Temporary Head of finance jobs

Interim Senior FP&A Manager

Location: Thame (Oxfordshire) with hybrid working (minimum, 2 days per week in the office) and occasional travel
Contract: Interim, Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2027
Salary / day rate: £60,000 per annum (pro rata)
Reports to: Head of Finance

Affinity Trust is looking for an experienced Interim Senior FP&A Manager to bring senior finance capacity, challenge and insight across a complex, multi-site organisation.

This is not a routine reporting role. We are looking for someone who can quickly get under the skin of operational performance, understand the financial drivers behind service delivery, and help senior leaders make better, faster and more informed decisions.

You will work closely with the Head of Finance, Finance Business Partners, Divisional Directors and operational leaders, providing high-quality analysis, forecasting, commercial insight and constructive challenge. The work will span income, workforce costs, agency and overtime spend, utilisation, fee rates, contract performance, forecasting assumptions and recovery planning.

This is a senior individual contributor role, adding experienced capacity where it is most needed, to help maintain pace across key priorities, and strengthen the link between financial insight and operational action.

The assignment

You will be joining at a point where strong financial planning, clear analysis and senior business partnering are critical to supporting sustainable services.

Your work will include:

• Leading robust forecasting and scenario modelling across a complex operational portfolio
• Providing senior finance business partnering to divisional and operational leaders
• Analysing key cost drivers, particularly workforce-related costs such as agency, overtime, sickness and staffing ratios
• Reviewing income, fee rates, local authority funding assumptions, utilisation and contract performance
• Supporting tenders, contract reviews, business cases and service sustainability analysis
• Helping identify whether financial pressure is driven by fee levels, operational delivery, workforce deployment or a combination of factors
• Translating complex financial information into clear insight, options and practical recommendations
• Supporting the head of finance and wider finance team with additional senior capacity during a period of increased demand.

About you

You will be a qualified accountant with ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent, and substantial experience in senior FP&A, finance business partnering or commercial finance roles.

You will be confident working with senior stakeholders and able to bring both grip and judgement. You will know how to challenge assumptions constructively, explain complex financial information clearly, and turn analysis into action.

You are likely to have worked in a complex, multi-site or operationally demanding environment, where financial performance is closely linked to workforce planning, contract income, service delivery and operational decision-making.

You will bring:

• Strong FP&A, forecasting, modelling and management reporting experience
• Advanced Excel and analytical capability
• Credibility with senior operational and finance stakeholders
• Experience supporting budgeting, reforecasting, recovery planning and performance improvement
• The ability to work at pace, prioritise well and operate with a high level of autonomy
• A practical, commercial and solutions-focused approach.

Experience in social care, healthcare, supported living, charity or not-for-profit settings would be helpful, but is not essential. Experience with Local Authority funding, high-volume staffing models, workforce cost pressures or interim turnaround environments would be particularly valuable.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to make a visible impact quickly.

You will be joining a values-led not-for-profit support organisation with national impact, where finance plays a central role in supporting sustainable, high-quality services for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs.

For the right person, this is a role with real substance: complex operations, senior stakeholder exposure, meaningful commercial analysis, and the chance to strengthen financial decision-making where it matters most.

Please note, if you are successful, we may need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (Criminal Record) check at the relevant level for the role. This will be paid for by us.

Hybrid or home working with an expectation to be in the London office occasionally

Temporary – 6 months FTC

Full time but open to conversations around flexible working or part time

Context and Background

The NSPCC’s mission is to end cruelty to children. Today, the NSPCC lobbies government on child welfare issues, leads national campaigns and offers front line service support for thousands of vulnerable children. We do this directly and through schools, local safeguarding children’s boards and others, offering support, advice and training.  Since 2006, we have run Childline, the telephone helpline and counselling service.

Beyond our front-line support services, campaigns and consulting provisions, we carry out a comprehensive programme of groundbreaking research.  With a core staff and thousands of nationwide volunteers, the NSPCC remains a central organisation in the fabric of British society, with the welfare, protection and prosperity of children at the centre of everything we do.

The Supporter Data Operations team is part of the Fundraising Operations team in the Engagement & Fundraising Directorate.

The team is responsible for donation processing, data processing, data quality, and user training and support. The team are also involved in delivery of our ongoing Supporter Centricity project, focussing on delivering Salesforce to maximise engagement as part of the wider programme.

