Senior Management Jobs in South East

England’s National Parks represent our finest landscapes, famed for their spectacular beauty, varied wildlife and rich cultural heritage. National Parks are critical to supporting local communities, providing access to green spaces for the nation, and helping to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and declining biodiversity.

National Parks England’s purpose is to be the collective voice for English National Park Authorities, helping us to achieve our purposes through influencing policy.

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will be an experienced public affairs professional with a passion for nature and understanding of National Parks. 

The successful applicant will join our senior management team, managing the Policy and Public Affairs team and work with the Executive Director  to help develop and drive the NPE policy and public affairs strategy, working closely with stakeholders in our member National Parks and the wider Protected Landscapes family.

Do you have experience and knowledge of audit and quality improvement approaches? Are you passionate about enabling people to live their best lives? If so, please keep reading because we want to hear from you.

We are bold and ambitious and really want you to come and join us to help us achieve our vision where the UK is the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We are recruiting for a Head of Audit and Improvement job share partner to work up to 26 hours per week alongside our existing Head of Audit and Improvement. We can be flexible on days worked and this can be discussed at interview. This role will be mainly working from home with some occasional travel when required. 

In this role you will:

• Lead quality performance, supporting, advising and proactively identifying risk and areas for improvement in each Operational area including adult social care and educational programmes
• Provide oversight for quality frameworks and methodology ensuring currency according to social care or legislative changes.
• Lead a team to ensure the programme of improvement and quality assurance activities are delivered and performance expectations are met.
• Ensure accurate and meaningful information on aspects of quality performance is collated and analysed, to provide assurance and intelligence to help inform decision-making.
• Be an active and supportive member of the Senior leadership team, advising on issues relating to quality
• Design, implement and embed an audit and improvement programme across operational services
• Deputise on occasion for the Executive Director of Quality and Impact

We are looking for someone who:

• has experience of working in a similar role, ideally within Health and Social Care
• is a great communicator and influencer and enjoys working with all stakeholders up to and including exec level
• is knowledgeable of our regulatory environment
• has extensive knowledge of quality frameworks, methodology and tools
• has line management experience with the ability to coach and mentor colleagues 

If you’re ready to make a difference, please get in touch today by providing an up-to-date bespoke CV that demonstrates all your relevant skills and experience. 

At Mencap, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we intentionally plan for the success of our colleagues in everything we do. We welcome applications from everyone, so come as you are and join us. Together we are Mencap!

Interviews will take place via TEAMS on the 21st May and will include a second stage for those that are successful following the initial interview on 24th May.

*While we are committed to encouraging flexible working patterns, in some cases, it may not be possible for us to accommodate a request.

Benefits

As well as knowing that what we do is making a positive difference to people’s lives, you will receive fair pay and have access to a wide range of rewards and benefits as one of our employees.

• 24 days holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with long service plus the ability to buy up to another 10 days via our HolidayPlus scheme
• Service related sick pay when 6 month probation is completed
• Eligibility to join Mencap Pension Plan where Mencap matches contributions up to 5% on a salary sacrifice basis meaning NI savings. If you don’t join the Plan you start, you will be auto-enrolled after three months with us.
• Membership of Mencap Pension Plan to include up to 3 times salary death in service live cover AND Income Protection of 50% salary to be triggered at 26 weeks of long term sickness
• Loans for debt consolidation, bikes, computers and phones when you have been with us for 6 months
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from 3% to 30% at high street shops including major super markets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via Mencap Extras
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc.
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Quarterly award scheme and recognition at every 5 years through our YouRock program
• Access to award winning training and development

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Mencap

We work in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all our services support people to live life as they choose. Everyone wants a purposeful job - to do something meaningful. At Mencap, we can give you that. You will have opportunities to develop as a person, colleague, leader and activist. We want to make you feel inspired to reach your potential.

Our work includes;

• providing high-quality, flexible services that allow people to live as independently as possible in a place they choose
• providing advice through our help lines and web sites

We are delighted to be recruiting a Programmes & Partnerships Manager to manage and deliver our specialist services, as part of our vibrant team.  

