Statutory and trusts fundraising manager jobs

Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chair; Board of Directors 
Location: Hackney
Salary: £50,000-60,000 depending on experience.
Pension: HSoF participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, free onsite lunches .
Probation period: Six months.

About Hackney School of Food

Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub based in the grounds of Mandeville Primary School in Clapton, East London. Through our teaching kitchen and educational garden, we help children, families and communities build the skills, confidence and knowledge to grow, cook and eat good food.

Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 visits to our kitchen and garden, delivering curriculum programmes for schools alongside community cooking courses, gardening projects, holiday clubs, corporate volunteering and public events. Since becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2023, we have expanded our facilities, strengthened our governance and built a strong reputation as a leader in food education.

We're now looking for an exceptional Managing Director to build on these strong foundations and lead Hackney School of Food through its next phase of growth and impact.

About the role

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director (MD) will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation delivers its mission while remaining financially resilient, well-governed and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

The Managing Director is responsible for all aspects of the organisation, including strategy, income generation, finance, governance, partnerships, programme delivery and people leadership. Working closely with a small, committed team and an engaged Board, they will build on strong foundations to grow Hackney School of Food's impact, reach and long-term sustainability.

This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery. One day you may be developing a new partnership, meeting a prospective funder or working with the Board on future strategy; the next you could be supporting the team, welcoming visitors to the garden or solving day-to-day operational challenges.

Key priorities

In your first 12 months you will:

• Build on Hackney School of Food's strong foundations to deliver the next phase of our strategy and growth.

• Increase and diversify income through fundraising, partnerships and commercial opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.

• Lead, support and develop a small, ambitious team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive.

• Strengthen relationships with funders, partners and local businesses, helping Hackney School of Food deepen its impact.

• Work closely with the Board to embed strong governance, organisational systems and long-term planning for the future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Hackney School of Food, ensuring delivery of its mission, vision and long-term objectives. 

• Lead the development and implementation of Hackney School of Food's annual business plan and organisational priorities.

• Work with the Board to evolve organisational strategy, identify opportunities, manage risks and support sustainable growth.

• Monitor, report on and respond to organisational performance against agreed objectives and impact measures. 

• Champion Hackney School of Food externally, strengthening its profile and influence.
   

Financial sustainability and income generation 

• Oversee organisational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and cashflow management, working closely with the Treasurer and accountant.

• Lead income generation across the organisation, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorship and earned income.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, sponsors and strategic partners.

• Ensure all funding commitments are met, including grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.

• Identify new opportunities to diversify income and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Act as the main point of contact for HSoF’s key partners, LEAP Federation and Chefs in Schools to ensure the partnerships are effective and positive.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders, including local authorities, funders and sponsors.

• Represent Hackney School of Food at meetings, events, and public forums.

• Champion the value of food education and contribute to wider local and national conversations. 

• Ensure programmes remain responsive to community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation. 

Governance and public benefit 

• Ensure the organisation operates in line with its CIC objectives and delivers clear public benefit. 

• Support the Board of Directors to fulfil its governance responsibilities through high-quality reporting, planning and decision-making.

• Prepare Board papers, reports and agendas, ensuring timely and accurate information is available to support effective governance.

• Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Directors quarterly.

• Act as the primary link between the Board and the operational team.

• Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks. 

• Support the Board in meeting all statutory and regulatory obligations relating to the CIC.

People, Culture and safeguarding

• Provide leadership to a small core team (currently c.4 employees), directly managing staff and fostering a positive, inclusive culture. 

• Provide oversight and support for a wider network of approx. 15 freelance contractors to ensure consistently high-quality delivery.

• Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development in line with safer recruitment and equality principles. 

• Ensure effective organisational structures, clear roles, and performance accountability.

• Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding safeguarding throughout the organisation maintaining compliance with all relevant requirements. 

• Develop organisational systems, policies and practices that support an inclusive, high-performing workplace.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.

• Oversee organisational policies, procedures and continuous improvement, ensuring policies and legal requirements are up to date, clearly communicated and embedded across the organisation. 

• Ensure compliance with employment law, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and other relevant legislation. 

Personal specification

Essential experience 

• Senior leadership experience with responsibility for organisational performance and accountability. 

• Experience securing income through fundraising, partnerships and/or commercial activity.

• Experience of financial leadership, including budget setting, forecasting and cashflow oversight.

• Experience working closely with a Board, Trustees or governing body to translate strategic vision into operational delivery. 

• Experience building and managing successful partnerships with funders, businesses and community stakeholders. 

• Experience in managing and motivating a team, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture. 

• Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.

• Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth or community context.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, make sound decisions and remain resilient in a resource-constrained environment.

Essential skills and attributes

• Passion for Hackney School of Food's mission and the role of food education in improving health, wellbeing and community connection. 

• Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable with hands-on operational leadership. 

• Entrepreneurial, resourceful and committed to building long-term financial sustainability and identifying growth opportunities.

• Ability to lead a team through change with sensitivity, clarity and kindness.

• Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills. 

• Confident decision-maker with a high level of personal accountability. 

• Committed to equity, inclusion and community-led practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within a Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or charity.

• Knowledge of Hackney, its communities and local stakeholder landscape.

• Experience of working in food education, community food, gardening, environmental education or a related field.

• Experience reviewing and managing contracts, service agreements or other legal documentation.