The Associate Head of Supporter Data Operations leads and manages a varied team who work with stakeholders across Engagement and Fundraising, Technology, and Finance. The postholder is responsible for c20 office based and remote staff.

Job purpose 

· Strategic Development: Lead on recommendations to evolve teams, responsibilities and ways of working post Salesforce go live, ensuring that the NSPCC and our supporters benefit from the new technology.

· Team Leadership: Empower and enable the Supporter Data Operations team; foster collaboration and a culture of high performance and accountability. Support and upskill the team to evolve through change.

· Business Product Ownership: Own the vision and roadmap for the Salesforce platform for Engagement and Fundraising, ensuring it helps us to put supporters and audiences at the centre of the way we work whilst meeting organisational needs. Prioritise the backlog, balancing project and “BAU” development, working closely with business and technical stakeholders.

Key relationships - Internal

· Reporting to the Head of Fundraising Operations

· Line manages Managers within Supporter Data Operations

· The Supporter Centricity Technology project team who are leading on the replacement of supporter data systems

· Maintain a close connection with Tech teams, including working closely with the Associate Head of Data Engineering

· Senior Business Stakeholders across the Income Generation Directorate and more widely.

Key relationships - External

• Technology and infrastructure vendors and partners 

Main duties and responsibilities

· Provide effective line management and leadership within the Supporter Data Operations team. Ensure all team members are supported and empowered to deliver high quality work. Ensure that high performance is recognised, achievements are celebrated, and low performance is addressed and rectified.

· Identify opportunities to build new skills in the team on Salesforce, prioritising individual and team development.

· Evolve team structures as needed in line with Salesforce platform development, ensuring that the team has clarity of expectations and responsibilities. Identify opportunities to refine and strengthen how the team works in line with organisational priorities.

· Manage the Supporter Data Operations team budget, ensuring good value for money and maintain relationships with suppliers.

· Act as interim business product owner for the Salesforce platform, prioritising the backlog against business need and setting up ways of working for the long-term operational management of the platform.

Responsibilities for all Staff within the Engagement and Fundraising Directorate

· To actively participate in regular team meetings and department meetings, contributing to discussions and decisions which will be beneficial to the NSPCC’s development of fundraising activities. 

· To behave at all times in a manner consistent with the NSPCC’s Values. 

· To ensure data used in relevant systems is current, accurate and reliable. 

· To maintain an awareness of own and others’ Health and Safety and comply with the NSPCC’s Health and Safety policy and procedures. 

•A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

Person specification

· Proven experience in leading operational data teams, setting strategic direction, and with the ability to inspire and motivate them.

· Experience of effectively leading a team through a technology change programme, ensuring they are upskilled and providing technical support where required.

· Experience with and strong understanding of current and emerging platform technologies (for example, Salesforce CRM and data cloud platforms).

· Excellent understanding of data management principles, including data governance, quality and security.

· Experience in leading on the delivery of a large complex portfolio of work, working with stakeholders to agree and prioritise work, driving delivery, and implementing strategies to reduce unplanned work.  

· Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

· An outcome-oriented individual who is focussed on solving problems and driving the team forward.

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

• Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.

• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.

• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.

• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.

• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.

• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

Head of Financial Operations
London | Hybrid Working
1 Year FTC

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced finance leader to join a highly respected higher education institution at a pivotal time in its development.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance, this role will lead a large Financial Operations function, overseeing accounts payable, income and receivables, and finance systems teams. Managing a team of approximately 15 staff, you will play a key role in ensuring the delivery of efficient, customer-focused financial services, while driving continuous improvement across systems, processes and controls.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation, you will be responsible for the effective management of income collection, supplier payments, cashflow and working capital, alongside maintaining a robust internal control environment. You will also lead the ongoing development of financial systems and support the wider finance leadership team in delivering strategic change initiatives.

The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant (CCAB) with significant experience leading financial operations within a complex organisation. You will have a strong background in transaction processing, financial controls, systems development and team leadership, alongside a proven track record of driving change and improving service delivery. Experience of ERP systems is essential, while exposure to the higher education sector would be advantageous.

This is an excellent opportunity for a collaborative and forward-thinking finance professional looking to make a significant impact within a values-led organisation known for innovation, creativity and academic excellence.