With the launch of our new three-year strategy and a rebrand on the horizon, this is an incredibly exciting time to join us, and an opportunity to join the senior leadership team at a small but mighty organisation, where you will really see the impact of your work. 

This role would be ideal for someone who is:

• Passionate about supporting survivors of sexual violence and able to stand up for people who have experienced sexual harm 
• Visible and approachable 
• Values led, with the ability to embed those values across the organisation and our services 
• An expert in great service delivery, with local knowledge of service delivery across Oxfordshire 
• An excellent networker with a drive to ensure our charity is well-known and represented across the county 
• Resilient, with superb people management skills 
• A great listener 
• An understanding of the barriers some people might face in accessing our services and a drive to change this for the better, whenever possible 
• Confident, responsible and calm under pressure 

We know this is a lot to ask, and it’s more important to us that you are the right fit for the charity and the role than ticking all the boxes, so please do apply if you think you might be a good fit for this role. 

In return we offer: 

• Truly flexible working in a supportive, feminist environment, including up to ten days of emergency leave for those with caring responsibilities 
• A healthcare plan which provides cashback for dental care, physiotherapy, optical care and access to a 24 hour doctor 
• Regular counselling and mental health support, with access to our Employee Assistance Programme 
• An individual wellbeing plan to help fit your wellbeing needs in around work 
• 5% employer contributions to your pension and incremental pay rises
• A cycle to work scheme 

It’s important to us that our OSARCC teams include women from across the diverse Oxford communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications for this role from Black and racially minoritized women, Disabled women, LGBTQI+ women, and others whose intersecting experiences reflect those of the sexual violence and abuse survivors we work with. 

This post is open to women only and is exempt under Schedule 9, part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

The closing date for applications is: 9am on Monday 13th May 2024. Interviews will be held the week commencing: 20th May 2024 

At Make Votes Matter (MVM), our mission is to achieve real democracy via the necessary step of equal votes.

We lead the movement to introduce Proportional Representation (PR) to the House of Commons. We combine the power of people taking action from the grassroots up, with coordinated activity by a cross-party Alliance of politicians, public figures, parties and organisations to win PR in years, rather than decades.

About the role

As CEO, you'll support us through a new stage in our development. We're operating in a fluid political environment and so our new leader needs to be confident to work in a political setting while also having the skills and experience to run an organisation like ours.

You'll take ultimate responsibility for our campaign to achieve Proportional Representation in the House of Commons. You will:

• as leader of the campaign, be primarily responsible for building the popular and political momentum needed to secure this seismic reform;
• as leader of the organisation, be primarily responsible for defining and executing MVM’s strategy, while ensuring its good financial health and legal and regulatory compliance; and
• as leader to our staff and volunteer team, be primarily responsible for providing clarity of direction while ensuring the organisation maintains a collaborative, empowering and inspiring culture.

You will:

• lead the UK campaign for Proportional Representation;
• ensure MVM has a clear external brand, with consistent messages, effective and emotive arguments, and impactful use of evidence;
• be a spokesperson for the organisation on a variety of public platforms including national media and at key MVM events;
• create and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders;
• lead on development of MVM's post-election strategic plan;
• line manage and delegate responsibilities to staff, as appropriate;
• take ultimate responsibility for the good governance of MVM, including but not limited to the organisation’s financial health, legal compliance, and good standing with regulatory bodies;
• with support of relevant MVM staff, to ensure that the Board is supported in performing its governance role;
• support and comply with MVM’s policies active within the organisation pertinent to the role; and
• undertake other related duties as required to assist MVM in meeting its objectives.

About you

This job is for you if:

• you have a track-record as a successful leader in an organisation of comparable size, or equivalent managerial or director experience;
• you have political or campaigning experience, an understanding of the UK’s democracy sector and an ability to work in a non-partisan, cross-party way;
• you have experience of being a spokesperson on public platforms;
• you have a collaborative approach to team management and facilitating empowerment of staff;
• you have prior experience of good governance practices, financial planning and managing an operation to tight budgets;
• you are an experienced leader of people, able to ensure coherent and aligned activities across staff, governance and volunteer teams that support the overall objectives and enable high impact campaigns to be realised;
• you have excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to convey a message with impact and inspire trust; being comfortable communicating with senior stakeholders, volunteers, staff and funders;
• you are a high achiever with an ambitious mindset; and
• you have a strong personal commitment to winning Proportional Representation.

