Executive director jobs in Cardiff

The Belay Foundation supports adoptive, kinship and special guardianship families raising children who have experienced early developmental trauma, often alongside neurodiversity. Founded in 2020 from lived experience, Belay offers something many families struggle to find elsewhere: practical, in-home support and expert guidance that’s genuinely trauma-responsive, delivered by people who understand what these families are living through.

Why now? - Belay has just spent a year strengthening its foundations - redesigning services, building organisational capacity and setting an ambitious growth plan. The groundwork is done. What we need now is a permanent CEO with the vision to take a small, high-impact charity and turn real momentum into lasting change - for families and for how the sector understands and responds to developmental trauma.

About the role - You’ll provide strategic and financial leadership across a small team, working closely with an exceptional Board and Belay’s Founder, who remains closely involved as Services Director. You’ll lead fundraising and income diversification, shape Belay’s public voice and ensure the organisation’s trauma-responsive, DDP-informed model continues to deliver real impact as it scales.

This is a rare chance to take the helm of an organisation with an innovative model, a loyal community and genuine room to grow - and to leave your mark on how the UK supports some of its most vulnerable children and families.

Please see the CEO Application Pack for further details, including the full job description and the application/ interview process.

Vital Strategies is a global public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website to find out more about our work.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by people with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for those seeking employment.

Job Purpose:

Vital Strategies has experienced significant growth in both its programs and global footprint in recent years. As the organization continues to expand, it is essential that our people practices remain legally compliant, operationally effective, culturally responsive, and forward-thinking to support an increasingly diverse and distributed workforce.

We are seeking an experienced Global HR leader who will continue to build on our efforts to strengthen global HR operations and compliance. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, culturally agile leader who is passionate about operational excellence, continuous improvement, and making a meaningful global impact. 

The Director, Global HR Operations and Compliance is a critical leadership role within the Human Resources function, responsible for advancing HR operational excellence, strengthening global compliance, and supporting the continued evolution of our people practices. With seven global offices and Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements in thirteen countries, this position provides strategic leadership and oversight for Vital's global HR operations, compliance framework, and employee services, ensuring consistent, efficient, and legally compliant HR practices across all locations.

The Director will lead the development and implementation of inclusive policies, procedures, and best practices; provide guidance on global employment actions and employee relations matters; support workforce expansion into new countries; and oversee global compensation, benefits, and HR governance programs. This role is responsible for identifying and mitigating employment-related risks while ensuring a positive employee experience and operational consistency across diverse jurisdictions.

Reporting to the Vice President, Global HR, the Director partners closely with organizational leaders, HR colleagues, legal counsel, country offices, and external partners to strengthen HR infrastructure, optimize systems and processes, and enhance the organization's ability to manage a global workforce effectively. Success in this role requires deep global HR expertise, strong judgment, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to lead change while balancing organizational standards with local legal, cultural, and operational requirements.

This job opportunity may be based in the UK, Switzerland, or Kenya. Vital Strategies will offer a competitive salary based on local market benchmarking. Additional locations in Europe and Africa where Vital Strategies is operational may be considered. The applicable salary ranges for the hiring locations are:

• UK: £110,000- £120,000
• Switzerland: CHF 120,000 to 140,000
• Kenya: KES 14,000,000- 18,500,000 KES

Duties & Responsibilities:

Global HR Operations - 

· Maintain a high-quality global HR operations function, including standardized policies where legally appropriate, standardized processes, technology, systems, tools, forms, and guidelines that are accessible, well understood, and consistently utilized across all offices.

· Balance global organizational standards and compliance requirements with the operational, cultural, and legal realities of individual country offices, ensuring an appropriate and practical approach across diverse environments.

· Build trusted relationships with global office leadership, HR and Country Directors, to encourage transparency, collaboration, and timely sharing of HR-related information necessary for effective operations, risk management, and compliance.