To find out more, please get in touch with Rosemary Pini from Allen Lane for a confidential discussion.

Finance Controller (Interim-to-Permanent Opportunity)

Harpenden, Hertfordshire | Full-Time | Hybrid Working Available

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced finance professional to join a well-respected research and innovation organisation during a period of continued development. Initially offered on an interim basis, this role has the potential to become permanent for the right individual.

Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you will play a pivotal role in leading financial operations, ensuring robust financial control, and providing high-quality financial insight to support strategic decision-making across the organisation. This is a broad and varied position that combines technical financial accounting expertise with leadership, business partnering and operational oversight.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the production of monthly management accounts and supporting annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Preparing draft statutory accounts and coordinating the annual audit process.
• Managing VAT, tax compliance, cashflow forecasting and banking relationships.
• Overseeing transactional finance, procurement processes and internal controls.
• Providing insightful financial reporting and analysis to senior stakeholders.
• Leading, developing and mentoring a finance team while driving continuous improvement across finance systems and processes.
• Acting as a trusted business partner to budget holders and senior leaders across the organisation.

About you

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience gained in a complex organisation. You will have a strong background in financial accounting, statutory reporting and financial control, alongside experience of managing and developing teams.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with excellent communication skills, enabling them to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels and translate financial information into meaningful business insight. Experience of driving process improvement and supporting organisational change will be highly valued.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Finance Controller, Financial Controller, Head of Finance or Senior Finance Manager looking for a broad leadership role with the potential to secure a permanent position within a highly respected organisation.

To find out more, please apply now or contact Rosemary Pini form Allen Lane for a confidential discussion.

Group FP&A Manager | £500 per day (Umbrella) | Hybrid | London | 6-months +

For a large international organisation, we are recruiting an Interim Group FP&A Manager who will coordinate and produce consolidated financial plans, budgets, and forecasts. The Group FP&A Manager will contribute to planning activity and data across Finance, working closely with Regional Finance Directors to ensure consistency of all planning and forecasting. This role will report to the Director of Group Planning and Reporting and will lead, manage, and motivate a Financial Planning Analyst. This role is for a minimum of 6-months and could be extended.

Main Duties:

• Provide a financial planning, forecasting and management reporting service in the UK, Regions, and international business units across Group level.
• Deliver monthly MI reports
• Coordination and delivery of annual budget, quarterly forecasts and monthly re-forecasts
• Support multi-year planning
• Tracking and forecasting of financial KPIs
• Support the Director of Group Planning and Reporting in preparing reports for Exec on reporting and planning deliverables
• Lead continuous improvement of processes across monthly close, financial commentary and analysis and cash-flow forecasting
• Ensure the MI and forecasts are fit-for-purpose during a period of transformation and change
• Play a key role in the implementation of a new planning and reporting tool as part of a global finance transformation programme
• Set planning and forecasting timetables for the organisation
• Work closely with the Head of Strategic Planning and coordinate with the UK and Regional finance teams to ensure alignment of all financial planning activity
• Support strategy in the collation and consolidation of 5-year planning
• Development and rollout of multi-year planning workbooks and processes
• Work closely with Shared Service Centre in India, supporting the FP&A team in-country
• Lead, manage and motivate one Financial Planning Analyst

Person Specification:

• Qualified Accountant with proven Group-level FP&A experience including MI reporting
• Experience managing the annual planning and reporting calendar
• Ability to build budgets, forecasts, and annual plans at Group level
• Annual planning and reporting at Group-level
• International and multi-cultural company experience
• SAP experience, financial modelling, and advanced Excel
• Shared Services experience

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

Who are we?

We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.

We work with organisations across the UK to transform the response to domestic abuse. We want what you would want for your best friend. We listen to survivors, putting their voices at the heart of our thinking. We look at the whole picture for each individual and family to get the right help at the right time to make families everywhere safe and well. And we challenge perpetrators to change, asking ‘why doesn’t he stop?’ rather than ‘why doesn’t she leave?’ This applies whatever the gender of the victim or perpetrator and whatever the nature of their relationship.

Last year alone, nearly 13,500 professionals received our training. Over 70,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 85,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last four years, over 2,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start.

Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.