Internews seeks an experienced Project Director for a four-year European Commission (EC)-funded project to advance the global response to increasing the resilience of at-risk independent media. The Project Director will lead and manage a consortium of four international NGO and academic implementing partners, overseeing and coordinating the design and implementation of a diverse portfolio of activities in multiple countries worldwide, as well as project monitoring and evaluation and a robust learning agenda. Strong skills in project financial management and communications are required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

· Lead the Inception Phase of the project, working closely with consortium members, the EC, and other awardees to finalize target country selection, select research initiatives, draft the project workplan and monitoring and evaluation plan, and determine country-based activities.

· Serve as Internews’ primary point of contact with the European Commission, establishing and managing strong partnerships and dialogue with EC representatives in Brussels as well as country-level delegations.

· Effectively manage the project consortium, ensuring transparent communication processes and protocols.

· Pro-actively coordinate activity design and management with Internews Regional and Thematic Directors who manage Internews programming in key geographic regions and technical areas.

· Provide strategic, operational and representational assistance to ensure that activities are meeting their goals and targets, recommending program adjustments when necessary to keep the project on track;

· Regularly travel to London and Brussels, as well as target countries, for project and donor management purposes;

· Cultivate and strengthen relationships with local partner organizations and ensure that implementation is responsive to the needs of partners and beneficiaries;

· Track and report project progress and activities monthly against work plans;

· Oversee program monitoring and evaluation to ensure effective implementation and to measure activity impact;

· Working with the Monitoring and Evaluations specialist and team, ensure a robust learning agenda and deliver a learning symposium at project’s end with the consortium and EC.

· Maintain a thorough knowledge of key issues affecting independent media (print, broadcast, digital), and a general understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing independent media globally;

· Ensure the project is in compliance with all grant and cooperative agreement rules, requirements and regulations as well as with Internews internal policies and procedures;

· Serve as the primary budget authority over the project, responsible for ensuring all costs charged to the project are allowable, reasonable and correctly allocated;

· Accept fiduciary responsibility for all funds advanced for the purpose of the project;

· Understanding of and demonstrated commitment to upholding Internews’ Core Values.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage and oversee all project staff.Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

· At least 10 years of experience in media and program development, including senior-level management of personnel and financial administration;

· Donor grant management experience with EU funding and wider donor experience is essential;

· Professional experience in the media sector is an asset; experience managing assistance programs supporting media and/or civil society required.

· Experience as a manager or trainer with professional capacity-building programs for journalists and media outlets an asset.

· Demonstrated knowledge and experience in some or all of the following areas:traditional, digital, and social media; media and internet law and policy; information disorders/ disinformation; and/or sustainability models for media;

· Excellent soft skills, including diplomacy, interpersonal and communication skills, with a problem-solving attitude and as a self-starter who works both independently and as a collaborative team player;

· Willingness to travel regularly to London and Brussels, as well as target country visits;

· Additional language skills are a plus;

· University degree or equivalent experience.

Vacancy Timeframe: 

Deadline for applications: 09 May 2024

Candidates must submit a succinct cover letter of no more than 2 pages explaining how they satisfy the requirements of the role, and a CV highlighting relevant experience. Successful candidate will also be asked to provide three professional referees, one of whom must be from their most recent employer. 

The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of their position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position. 

This position will be located in the United Kingdom and therefore a successful applicant must both be present in the UK for the duration of the assignment and be able to demonstrate their Right to Work in the UK in order to commence employment.

Kent Refugee Action Network are looking for an exceptional individual to join KRAN’s senior management and be the full-time lead on advocacy and support, managing a team to deliver effectively for our service users.

Role Summary

You will lead KRAN’s strategic direction and delivery of a variety of advocacy and support services, ensuring safe and effective operation through your Advocacy and Support Team.