· Partner with, support, and advise global HR team members and Country Directors on HR operational matters; while supporting local HR partners in assuming HR functions locally as appropriate for each office.

· Lead global HR due diligence (terms and conditions of employment, infrastructure and documentation) and manage the maintenance of international office employee handbooks and guides for EOR-hired staff.

· Partner with leadership, programs, and operation teams in opening offices or establishing EORs; as well as closing offices or programs.

· Ensure compliance with regulatory reporting requirements, maintenance of required documentation, and timely responses to HR audits and coordinate with the risk management committee.

· In partnership with local HR teams, lead annual global employee benefits renewals, including plan design, vendor coordination, and budget management.

· Oversee global compensation programs, including salary benchmarking, pay review processes, compensation guidance, and manager training.

· Work with Talent Acquisition, Grants & Contracts and Global Finance to coordinate the annual and reforecast workforce budget.

· Oversee the establishment of EORs and the ongoing vendor/employee/manager relationships.

· Ensure the global HR team is trained in the core HR operational areas, as well as any Vital HR specific procedures and practices.

· Ensure that HR policies, procedures, and compliance documents are accessible to all staff via the organizational intranet “Vital Pulse”.

· Collaborate with HR team to implement, analyze, and maintain operational metrics and people data to inform decision-making and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

· Serve as a key HRIS company administrator and partner to global HR teams, leveraging technology to improve HR operations, reporting, compliance and data integrity.

· Partner with HR and operational leaders to ensure HRIS data accuracy globally, establish effective governance processes, and support local teams in maintaining timely and accurate employee records.

Compliance - 

· In collaboration with Legal and VP HR, ensure that HR processes, policies, recordkeeping, and forms are in compliance with regulations, country and local labor laws, and donor guidelines.

· Oversee policy, process and procedure documentation to ensure consistency, accessibility, and compliance across the organization.

· Conduct spot checks to employee files to ensure audit readiness and compliance; and provide training to HR team members responsible for maintaining documentation.

· Ensure compliance with the Vital global data retention policy for employee data and HR documentation.

· Identify and proactively mitigate HR operational and compliance risks through strong controls, monitoring, documentation practices, and partnership with local offices.

Employee Services - 

· Coordinate the development and maintenance of HR programs and tools, including policies and procedures, SOPs, manuals, management guidelines, and other HR infrastructure to support business units, proposals, and projects.

· Ensure all offices and employees hired through EOR arrangements have access to an HR Help Desk or equivalent support structure with timely communication, responsiveness, and follow-up.

· In consultation with the VP HR and General Counsel, and in coordination with HRBPs, manage complex employee relations matters in a balanced, fair, and objective manner using appropriate counseling, investigative, intervention, and mediation techniques.

· Serve as an internal consultant and facilitator to managers and employees in resolving employment and performance-related issues in collaboration with HR business partners as appropriate.

· In collaboration with the Director of Talent Management and HR Country Teams, ensure timely delivery of training to managers on HR operations, policies, systems, and practices; and support clear communication of Vital HR business practices to employees globally.

· Foster a service-oriented HR culture that emphasizes responsiveness, partnership, trust, consistency, and practical problem-solving across all global offices.

Qualifications:

Education - 

· Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field required.

· Professional HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD, or equivalent international HR certification preferred.

Skills & Abilities - 

· Strong knowledge of global HR operations, employment practices, compliance requirements, and HR infrastructure across multiple countries and regions.

· Demonstrated ability to balance global organizational standards with local legal, cultural, and operational needs in diverse international environments.

· Strong relationship-building, influencing, and partnership skills, with the ability to establish trust and credibility across global offices and with leaders at all levels.

· High degree of diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, discretion, and sound judgment when managing complex and sensitive employee and organizational matters.

· Ability to proactively gather, assess, and synthesize information from multiple stakeholders and environments to identify operational or compliance risks and support informed decision-making.

· Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced global environment.

