Governance coordinator jobs
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced leader to help diversify the environmental sector by scaling a Black-led nature organisation to be able to demonstrate leadership on a national scale and promote and serve the interests and needs of ethnically marginalized communities in accessing nature.
Our Ambition
We’re on an exciting journey of growth. Our vision is to become a nationally recognised, well-resourced Black institution for learning about and caring for nature.
We aim to:
- Be the go-to resource for people of colour learning about the natural world and accessing outdoor spaces with confidence.
- Be the go-to resource for mainstream environmental organisations seeking to understand Black and Brown perspectives on nature.
- Strengthen networks and community among POC-led nature organisations across the UK.
Our operating income for 2025-2026 is £230,000. Our ambition is to generate an income of over £1 million by 2027-2028, growing to a 15+ staff team.
How the COO will support our vision
The role of Chief Operating Officer is central to helping us achieve our ambitions, ensuring that Wild in the City has the resources, infrastructure and working environment to achieve its annual plans, long term aims and deliver high-quality programmes.
We are not expecting the COO to implement the key areas of operations alone, we will work together to prioritise and generate the resources to build a team to cover the functionality required for steady growth. We are also motivated to ensure that the role’s salary is reviewed to meet market expectations as the role grows, dependent on funding.
This role needs an exceptional candidate who enjoys making a role their own, who is motivated by turning strategy into impactful action and who finds fulfilment in supporting others to achieve.
The COO will ensure that;
- We secure ongoing, long term financial resources, creating stability and underpinning growth, and scaling into operations in multiple regions, nationally
- We grow our staffing to provide a steady infrastructure and achieve our strategic objectives, including creating operations, fundraising, communications and research teams, and increasing our field team.
- We retain our relational, open, authentic, personable, dynamic, collaborative, innovative culture as we grow.
Who We're Looking For
We are looking for a dynamic and dependable Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help realise our vision.
We’re seeking an emotionally intelligent, commercially competent, and values-driven leader who can bring clarity, stability, and energy in a fast-paced and mission-led environment. You will thrive in turning strategy into action and impact, and in driving Wild in the City forward in scaling our delivery and leadership on a national scale.
You will bring:
- Proven experience in operational and strategic leadership
- Strong financial and commercial acumen, including income generation, budgeting, and long-term planning
- A successful track record of managing people, partnerships, and multi-disciplinary teams
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across staff, volunteers, partners, and board members
- Emotional resilience, sound judgement, and a calm, authentic presence
- A genuine connection to our mission and values
We welcome people from all backgrounds to fulfill the role of COO. We are mindful of the lack of diversity within senior leadership in the environmental field and encourage those from Global Majority backgrounds to apply.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting time to join Wild in the City, we hope that you will make an application. As COO, you’ll play a central role in shaping the next chapter of our development - growing our influence, supporting Black leadership in nature, and helping transform access to the natural world for communities of colour.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Shine On is stepping into a new chapter with fresh energy, a vibrant identity, and an ambition to reach many more people with more services. Since the appointment of its first CEO last year, the charity has undergone a revitalisation aimed at better meeting the needs of older people, primarily in the East of Newcastle upon Tyne.
We are now looking to recruit for the newly created post of Head of Operations, to manage all aspects of our projects and services, including our community launderette. They will also support and deputise for the CEO, where required.
Our new Head of Operations will be energetic, experienced in managing budgets, services, staff, and volunteers. Shine On is a small charity, so they will be flexible and willing to ‘pitch in’ where needed.
Please read the job description and person specification carefully, which also outlines how to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Finance & Operations Manager
Barnwood is not your typical funder. We drive change so that disabled people and people with mental health conditions have choice of opportunities, access their rights, and are included where they live. We bring people together for a different conversation and explore big ideas. Through learning and collaboration, we influence the change that’s needed. By partnering with local organisations and looking for better ways to fund, Barnwood makes a difference in Gloucestershire.
As part of this work, our Finance & Operations Team engages with a wide range of people to support the Trust’s vision for Gloucestershire, and our Finance & Operations Manager is integral to this.
We are looking for a Finance & Operations Manager to provide effective financial management, accurate financial reporting and oversee the facilities management of the Trust’s offices. The Finance & Operations Manager will manage a team of 2 and be part of the Trust’s People Manager Team.