The team offers a range of services and interventions to support and empower young refugees and asylum seekers. Services include casework, mentoring partnerships, volunteer support, wellbeing activities, Youth Ambassadors and engagement. A central goal is to amplify the voice of young people with lived experiences.

As a member of KRAN’s senior management team, you will work with service users and the wider team to help shape the overall direction of KRAN, attuned to the evolving needs of young people and sector developments, while deputising for the CEO as necessary.

The deadline for applications is 5pm, Monday 27 May 2024.

First Give was founded in 2014 to inspire, equip and motivate young people to make a difference to the causes they care about. As we approach our second decade, it is an exciting time to join the charity. Our vision is of a more generous society where all people are willing and able to give their time, money and skills to causes that they care about. 

We are currently developing a new strategy which by which we aim to have reached a million young people by 2034. We intend to do this by developing new programmes and activities that will support us to achieve our mission: to create opportunities for young people to be inspired and empowered to give their time, money or skills to charities and causes that matter to them. Our existing programmes are delivered in partnership with schools across England and Wales, ensuring that as many young people as possible, regardless of their background have the opportunity to take part. 

As second most senior leader in the charity, the Deputy Director will provide leadership to the First Give team and support the Board of Trustees and Director with strategy and governance. 

The Deputy Director will play an integral role in the development of the charity as we move into our second decade. They will spearhead our fundraising, communications and marketing to ensure the charity has the capacity to deliver against our strategic goals. 

Our values at First Give inform who we are and what we do. We are:

• Altruistic 

• Inspiring 

• Empowering 

• Collaborative 

• Professional 

Location

Remote/hybrid. We welcome applications from across England and Wales, however desk space is available at our London office in West Hampstead should the successful candidate be based in London.

Regular travel to London (approximately once a month) and occasional travel across England and Wales will be required. 

Reporting to:

Director 

Direct Reports:

Administrator 

Key responsibilities 

Organisational Leadership and line management 

• Deputise for the Director when necessary 

• Provide leadership and positive role modelling to the First Give team 

• Support organisation-wide improvements and innovation, including strategic planning and organisational structure 

• Develop connections and networks that increase the profile and opportunities for the charity 

• Work with the Director and Head of Programmes to create opportunities for young people to influence and engage with our work and impact 

• Line management of our Administrator 

Fundraising 

• Work with the Director and consultants to own and implement a robust fundraising strategy to support the organisation as it executes its new strategic plan 

• Develop processes for managing fundraising applications and stewardship of existing funders and supporters 

• Write and submit high quality, inspiring and tailored funding applications and reports for trusts and foundations (expected to be in the region of £10,000-150,000) 

• Identify and develop potential new funding opportunities for First Give, including major donors and corporate funders 

• Manage relationships with a set number of key funders, ensuring that we proactively seek feedback, engagement and involvement in our work 

New School Partner Recruitment 

• Oversee and co-ordinate all new school partner recruitment sales and marketing activity 

• Work with our marketing agency to develop and implement marketing campaigns 

• Support the Programmes Team to recruit new partner schools in priority regions 

• Proactively seek opportunities for growth of the First Give partners network 

• Develop and design and production of marketing and sales resources to support all sales activity 

• You may also be required to deliver sales meetings with networks including Headteacher meetings and attend conferences to promote the work of the charity 

Communications 

• Lead the development and manage the delivery of our communications strategy, including all messaging to key stakeholders via a range of appropriate channels, including newsletters, social media and our website 

• Be responsible for the First Give website, ensuring it is up to date, relevant and meets the needs of the organisation 

• Brand champion, ensuring that all external communications and resources are aligned with our brand identity and tone of voice 

• Management of retainer with external design agency 

The job description gives an outline of key duties and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The post holder may be asked to take on other relevant responsibilities as reasonably requested by their line manager. 