An inclusive workplace

We know that diverse teams make stronger organisations and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We particularly encourage applications from people who are under-represented in our sector and in leadership roles, including people from the global majority and those whose lived experience brings valuable perspectives from the communities we serve. We also welcome applications from people who live in Hackney or East London.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is Monday 20 July at 9am. Please apply by filling out this application form.

You'll find the link to the application form on our Recruitment Pack which provides more information. 

Stage 1: A one-hour online interview with the Senior Team and Board (24 July) 

Stage 2: On-site interview at Hackney School of Food (30 July), including a short presentation. 

We may also invite the preferred candidate to an informal meeting with the wider team and Board before making a final appointment. 

The successful applicant will need to pass an enhanced DBS check and provide two suitable references. 

We may close the application window earlier if we are inundated with applications, so please don't wait to apply.

If you have any questions about the role or your suitability, please feel free to get in touch with us. You will find a Recruitment pack and email address to contact via our website.

Our client is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to appoint a Head of Finance on a permanent basis. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity within an ambitious, internationally focused charity at an exciting stage of growth.

This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, mission-driven organisation at a transformative stage in its journey. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with Trustees, Board Members and senior stakeholders, the Head of Finance will play a central role in shaping financial strategy, strengthening operational maturity and supporting ambitious international growth plans.

The role

• Lead the development of the organisation's long-term financial strategy, supporting its next phase of growth and international expansion.
• Partner closely with the Chief Executive, Trustees, Board Members and leadership team, providing strategic financial insight to support organisational decision-making, programme investment and fundraising activity.
• Oversee all aspects of financial management across multiple international entities, ensuring robust financial controls, governance and compliance frameworks are in place.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and scenario modelling processes, supporting both operational delivery and long-term strategic planning.
• Build strong relationships across fundraising, research and programme teams, supporting complex grant funding, restricted income management and commercial partnership activity.
• Oversee the production of monthly management accounts, statutory reporting, audit processes and regulatory submissions across multiple entities.
• Drive improvements in financial systems, reporting processes and operational efficiency as the organisation continues to scale.
• Provide leadership and development support to a small finance team, helping to build capability within the function.
• Act as a trusted advisor across the organisation, balancing hands-on operational delivery with strategic leadership.
• Represent finance confidently at Board and leadership level, communicating complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

The organisation

Our client exists to deliver meaningful impact through innovation, collaboration and investment in research. It brings together experts, funders and partners from across the sector to challenge conventional thinking and accelerate progress towards its ambitious mission.

With income, activity and organisational complexity expected to grow significantly over the coming years, the charity is entering an exciting new phase of development. It combines the pace and agility of a scaling organisation with the credibility and influence of an internationally recognised charity.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative leadership team committed to building an organisation capable of delivering lasting impact. Alongside the opportunity to play a pivotal role within a purpose-driven organisation, the role offers flexible hybrid working, genuine work-life balance, professional development opportunities, private medical insurance, life insurance, pension contributions and generous annual leave.

Essential criteria

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Strong experience in a senior finance leadership role within the charity sector.
• Proven experience managing financial operations, reporting, budgeting and forecasting within a growing organisation.
• Experience operating across complex stakeholder environments, with the confidence to influence and challenge senior leaders and Boards.
• Strong understanding of financial governance, controls, compliance and risk management.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into meaningful insight.
• Hands-on and adaptable approach, comfortable operating strategically while remaining close to operational detail.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with high levels of emotional intelligence and credibility.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving organisation.
• Experience working across multiple entities, funding streams or international operations would be highly advantageous.

If you are a strategic and hands-on finance leader looking to play a meaningful role within a high-growth charitable organisation, we would love to hear from you.

This role is based in London with an expectation of two days per week in the office.

At Latin American House (LAH), sound finances underpin everything we do, from free advice services for migrants navigating complex systems, to community-led cultural activities open to everyone. Our space hire, Saturday School, and other self-generated income, alongside donations, are what make it all possible, directly sustaining support for the people who need it most.

About us

LAH is a community-led charity driven by and for Latin Americans in the UK. For decades, we have been supporting Latin American and other Spanish and Portuguese-speaking migrants, championing their rights, wellbeing, and inclusion. We are a small, close-knit team with big ambitions, and everything we do is rooted in the lived experiences of the communities we serve. Our work takes place across London and at our community centre in Kilburn, North West London.

About the role

This is a part-time, permanent role (14 hours per week) that sits at the heart of LAH's operations and administration. As our Bookkeeper, you will ensure our financial records are accurate, our compliance obligations are met, and our senior team has the reliable information they need to make good decisions.

Day to day, you will process invoices and payments, reconcile bank accounts, prepare records for our annual audit, manage our income tracking across all programmes, and support payroll administration, all using Xero. You will report directly to the Director and work closely with the wider team.

This is not a back-office role at a distance from our mission. You will be on-site with us, part of the team, and your work will be visible and valued.

What we are looking for

You will bring at least two years of bookkeeping experience, ideally in the voluntary sector, alongside a relevant accounting qualification (IAB, AAT or equivalent). You will be confident with accounting software (we use Xero), have a strong eye for detail, and be able to work independently while being a genuine team player.

Just as importantly, you will have an understanding of and commitment to the communities we serve, and you will bring that commitment to everything you do.

We are particularly encouraging applications from people with lived experience of migration, and welcome applications from racialised, disabled, working class and LGBTQ+ backgrounds.