About The Drive Partnership 

The Drive Partnership, established by Respect, SafeLives, and Social Finance in 2015, is working to end domestic abuse and protect victim-survivors by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of those who are causing harm. The Drive Partnership does this through the development of innovative perpetrator responses and advocating for systems and policy change to develop sustainable, national systems that respond more effectively to all perpetrators to increase the safety and freedom of all adult and child victim-survivors. 

Purpose

Following a four-year investment from the Home Office announced in July 2025, the Drive Project – the Drive Partnership’s flagship intervention for high-risk, high-harm and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse – will expand across all areas in England and Wales, with the vast majority of funding flowing directly to local perpetrator services and victim-survivor services by nature of the Drive Project’s model. 

To support the safe implementation of the expansion of the Drive Project intervention, we are seeking a proactive, solution focused individual to work with Drive Partnership and SafeLives, and our delivery sites to ensure our Data Protection policies and practice are up to date, and being consistently adhered to.

This is a new role and will spend two days working to support the Drive Partnership and one day to support SafeLives directly. For more information on SafeLives and the Drive Partnership, please see below.

The role is sensitive by nature and involves dealing with highly confidential and complex information.

Position context

This role sits within the Finance Department and is a critical support function across SafeLives and the Drive Partnership . The Data Protection Officer will be managed by the IT and Compliance Manager and will also work closely with the Head of Operations and Practice Advisors in the Drive Partnership, and , Heads and the Leadership Team to ensure the smooth operating of the business.

Responsibilities

• Data Protection
• Relationship Management
• Administration

Person Specification

Experience

Strong working knowledge of UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, PECR, and ICO guidance and with relevant qualifications. Experience managing data protection compliance within a charity, public sector, or safeguarding‑focused organisation. Understanding of safeguarding principles, particularly relating to domestic abuse, confidentiality, and safe data‑sharing protocols.

Skills

• Ability to interpret legislation and communicate requirements clearly to non‑specialists.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce policies and understand complex procedures.
• Capacity to manage competing priorities and work independently in a part‑time capacity.
• High levels of integrity, discretion, and professional judgement when handling sensitive and data.
• Knowledge of secure data‑handling technologies and cyber‑security principles

Competencies

• Delivering quality
• Teamwork
• Communication & Relationship management
• Influence
• Innovation and creativity
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication and relationship management
• Self-management
• Goal orientation

Equality and Inclusion

SafeLives is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, disability, race, sex, religion/belief, sexuality, gender identity, marital/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and working patterns. We are keen to have staff that appropriately represents all the communities we serve as an organisation.

Lived Experience

We believe there is no ‘them and us’ in domestic abuse, and recognise that applicants may have direct or indirect experience of their own, whether disclosed or not. We are committed to placing lived experience of domestic abuse at the heart of all we do, and colleagues who chose to share their personal expertise can do so openly and with organisational support.

If there is any discussion during the course of the recruitment process regarding a candidate's personal experience of domestic abuse, it will be treated confidentially and will not be shared outside of the interview panel/Human Resources.

This is an exciting new opportunity to shape the future of technology and digital capability across five South West charities. We are seeking an exceptional Regional Chief Technology Officer who is motivated by both challenge and purpose; someone who can harness technology to make a tangible difference to how our faith-based charities support church communities.

Working across Bath & Wells, Bristol, Exeter, Salisbury and Truro, this role offers a rare platform to influence at scale. The successful candidate will lead a region-wide programme of digital transformation and process optimisation, helping modernise systems, strengthen cyber resilience and unlock efficiencies that release resources for mission and ministry.

This is not technology for its own sake. We are looking for someone who combines strategic insight with practical delivery; a leader who can translate complex technical possibilities into real-world improvements for staff, clergy and volunteers. You will play a key role in shaping the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, while ensuring strong governance, security and compliance.

Please note that, whilst the role will be primarily home-based, the post-holder will be required to travel regularly across the Southwest region, with an onsite presence in each organisation at least once per month.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop, articulate, and implement a shared digital transformation and technology strategy that is directly aligned with the overarching mission and strategic goals of the five dioceses.
• Act as the principal technology advisor to the Diocesan Secretaries and their senior leadership teams.

Process Mapping & Optimisation:

• Lead a comprehensive, collaborative review of key administrative and operational processes within the Diocesan Boards of Finance (DBFs) and in parishes where appropriate.
• Use process mapping techniques to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement, and then design and implement optimised workflows.

