring them to give for the first time and continue or increase their giving
• Support the Trusts/Foundations fundraising team to develop a continuous pipeline of unrestricted and restricted funding opportunities
• Working alone and in partnership with other team members, develop high-quality tailored communications, including cases for support, bespoke proposals, concept notes and donor reports that demonstrate Global Canopy’s impact
• Engage and build relationships with peer and partner organisations to identify and explore opportunities for partnership funding applications
• Represent the voice of fundraising on strategic internal Boards and Working Groups, ensuring excellent communication flow between them and the Development team
• Collaborate effectively across the organisation at all levels, operating as a supportive and reliable fundraising colleague
• Work with colleagues across programmes, communications, operations and finance to shape annual plans and budgets 
• Leverage your understanding of market trends to adapt our approach to fundraising and donor engagement
• Effectively manage a high performing Trusts/Foundations team providing clear objectives, supervision and support to enable them to thrive in their roles
• Ensure your and the team’s work is fully compliant with both our own policies and the latest charity legislation and standards of practice
• Ensure that our CRM (Salesforce) is used effectively, kept up to date and accurately maintained with prospect and donor information
• With the Director of Income and Philanthropy Lead, contribute to the effective management of the Development team as a whole and a strong organisational fundraising culture
• Undertake any other relevant duties and projects delegated by the Director of Income

Skills and Experience
Successful candidates will:

• Have a proven track record of having identified, cultivated and secured six- and seven-figure funding partnerships with trusts/foundations
• Have proven experience of building relationships of trust, working collaboratively and in close partnership with internal stakeholders to deliver joint outcomes 
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, confident in synthesising complex information for external-facing, donor-friendly communication and talking with funders, prospects and stakeholders
• Be adept in negotiating in complex environments with multiple stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes 
• Be skilled in adapting your style of management to meet individual needs and provide support to team members in achieving their professional and developmental goals 
• Be familiar with the Fundraising Code of Practice and/or other relevant fundraising best practice frameworks
• Have excellent relationship management skills and high emotional intelligence
• Have strong financial literacy, including budgeting and financial reporting
• Be able to work well under pressure and manage multiple priorities and demands
• Have experience in working in the forests, nature and/or climate sectors, preferably in a global context
• Familiarity with the human rights and social dimensions of commodity-driven deforestation and environmental degradation and/or the nexus between human rights and nature-related issues would also be beneficial

Essential Behavioural Competencies

• Proactive and agile, seeking opportunities to grow income in a dynamic and creative environment
• Passionate about demonstrating how funders can contribute to ending deforestation, an essential step in achieving urgent global goals on climate, nature and human rights 
• Enthusiasm and flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and capitalise on new opportunities 
• Effective and positive team-player with a strong preference for collaboration

Benefits

Salary
£55k-65k full time equivalent 
This role sits within Band C on Global Canopy’s remuneration framework.

Nature of contract
Full time / Permanent. We are a flexible employer and welcome candidates wishing to work flexibly.

Base
Our office is in Oxford, with flexible home-working arrangements in place.

Holidays
36 days (including bank/public holidays) for discretionary use across the annual leave year. Option to purchase up to an additional 5 days or equivalent of one week’s leave.

Pension
Employer pension contribution of 8%.

Healthcare cashback plan
Covering dental fees, eye-care, wellbeing, physiotherapy, chiropody and much more – for you and any children. 

Group Life Assurance 
Paying a lump sum of 3 times annual salary

Group Income Protection
Paying 75% of annual salary for up to 2 years (for long term sickness).

Employee Assistance Programme
Which provides free, confidential advice on personal and legal matters.

Other
Huge range of discounts and cashback deals at gyms, restaurants, holidays, and much more.