· Excellent verbal, written communication, and active listening skills, including the ability to communicate complex HR concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use people data and metrics to drive operational improvements and business decisions.

· Service-oriented leadership approach with a focus on collaboration, responsiveness, practical solutions, and continuous improvement.

· Strong facilitation, training, and coaching skills for managers, HR teams, and employees.

· High level of integrity and ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

· Strong technology proficiency and ability to leverage HR systems and tools to improve operational effectiveness, reporting, workforce analytics, compliance, and employee experience.

· Fluency in English required.

· Knowledge of global HR operational best practices and employment lifecycle processes.

· Knowledge of compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, and policy administration practices.

· Understanding of change management principles and organizational effectiveness practices in global organizations.

Experience Required:

· Minimum of 15 years of progressive human resources experience, including significant experience in global HR operations, compliance, and employee services.

· Demonstrated experience supporting a complex, multi-country or global organization, preferably within the nonprofit, international development, public health, or mission-driven sector.

· Experience partnering with global offices and navigating varying labor laws, cultural norms, and operational practices across regions.

· Proven experience developing and implementing global HR policies, procedures, systems, and operational processes.

· Experience managing HR compliance, audits, employee documentation, and data governance in international environments.

· Experience overseeing compensation and benefits administration across multiple countries and/or employer-of-record (EOR) arrangements.

· Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations matters and conducting or supporting investigations in collaboration with legal counsel and HR business partners.

· Experience leading or supporting HRIS optimization, system configuration, reporting, and data integrity initiatives; experience with UKG strongly preferred.

· Experience using HR metrics and workforce data to support operational planning and organizational decision-making.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

· The position may involve up to 10% travel to various international locations, depending on organizational needs

· Ability/willingness to work across multiple time zones

Start date: December 2026

Timeline: 

• Application deadline: 13 August 0900
• Initial phone interview: 14 August 
• First panel interviews: 20 August (online)
• Written task: wk/c 24 August (online, 1 hour)
• Final panel interviews: 8 September (in person, London)

Full-time 37.5 hours per week.

Remote with international travel

Salary and benefits: 

• £98,800 per annum pro rata
• 10% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave, bank holidays on dates of your choice, a week of office closure in August and December
• Flexible working and other benefits (here)

 About us

Foxglove is a non-profit that exists to make the use of technology fair for all. When Big Tech companies abuse their power, their workers or the planet – and when governments use technology to oppress, exclude or discriminate – we litigate and campaign to fix it.  

Big Tech companies have become so large – gobbling up a huge slice of the global marketplace and an unprecedented treasure hoard of user data – that they’re now more powerful than many states. The harmful effects of this concentration of power are everywhere – threats to our democracy, to our privacy, decimated workers’ rights and platforms rife with disinformation and hate. Big Tech and AI data centres are rapidly expanding, resulting in huge strain on energy and water supplies. Worldwide governments are ploughing ahead with the use of algorithms and mass data systems to cut costs and increase efficiency often resulting in digital tools that entrench unfairness and leave the most vulnerable in society in crisis. All these problems are only getting worse with generative AI. 

Foxglove works to bring the rule of law to the tech and AI giants who have upended our public square, workplaces, and social lives. We have a strong track record. We’ve launched landmark cases seeking structural changes to big tech’s harmful business models, supported 180+ Facebook content moderators fired for trying to form a union to sue Facebook. We’ve supported tech workers and their unions to file cases challenging union busting at Google, Amazon and TikTok. We urged state regulators worldwide to stop Google’s theft of independent news. We won the UK’s first legal challenge to a data centre permission decision and filed the first such case in South Africa. We forced disclosure of secret contracts between tech giants and the NHS, stopped a racist Home Office visa streaming algorithm, helped make grading fair for UK A-level students and challenged the Department of Work and Pension’s use of an algorithm unfairly flagging disabled people for benefit fraud investigations. We have much more in the works and we hope you want to join us.