AI & Responsible Innovation:

• Actively research, evaluate, pilot, and implement appropriate AI and automation tools to enhance efficiency, support fundraising, and improve service delivery.
• Ensure all innovation is undertaken responsibly, ethically, and with a clear focus on tangible benefits.

Stakeholder Management & Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders across all five dioceses, including clergy, staff, and volunteers.
• Foster a culture of digital literacy and champion the benefits of change in a clear, accessible, and empathetic manner.

Project & Change Management:

• Oversee the full lifecycle of technology and process improvement projects, from initial conception and business case development through to delivery, user training, and final handover.
• Employ robust project management methodologies to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Qualifications, Training & Experience:

• Proven and extensive senior technology leadership experience (e.g., CTO, Head of IT, Director of Digital Transformation) with clear evidence of strategic impact.
• Relevant degree (or equivalent) in a technology-related discipline, with appropriate professional certifications in technology, architecture, project or change management, and membership of a relevant professional body.
• Strong track record in business process mapping, analysis and re-engineering delivering measurable efficiency gains.
• Practical experience evaluating, procuring and implementing modern technology solutions, including cloud platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365), CRM systems and data analytics tools.
• Experience in the charity, non-profit or similarly complex, values-driven sector is highly desirable. Demonstrable experience of, or well-informed and practical interest in, the responsible and ethical application of AI and automation in an organisational context.
• Significant experience in technology strategy, budget management, vendor negotiation and delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes.

Competencies & Behavioural requirements:

• Exceptional communicator and translator: Able to convey complex technical concepts in clear, accessible language and influence a wide range of non-technical stakeholders with confidence.
• Strategic yet pragmatic thinker: Sees the big picture and aligns technology with organisational priorities, while remaining hands-on and focused on practical, value adding solutions.
• Collaborative and emotionally intelligent leader: Builds trust and consensus across diverse stakeholders and cultures, leading change with empathy, credibility and sensitivity.
• Resilient and delivery-focused: Proactive and self-motivated, with the drive and discipline to deliver complex, multi-year programmes and achieve measurable outcomes.
• Culturally astute and values-aware: Demonstrates understanding of, and respect for, the Church of England’s context, governance and ethos, navigating the environment with diplomacy and good judgement.

Our benefits include:

• Generous company pension
• A comprehensive health & wellbeing programme, inlcuding an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Paid volunteering & study leave allowace
• Company events
• Home working

Product Lead – HOSTHub  

(Operational Product Delivery) 

Reports to: Operations Director (Head of Delivery) 
Contract: 1.0 FTE (Temp to Perm) 
Location: Remote (UK or International) 

Role Purpose 

The Product Lead – HOSTHub is responsible for identifying, prioritising, and resolving day-to-day product challenges across HOST’s digital platform. 

HOSTHub serves as the operational backbone of the organisation, enabling delivery across finance, legal, partnerships, and hosted partner services. In this role, the Product Lead ensures the platform functions effectively in practice—by understanding user needs, surfacing issues early, and driving the design, prioritisation, and rapid delivery of solutions. 

While contributing to the longer-term product vision in collaboration with the leadership team and development partners, the primary focus remains on operational product delivery. This includes managing fortnightly sprint cycles, maintaining a dynamic and prioritised backlog, and ensuring continuous alignment between user requirements, internal processes, and platform capabilities. 

The role requires a highly hands-on individual who thrives at the intersection of users, internal teams, and developers, with the ability to translate real-world challenges into clear, actionable product decisions. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Product Problem Identification and Prioritisation 

Lead the ongoing identification of friction points, inefficiencies, and system gaps across HOSTHub use cases, including those impacting hosted partners, funders, and internal staff workflows. 

Maintain a dynamic, prioritised backlog of product issues and enhancements, informed by user insight and operational impact. 

Work closely with delivery teams across finance, legal, partnerships, and community support to understand how the platform performs in practice and where it falls short of user needs. 

Translate operational challenges into clear, well-defined product requirements that are actionable for development teams. 

Ensure prioritisation is driven by delivery urgency, risk exposure, and opportunities for efficiency, rather than abstract feature development. 

2. Sprint Management and Delivery Execution 

Own the end-to-end delivery of the product, managing fortnightly sprint cycles. 

Set sprint priorities, create and refine tickets, and ensure all development work is well-scoped, logically sequenced, and ready for delivery. 