Safer recruitment 

Safer recruitment and safeguarding is of paramount importance to us, as an organisation that works with and for young people. The successful candidate will be made a conditional offer subject to two references (one of which must be your most recent employer) and any offer of employment will be subject to a DBS check. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Passionate about young people and their potential to drive social change 

• Leadership experience, ideally in a charity of similar complexity and scale 

• Ability to triage between the strategic and operational with ease and confidence 

• Demonstrable success as a fundraiser, particularly bid-writing, reporting and funder stewardship 

• Experience of developing and implementing a communications strategy 

• Experience of creating a range of content for different audiences and channels including marketing materials, newsletters, blogs, social media content etc… 

• Experience developing and implementing successful sales and marketing strategies, preferably in the education sector 

• Experience of writing and managing budgets, delivering plans using resources available 

• Track record of stakeholder management at senior levels 

• Experience of working in or with teachers and schools 

• Excellent presentation skills, with an ability to deliver concise, engaging and persuasive presentations 

Desirable 

• Experience leading the development, implementation and evaluation of marketing activity and campaigns 

• Experience of remote line management 

• Experience of working in a remote, decentralised team 

• Experience of using Salesforce 

Why work for First Give? 

First Give provides many benefits and prides itself on how it treats its staff. Our benefits include: 

• Three additional days between Christmas and New Year given to staff gratis. An additional day off for your birthday in addition to your annual leave allowance. Annual leave allowance increases year on year after 3 years with First Give. 

• Access to Health Assured (health and wellbeing) Employee Assistance Programme. 

• As you will use your personal mobile for work, First Give provides a phone allowance to contribute towards your mobile costs. 

• Training and professional development budget, with regular training offered through the Pears Foundation. 

• Laptops are provided on a ‘paid for through service’ arrangement and become the employees after three years of service. 

• Multiple team socials and volunteering days throughout the year. 

The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we. We want to ensure that we are recruiting, retaining and promoting a diverse mix of colleagues. We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented on our executive team, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates. 

Application process 

Please fill out the Microsoft form by clicking the Apply Now button which includes a statement of how you fulfil the specification above, and why you want this role at First Give. Please also fill out our equality & diversity monitoring form (this will not be linked to your application). 

• Application closes: Thursday 2nd May, 12pm 

• Interviews: Tuesday 7th May 

• Start date: ASAP 

Chief Executive Officer, Remote, 35 hrs Salary £90,097

GFS is a feminist organisation with a mission to empower girls and young women in England and Wales to live their best lives. Girls as young as 6 tell us that they cannot be themselves. This causes problems for them and society. So, we offer an early intervention service for girls living in areas of deprivation to have the greatest impact.

This is an exciting role with an opportunity to lead the charity into the 150th Year of delivery and with a new strategy to address need. It will involve working with the leadership team and all departments but also the board and their support committees, the ambassadors, and presidents as well as the wonderful team of volunteers across England and Wales.

A great deal has been done to prepare the organisation for such an important time and so now there is a real opportunity for this role to lead in being a figurehead for the charity and representing all that is achieved at GFS in national events and discussions, to best represent the girls of today.

Our new strategy is built around pillars of Impact, Brand and Sustainability with an ambition to grow in delivery as well as reputation. GFS is aware that the work done to listen to and amplify girls’ voices is important because they have so much to say about what needs to change and from a very young age. This role will be key to making this happen.

Equity, Diversity and inclusion is of strategic importance to GFS. We encourage applications from ethnically and racially minoritised, disabled and from LGBTQ+ people to build our best staff and volunteer teams and reflect the girls we serve.

This post is subject to a criminal record check with the Disclosure and Barring Service

Download the application pack and complete the application form in WORD and return by the closing date Friday 17th May.  

The Director of Operations will work as part of the management team to develop and implement the organisation’s strategy and operational plans and to build the longer term sustainability of the organisation. They will be required to deputise for the Chief Officer in their absence and assist in the overall management of the organisation. As part of the management team the role demands a high level of flexibility, initiative and commitment. The role also involves working with the Chief Officer to design and improve our monitoring, evaluation and learning across the organisation in line with our new strategy.

The Director of Operations will have lead responsibility for overseeing the day to day operations and coordinating external partnerships and relationships. Operational oversight includes the two core pillars of work:-

1. Streams of Sanctuary programmes and awards (by streams we mean mainstream sector e.g. schools)
2. Coordination and development of network of refugee supporting groups

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please complete the form on their ewbsite to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

For further information please see the job description and person specification.