We want to diversify our team to better reflect the work and communities we support – this means we would particularly welcome applications from people who:
· are from Black, Asian and minoritised backgrounds.
· have lived experience of disability and/or mental health challenges.
Contract terms:
· This role is permanent, and we welcome applications from people looking for full time hours (37.5hrs per week), we will also consider for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
· We offer a flexible start between 8:00 am and 9:30am Monday to Friday.
· Salary £44,239 p/a FTE
· 36 days holiday inc. bank holidays (FTE)
· This position is based in our office in central Cheltenham with occasional opportunities for home working.
Summary of key duties:
Financial Management and Reporting
· Develop, implement and operate monitoring systems for financial forecasting and re-forecasting to support sound decision making.
· Lead on and co-ordinate the annual budgeting and planning process ensuring that information is collected, compiled and reported in a timely manner to the Leadership Team for review and recommendation to the Finance & Audit Committee.
· Produce quarterly and annual internal finance report and management accounts for reporting to the Leadership Team and Finance & Audit Committee, which summarise budget trends, analyse and report variance.
· Ensure compliance with all financial regulations, through liaisons with the Trust’s external auditors for preparing of the SORP financial statements.
Policy and Procedures
· Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of effective procurement policies, procedures and systems ensuring best value is achieved across all activities.
· Lead on the annual insurance renewal process, ensuring appropriate cover is in place and general administration of the Trust’s insurance policies is enacted.
Payroll
· Maintain payroll processing system and run the monthly payroll.
Facilities Management
· Support the development of a 5 year planned preventative maintenance plan for the Trust’s premises, to support budget and resource planning.
· Oversee the management of the Trust’s premises ensuring contracts are in place and appropriately managed to ensure the smooth running and maintenance of the building and that all health and safety requirements are met.
Line management responsibilities
· Provide line management to the Finance Co-ordinator and Workplace & Facilities Manager, enacting the Trust’s management processes to ensure that all employees are motivated, supported and enabled to give of their best.
· Contribute to Trust-wide people management policies, procedures and team culture as a member of the People Manger Team.
Essential Knowledge and Experience
· Qualified ACA, ACCA, CIMA or experience to this level (E).
· Practical knowledge and understanding of management accounting principles and techniques.
· In-depth knowledge of budgeting and financial forecasting and preparation of financial reports for senior management and compliance purposes.
· Line management experience to foster a productive and supportive team environment.
Summary of skills
· Strong numerical and analytical skills to effectively analyse financial reports.
· Proactive problem-solver, demonstrating high levels of initiative, organisation and flexibility.
· Ability to work meticulously and methodically, demonstrating attention to detail.
· Strong IT skills (demonstrable proficiency in using MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Sage 50 Accounts) and the ability to use technology to achieve work plans and objectives.
For full details please see our application pack.
Benefits:
· 36 days annual leave including bank holidays. (FTE)
· Life Assurance (3 x Salary)
· Work within an organisation that is committed to improving equality and diversity.
· Competitive salaries and fantastic pension contribution rates.
· Excellent personal development plan and extensive training which includes a commitment to training employees to be confident when working with people with a wide variety of impairments, disabilities, and mental health challenges.
· Friendly and collaborative working culture; everyone’s voice is heard.
· We have a range of supportive wellbeing policies and almost a quarter of our employees, are qualified mental health first aiders with Mental Health England.
· Our offices in central Cheltenham are wheelchair accessible, have free accessible parking on site and great facilities.
· Assistance dogs are welcome.
Guidance On Applications:
Click on Apply Now to be taken to the Barnwood Trust website where you need to apply for this role via our online application form.
You will also find a detailed application pack which gives a full and detailed job description and person specification as well as guidance on how to make an online application and what you should include within it.
Should you have any questions or require any of the information in a different format please email the recruitment team directly at recruitment@barnwoodtrust. org
We want our application process to be right for you as an individual, so if there’s anything you think we can do to make this process more straightforward for you please email recruitment@barnwoodtrust. org directly to discuss what support we might be able to provide. Our career page on our website has some examples of things we may be able to put in place for people who request extra support.
Deadline for applications: 17:00 on Wednesday 2nd July 2025
First interviews: Monday 14th July and Wednesday 16th July 2025 in the mornings
Second stage interviews: Monday 21st July 2025
We would like the successful candidate to start as soon as possible.