We are a small but growing team of lawyers, communications experts, and campaigners. Our work is global, and we work in partnership with lawyers, civil society, unions, and people impacted by Big Tech.

About you

You are an experienced social change leader who thrives at the intersection of politics, law and communications. You know that court wins alone don't create lasting change – it takes a compelling public narrative and a movement to back it up. You're energised by the prospect of what a well-run Foxglove can bring to the fight for tech justice and thrive in fast-moving environments and complex coalitions – holding a room, building a movement, and keeping a small team motivated and focused. You are a self-starter with the judgement to prioritise and the generosity to support others. You understand that Foxglove's power comes from the communities we work with as much as the cases we bring. If that's you, and the Foxglove mission excites you, we would love to hear from you.

The role

This is a fixed-term parental leave cover post for 1 year. The post holder will step into the co-Executive Director role with co-responsibility for Foxglove's strategy, impact, advocacy, operations, fundraising and public facing work. The post holder will work very closely with Foxglove’s other co-Executive Director and will make all sizable decisions about Foxglove together. UK and international travel (approx. 20%) is required.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategy, Leadership and Impact

1.Serve as a member of Foxglove's leadership team, helping to set direction across the organisation.

2.Work closely with the co-Executive Director and Director of Advocacy to align Foxglove's legal, advocacy and operations work.

3.Represent Foxglove externally: to the press, at events, with funders (trusts, foundations & individual donors), members of parliament and with policymakers and allies.

4.Help ensure communities', workers' and affected individuals' voices are at the centre of all of Foxglove's work.

5.Champion a culture of impact, monitoring and evaluation across the organisation, ensuring Foxglove can clearly demonstrate the change it is achieving internally and externally.

6.Use monitoring and evaluation insight to sharpen strategic decision-making – learning from what's working (and what isn't) to keep Foxglove's campaigns and casework focused on change for the people and communities we support. 

Advocacy and Campaigns

1.Oversee the work of Foxglove's advocacy team (led by our Director of Advocacy) and shape our overall approach to campaigning across digital, media and grassroots channels.

2.Build and maintain relationships with a wide range of allies – civil society organisations, unions, policymakers, regulators, journalists, academics, and international partners – to strengthen Foxglove's reach and influence.

3.Spot and pursue new opportunities for campaigns, litigation, coalition-building and advocacy, keeping Foxglove responsive to a fast-changing tech and policy landscape.

4.Act as a public voice for Foxglove's work – engaging with the press, media and public platforms as required to advance our work.

Operations and Organisational Management

1.Oversee Foxglove's day-to-day operations, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and effectively.

2.Manage and support staff across the organisation, providing clear leadership and creating a positive team culture.

3.Oversee financial management in partnership with relevant staff, ensuring responsible stewardship of Foxglove's resources.

4.Ensure compliance with Foxglove's policies and obligations to donors, partners and statutory bodies.

5.Line management of Director of Advocacy, Head of Operations, Digital Campaigner, Operations and Executive Assistant and peer support the other co-Executive Director.

Fundraising and Donor Relations 

1.Oversee and lead Foxglove’s fundraising and donor relations in partnership with relevant team members.

2.Drive Foxglove’s fundraising strategy that diversifies Foxglove's income across foundations, major donors and other funding sources.

3.Build and maintain strong personal relationships with key funders and major donors, serving as Foxglove's primary external contact for funders. 

4.Identify and cultivate new funding prospects aligned with Foxglove's mission, including researching and pursuing grant opportunities.

5.Oversee the preparation of compelling funding proposals, reports, and impact updates, ensuring funders have a clear and accurate picture of Foxglove's work and results.

6.Set and track annual fundraising targets in collaboration with the co-Executive Director and finance team, ensuring income projections align with organisational budgets and plans.

7.Represent Foxglove at donor meetings, briefings, and sector events to build the organisation's profile and credibility within the funding community.

8.Ensure fundraising practices reflect Foxglove's values and independence.