Closing date – Monday 6th May at midday (we will be unable to accept applications after this deadline)

Interviews will be held online on Tuesday 14th May

Hours: 37 hours per week

Holiday entitlement:  28 days plus 8 statutory Bank holidays, pro rata

Salary: £43,050

Based: Home working

Responsibilities:

Strategy & Development

• Ensure that the organisation has a People and Culture Strategy that is aligned with and supportive ofthe organisation’s strategy, addresses staff feedback and reflects good practice in the sector.
• Ensure that the organisation has a suite of HR policies that facilitates the smooth running of theorganisation’s services, reflects the organisation’s values and includes anti discriminatory practices.
• Manage and monitor the implementation of these policies.
• Create an annual training and development plan which promotes business improvement, a positive culture and the professional development of our employees.
• Work closely with departmental managers’ in the role of business partner to address the strategic issues in their departments related to people and culture.
• Alongside the Chair, support and service the Union’s People and Culture Committee.
• Be responsible for the Union’s employer brand, using this to ensure that the Union can source and retain the staff necessary to deliver its services.
• Manage complex employee relations issues such as disciplinaries and grievances.
• Oversee complaints and student disciplinary processes.

Financial Management

• Prepare regular reports of KPIs for People and Culture as requested by the trustees and your line manager.
• Regularly review, update and rigorously enforce the organisation’s pay and grading policy with the input of the Head of Finance as appropriate.
• Contribute significantly to payroll processing and pension procedures.
• Oversee the processes for the student staff payroll.
• Ensure the smooth running of the HR department.

Governance

• Ensure compliance with right to work and other legislation relevant to the Union’s operations.
• Ensure that major processes within the Union are auditable and follow the Union’s formal procedures.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Drive a high performing, inclusive culture across Reading SU.
• Lead and inspire staff, providing clear direction, guidance, and support including giving and receiving feedback.
• Act as lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the Union. Ensure that our activities in this area reflect the values of the Union and the University.
• Foster a positive working environment, encouraging teamwork, collaboration, excellent customer service and a positive values led culture. 
• Identify and manager staff training and development needs, organising appropriate training programs to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Be responsible for ensuring mechanisms are in place to collect candid staff feedback to inform future People and Culture activity.

Stakeholders

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including student representatives, staff, the Students' Union executive and University representatives.
• Collaborate with external partners, sponsors, and suppliers to enhance services and explore partnership opportunities.
• Represent the Students' Union at relevant events, meetings, and industry forums.

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is a growing and cherished part of our community, dedicated to providing a safe haven for donkeys and educating the public on their care and welfare. Our vision extends beyond equine welfare to creating an environment where our team, volunteers, and visitors can feel welcomed and enriched.

Position Summary

We are in search of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) adept at turning strategic visions into operational realities. The COO will oversee daily operations throughout the sanctuary, ensuring excellence in health and safety practices, and fostering high team performance and growth. As a key partner to the CEO, this role demands a leader skilled in operational management and strategy implementation, preferably with experience in the third sector and a deep commitment to animal welfare.

Objectives of the role

1. Strategic implementation and operational leadership - working in close partnership with the CEO to integrate strategic objectives into the organisation's day-to-day operations. This will include focusing on enhancing process efficiency, ensuring operational excellence and maintaining budgetary control connected to operational issues.

2. Developing high performing teams – driving team excellence through targeted recruitment, comprehensive onboarding, ongoing professional development, and robust performance management strategies, ensuring team cohesion and high retention rates

3. Ensuring regulatory compliance and safety - maintaining rigorous adherence to all relevant charity and health & safety regulations, proactively ensuring a safe environment for staff, volunteers, visitors and our equines.

4. Fostering a supportive culture - creating a work environment where commitment to our sanctuary's values and alignment with our vision and mission inspire and unite our teams.

5. Acting as a deputy for the CEO - representing the charity and making decisions in the CEO’s absence, ensuring leadership continuity and organisational stability.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include:

· Evaluating internal operations to identify and implement efficiency improvements

· Developing and implementing policies (in collaboration with the CEO and Trustees) that support the sanctuary's goals and ensure operational alignment.