Barnwood acts as an agent of social change, working alongside disabled people and people with mental health conditions to create that change.





The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title: Essex Food Strategy Manager
Salary: £41,383
Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Essex and Hybrid pattern to be agreed
Hours of Work: 36.5 hours, Monday to Friday
Contract: Fixed term 2 years, extension dependent on funding
Closing Date: EOP Monday 9th of June First Round Close
The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working with communities to identify, mitigate and remove barriers that prevent them from living active and connected lives.
Our vision is for a society where people have the autonomy, capacity, resources, and skills to become the architects of their own destiny; where our individual wellbeing is recognised as being bound up in our collective responsibility to and dependency on each other; and where all of us feel empowered as agents of social change to make a difference – whether at an individual level or more widely.
About the role:
This a strategic post that leads on delivery of the Essex Public Health ambitions for the Essex Affordable Food Network, (made up of social or community supermarkets and other affordable food initiatives in Essex). The role will maximise the opportunities for impact, sustainability and investment.
The post holder will work collaboratively across the system in Essex, liaising with local partners and organisations within the food system, ensuring long term positive transformation and system change to ensure that communities in need have access to healthy and affordable food.
You may like to watch this introductory video which showcases the positive work of The Active Wellbeing Society: TAWS Launch October 2018 - YouTube
Below is a reflective of what you'll be responsible for:
- Strategy and policy: Ensure that the Food Strategy links to the Public Health Investment programme and the individual component parts, to ensure benefits are maximised for those in most need and especially in relation to healthy, affordable food.
- Impact & Sustainability Focus: Evaluate initiatives for impact, scalability, and sustainability, ensuring legacy and longevity are built into programme design for the food system across Essex.
- Systems Leadership: Shape and grow the Strategic Affordable Food Network for Essex, working with the Affordable Food Network Coordinator and across systems to connect partners, influence policy, and drive cultural change (e.g., peer-to-peer collaboration).
- Public-Facing Representation: Lead high-profile communications, including network events, launch events, and LinkedIn presence, ensuring alignment with the programme’s tone and strategic messaging.
- Influential Communication: Articulate the programme’s impact, vision, and strategic benefits clearly to a diverse range of audiences, including commissioners, stakeholders, regional groups, and national funders.
- Chairing and Servicing Meetings: Lead and service strategic working groups (e.g. Affordable Food Management Group) with clarity and direction, ensuring all voices are heard and actions are driven forward.
- Impact and evaluation: Capture impact and learnings through quantitative and qualitative data, share and report on progress to the Network and stakeholders such as the Affordable Food Management Group and Commissioners.
- Reporting & Storytelling: Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and funding applications that tell compelling stories grounded in evidence, outcomes, and learning. Bring people with you on the journey and create followers and key supporters.
- Budget Management: Financial accountability and management of payments.
Knowledge Skills and Experience:
All criteria are essential, and your application will be assessed on all points detailed below.
- Expert advisor: Knowledge and experience of creating and supporting affordable food schemes, food surplus work, and what healthy food options on a budget look like in reality.
- Partnership and system support: Clear skills in and experience of working in partnership on shared strategic goals.
- Leadership Agility: Able to balance strategic foresight with operational agility — able to pivot and respond swiftly without losing sight of long-term aims.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Able to build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with internal teams, partners, funders, and community networks, acting as a key liaison and ambassador.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Analytical skills: Able to develop a strong evidence base for decision-making and funding cases; translate data and learning into strategy and forward movement.
- Driving licence
Benefits:
We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:
- Annual Leave – 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays.
- Flexible working, home working and remote working options available
- Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
- Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
- Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
- Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.
Application Details:
Please submit a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the competencies required for the Food Strategy Manager, ensure your application includes detailed responses to each of the questions outlined below:
- Expert advisor: Knowledge and experience of creating and supporting affordable food schemes, food surplus work, and what healthy food options on a budget look like in reality.
- Leadership Agility: Able to balance strategic foresight with operational agility — able to pivot and respond swiftly without losing sight of long-term aims.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Able to build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with internal teams, partners, funders, and community networks, acting as a key liaison and ambassador.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Analytical skills: Able to develop a strong evidence base for decision-making and funding cases; translate data and learning into strategy and forward movement.