Collaborate directly with development contractors to run sprint planning, stand-ups (where applicable), and sprint reviews. 

Validate completed work against real user workflows before release to ensure quality and usability. 

Maintain clear visibility of progress, risks, and dependencies, escalating blockers and trade-offs to the Operations Director as needed. 

Provide bi-weekly sprint reports outlining delivered outcomes, outstanding issues, and upcoming priorities. 

3. User Engagement and Feedback Loops 

Establish continuous feedback loops with both internal users (staff teams) and external stakeholders (hosted partners and funders). 

Conduct structured user conversations to understand how systems are used in practice, not just how they were designed to be used. 

Validate proposed solutions with users prior to development where appropriate, ensuring alignment with real needs. 

Ensure user insights consistently inform backlog prioritisation and shape sprint scope. 

Maintain a clear view of user satisfaction grounded in qualitative feedback, not just survey-based metrics. 

4. Cross-Team Operational Alignment 

Act as the central point of coordination across product, delivery teams, and external developers. 

Ensure HOSTHub effectively supports real operational workflows across key service areas, including Project Hosting, Hosted Grantmaking, and Capacity Building. 

Partner closely with Finance, Legal, and Partnerships teams to align system functionality with compliance, contractual, and reporting requirements. 

Identify and resolve misalignments between team processes and platform functionality, either by adapting the system or clarifying and standardising ways of working. 

5. Development Oversight  

Manage the day-to-day relationship with the development team, ensuring requirements are clear and issues are addressed promptly. 

Ensure all development outputs are practical, functional, and aligned with real operational needs. 

Avoid over-specification and unnecessary complexity, prioritising simple, implementable solutions. 

Track defects, rework, and technical debt, incorporating them into sprint priorities where they have a meaningful operational impact. 

6. Data, Workflow, and System Effectiveness 

Ensure HOSTHub captures and delivers data that is accurate, actionable, and aligned with reporting requirements. 

Identify and implement opportunities to automate key workflows, reducing manual effort across teams. 

Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure system logic supports compliance and audit requirements in day-to-day operations. 

Maintain clear, practical documentation of key workflows and system behaviours to support effective operational use. 

7. Risk, Compliance, and System Integrity 

Work closely with the Legal Lead and Operations Director to ensure product decisions do not introduce unmanaged risk. 

Prioritise data protection, security, and system reliability as core product considerations. 

Ensure compliance requirements, including data protection and financial controls, are embedded in how the platform operates in practice. 

Take clear ownership of system incidents or failures, coordinating response and ensuring timely resolution and follow-through. 

8. Contribution to Product Direction 

Contribute to longer-term product thinking, including roadmap development and the ongoing evolution of the system. 

Provide grounded input to strategy based on observed user behaviour, operational constraints, and delivery realities. 

Ensure product direction remains focused on solutions that are practical, scalable, and genuinely valuable to users. 

Key Relationships 

Internal: Operations Director, Finance Team, Legal Lead, Partnerships Director, Community Support Team, Data Analyst, Training Lead. 

External: Developers, technical providers, hosted partners, funders. 

Performance Indicators 

Reliable delivery against sprint commitments, with a clear connection to resolved operational issues. 

Reduction in recurring user-reported problems across key workflows. 

Demonstrable improvements in system usability and efficiency for internal teams and hosted partners. 

A well-maintained backlog with clear, transparent prioritisation rationale. 

Strong alignment between platform functionality and operational delivery needs. 

Timely identification and effective resolution of system risks and critical defects. 

Required Experience 

5–8 years’ experience in hands-on product management or product delivery roles, with clear ownership of day-to-day execution. 

Proven experience managing sprint cycles and working directly with developers to deliver iterative improvements. 

Strong track record of identifying user needs and translating them into effective product solutions. 

Experience working with complex operational systems involving multiple user groups and workflows. 

Ability to operate effectively in environments with evolving and loosely defined requirements. 

Comfortable working across technical and non-technical teams, acting as a practical bridge between them. 

Familiarity with system integrations, workflow tools, and data-driven platforms (e.g. CRM systems, finance platforms automation tools) 

Strong prioritisation skills, with the ability to balance urgency, impact, and feasibility. 

Clear, structured communication style, enabling effective coordination and delivery clarity across teams.