· Overseeing daily operations across the estate, including visitor facilities, barn and paddock maintenance, and health and safety compliance, ensuring a safe environment for staff, volunteers, visitors and equines.

· Directly overseeing the performance of our teams in Visitor Experience, Volunteering, Estates and Facilities, ensuring these areas not only operate efficiently but also focus on creating exceptional experiences for visitors and volunteers. This includes working closely with HR to foster successful recruitment, professional development, and other HR initiatives to build and sustain high-performing teams.

· Ensuring the sanctuary is ready and welcoming for visitors each day, effectively monitored and managed throughout the day and securely closed at night

· Health and safety leadership - spearheading safety initiatives and training a skilled team in safety protocols, ensuring a secure and safe environment for staff, volunteers, visitors and over 130 donkeys and ponies. The COO will work closely with the Head of Facilities and Estates Supervisor to enforce health and safety policies, address safety issues, as well as ensuring readiness and responsiveness for critical incidents, including fire and medical emergencies.

· Serving as the deputy for the CEO, including leading the sanctuary in the CEO’s absence, making critical decisions, and managing external relationships.

The above role encompasses an understanding that the sanctuary operates seven days a week and requires a willingness to work weekends and evenings as needed to ensure continuous leadership and operational excellence.

Reporting structure

Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will have the following direct reports: Head of Estates, Visitor Experience Manager, and Volunteer Manager.

Required skills and Experience

· A strong ethical commitment to animal welfare, demonstrated through previous work or personal advocacy, with the desire to make a positive impact in the community and beyond.

· A track record of managing operations effectively, demonstrating the ability to oversee day-to-day activities

· Proven experience in translating strategy into actionable plans

· Proven effectiveness in managing diverse teams and working with volunteers, highlighting the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of contributors towards common goals.

· Experience in budgeting, data analysis and using performance metrics to guide decisions.

· Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and the agility to respond to unforeseen challenges, particularly in animal welfare contexts.

· A collaborative approach to working with key stakeholders, including the CEO, to ensure alignment with the organisation's goals.

Desirable:

· Experience within a non-profit organisation and familiarity with the regulatory environment specific to the charity sector, including health & safety standards and compliance. 

Why Join Us

By joining the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary as COO, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of donkey welfare, leveraging your expertise to make a lasting difference. You’ll lead a dedicated team, drive operational excellence, and contribute to a cause that’s both meaningful and rewarding.

VSO seeks an experienced Business Pursuit Lead to advance our mission through strategic engagement with European Government Agencies, with a special focus on the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NL MFA), the European Union (EU), and their key implementing partners in priority countries. In this crucial role, you will lead VSO’s efforts to secure and expand program funding from European government donors, positioning VSO as a partner of choice, resulting in the negotiation and acquisition of significant grant awards. 

VSO is more than just a workplace. It’s a chance to be part of a global community dedicated to ending poverty and building a fairer, more sustainable world. We offer the platform to make a difference, support for professional growth, and the opportunity to work with a passionate team of like-minded individuals.

Chief Advisor - Marine

£55,000 - £60,000 pa

Woking, GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working

This is a UK based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.

With an established track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy as well as a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus, you understand the importance of creating a world where people and nature can thrive together. That is why this role as Chief Advisor – Marine with the world’s leading independent conservation organisation is perfect for you.

Our major goal is to find solutions to the Triple Challenge of restoring nature, tackling climate change and feeding a growing global population all within the available resource limits of our one planet. As a member of our Science Team, you will help ensure we are viewed by the academic community and specialist bodies as a science and evidence-based organisation with conservation programmes and communications that are always informed by the latest scientific thinking.

As Chief Advisor you will lead our scientific understanding on marine issues and their impacts on the natural world and human society. You will help guide WWF-UK and WWF Network strategies on marine issues as well as help find solutions to address our Triple Challenge and reverse the decline in global biodiversity. We will look to you to provide technical support to our conservation and blue carbon work in UK coastal waters and be the lead expert on ocean systems and the drivers impacting them, including the potential for ocean tipping points. You will also act as a primary contact in your area of expertise with relevant UK government departments, specialists in the private sector, other NGOs and international policy-makers and have the ability to influence policy. You will help identify and fill knowledge gaps as well as provide the evidence underpinning WWF policy positions.