Person Specification

Essential

• A strong interest in tech justice and Foxglove's mission.
• Significant (5+ years) experience at CEO level.
• Experience managing and motivating a team, with a track record of supporting people to do their best work.
• A brilliant fundraising track record and experience in financial management. 
• Excellent communication skills – you can write persuasively, clearly and concisely, hold a press conference, and brief a politician, all in the same day.
• Strong political judgement and an ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Experience in organisational management or operations, including oversight of budgets and financial processes.
• A self-starter who is able to work independently and take initiative, while contributing generously to a shared team goal.
• Excellent time management skills of yourself and others – able to prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines.
• Willingness to muck in and support other members of a small team as required.
• UK based with right to work in the UK.

 Desirable

• Experience working on technology, digital rights, or AI.
• Legal qualification or equivalent advocacy leadership experience. 
• Experience working with a wide range of groups and partners from impacted communities, civil society groups, unions, associations and small businesses.
• Experience working with or alongside legal teams in a campaigning or advocacy context.
• Experience working with unions or impacted communities.

Length and Salary

This is a fixed-term parental leave cover contract of 12 months. The annual salary is £98,800 per annum pro rata less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. Please note our pay is transparent and non-negotiable.

Our team works remotely; this role must be based in the UK, ideally London. Our team travels every two months for team days and annually for team retreats. 

Please note we are only accepting UK based applicants for this role. Applicants must already have right to work in the UK, unfortunately we are not able to provide visa sponsorship.

How to apply

Please make your application via the Be Applied link provided, answering the application questions and uploading your CV. We will not review applications sent via a job board or to our email.

All applications are reviewed by a Foxglove member of staff. We do not use automated systems to select which candidates proceed through the recruitment process. The only way in which we will use generative AI is as a comparison, to assess whether applications may have been AI generated. We do not otherwise use AI to process applications, and would request that candidates do not use generative AI to draft theirs.

Foxglove is growing and we are striving to build a team that is inclusive. We will create a diverse and adaptable environment where we support people to do their best work. We believe an effective and creative team is made up of people from different walks of life. You can read more about how we work and what we offer our staff on our website.

If any part of this process causes you difficulty or you require any reasonable adjustments to make your application, please get in touch with us via our website.

If you would like to know more about how we process your data as part of the recruitment process you can read our recruitment data use policy on our website

Lead the operations, governance and compliance that enable Solving Kids' Cancer UK to deliver its mission and impact for children and families affected by neuroblastoma. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will play a critical role in ensuring the charity operates effectively, compliantly and sustainably.

This broad and varied leadership role spans governance, risk, HR, IT, data protection and organisational operations, supporting delivery of the charity's strategy through robust systems, policies and processes. Acting as Company Secretary, you will work closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees, providing advice on governance, regulatory requirements and best practice. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will oversee key operational functions, lead cross-organisational projects and deputise for the CEO where required.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic, highly organised and values-driven leader with strong experience in charity operations, governance and compliance. You will have a track record of ensuring organisations are well run, compliant and effectively managed, with the ability to oversee multiple operational areas and support strong governance and decision-making at Board level.

You will be comfortable working across a broad remit, including governance, risk, HR, IT and data protection, and confident providing clear, practical advice to senior leaders and trustees.

Person specification

Key requirements include:

• Significant senior-level experience in operations, governance or compliance within a charity or similar environment. 
• Strong understanding of charity governance and regulation, with experience supporting boards and senior leadership. 
• Experience overseeing organisational functions such as HR, IT, data protection or risk. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross-organisational work effectively. 
• Strong judgement, integrity and the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion. 

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for information about Solving Kids' Cancer UK. 

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution at the heart of a small, ambitious charity where strong operations are a vital enabler of impact for children and families.

Location: Home-based, within easy reach of London, with regular travel to the London office and occasional UK-wide travel.

First-stage interview: Thursday 6 August 

Second-stage interview: Thursday 13 August