To play your part in saving our planet, you must have a track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy, coupled with a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus and the negative drivers impacting ocean systems. You will also possess a good grasp of current science and policy debates, along with experience of providing strategic leadership to organisations and programmes. You will have sound knowledge of international policy and governance structures as they relate to the oceans including the UNFCCC, CBD and the High Seas Treaty.

Effective at influencing key political and business stakeholders and shaping policy debates, you will also have excellent communication and advocacy skills. Good at building relationships, you will be comfortable inspiring direct reports and translating knowledge into policy, communications and programme design. Of course, you will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the natural world and WWF’s core mission too.

If you have the knowledge to provide scientific expertise and advice across our organisation to help us build a movement in defence of nature, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website via the link, complete the online registration and submit a copy of your up-to-date CV with the Supporting Statement highlighting what makes you a good fit for us.

WWF UK are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, we acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team via our website.

Our policies and benefits reflect the importance of people being able to have a good work-life balance and being able to bring their ‘full self’ to work.

WWF-UK believes anyone who is involved in our work or connected to it, especially children, should be safe from harm. Our first priority will always be to safeguard anyone at risk of harm or abuse. WWF-UK operates robust recruitment practices to ensure candidates for all roles are suitable. Our process includes values-based questions during interviews and annual performance reviews, reference checks that we verify orally, criminal records checks (at the appropriate level) and pre-employment declarations.  We do not tolerate any form of abuse or exploitation and act robustly to any allegations or concerns.

Our world needs you like never before. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world, and we could be the last that can do anything about it. We are looking for people who are passionate about making it politically, socially and economically unacceptable to destroy our planet’s natural resources. We need you to join us in the fight for our world.

We are looking for someone who shares our values and is passionate about improving life for both people and nature in Sussex, especially in disadvantaged communities.

Working closely with a committed and extensive team of volunteers and paid staff, and with the support of an established and engaged board of Trustees, you will be steering the work on our vision and leading the team to deliver it.

As the leader of a relatively small charity, you will be engaged with many operational aspects of the organisation.

Taking on the stewardship of the new plot of land will be one of the priorities in the first year.

You will be managing our annual income of around £200K, our part-time managers (admin; orchard planting, scrumping, courses and sites) plus a team of 25 workers and key volunteers engaged in ongoing roles.

Hours can be worked flexibly, though you will need to attend in-person meetings, events and site visits, including some weekends and evenings. We have a kitchen and barn at Stanmer Park, but not an office. All desk work and online meetings will need to be done remotely using your own equipment.

Key responsibilities:

· Figurehead and ambassador for the organisation. Willing to be available for interviews and talks.

· Decision maker. Brighton Permaculture Trust has always been a collaborative organisation. There will be times when quick or difficult decisions are needed.

· Setting budgets and monitoring finances. Draft budgets for our financial year July 2024 to June 2025 are in place.

· Writing/assisting with funding bids. 

· Formal reporting to the Trustees quarterly, plus monthly opportunities to meet with the Trustees for support, collaboration and feedback.

· Leading monthly meetings with the operational managers. Operational managers cover each key area: Scrumped in Sussex, Community Orchards, Brighton Permaculture Trust Sites, Courses & Events and Admin/Compliance.

· One-to-one meetings with operational managers, key contractors and volunteers as required. These can be online or on-site.

· Supporting the wider team to agree on SMART targets for each project and deliver on our strategic goals.

· Attending Brighton Permaculture Trust Apple Days events (3 per year).

· Being the main point of contact for key relationships, including major donors, funders, partner organisations and Brighton & Hove City Council.

· Presenting our year’s achievements to the members at our AGM.

· Line management of 3-5 operational managers as these roles move to long-term contracts

· Representing the Trust at assorted, infrequent external meetings and events would be desirable and require some flexibility in days/times worked.