Chief operating officer jobs in Farringdon, greater london

This is an exciting and engaging job opportunity to join elop’s dedicated and enthusiastic team in a central coordination and development role within elop’s youth and community services. You’ll have an active role providing LGBTQ+ affirmative support for LGBTQ+ children and young people. 

Working alongside the senior leadership team you will have a key role in identifying and actively contributing to and supporting the attainment of strategic objectives, sustainability, future service development, service standards and delivery strategy of elop’s youth and community services.  This will include overseeing and ensuring efficient, effective, and smooth operations; maintaining accountable, professional, safe, and well administered services; service promotion, monitoring and evaluation; maintaining and developing new cross-sector networks, partnerships and collaborative relationships; ensuring services continue to meet existing and emerging needs and positively impact and make a genuine difference to those using them. 

Our youth service includes age restricted youth groups, 1:1 mentoring, some school-based delivery with occasional training workshops; and our community services include delivery of an LGBTQ+ community forum, community events, social groups, and volunteering programmes.

Working both in-person office based, with some remote home-based working (particularly required whilst awaiting completion of building works and relocation to new premises) you will be required to work one late evening a week and occasional other evenings and weekends when required.

Full time: 37 hours per week

Salary: £34,000 inclusive London Weighting

This role is part funded by the Mercers Charitable Foundation and initially funded to 31 March 2028.

Closing deadline for submission of application: 10.00am Monday 1 June 2026

Interviews will take place Wednesday 17 June 2026 between 9.00am – 3.00pm

Great opportunity to lead and support our charity's team through the next phase of development to drive One Medicine forward. 

Job Purpose

To lead the operational delivery of Humanimal Trust’s charitable aims and strategic objectives, as set by the Board of Trustees, ensuring that plans are translated into clear priorities, well-managed programmes and effective day-to-day operations. The postholder will line manage the operational team, oversee the finances and the fundraising activities, and maintain strong governance and compliance within Charity Commission requirements, at all times representing the Trust’s One Medicine purpose with professionalism and integrity.

Dimensions

· Line management responsibility for the operational team

· Budget responsibility: manage agreed operational budgets and monitor expenditure against plan

· Oversee delivery of the annual business plan and operational work programme

· Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, supporters, partners and suppliers

· Oversee the fundraising activities

Main Responsibilities and Role

· Provide visible operational leadership for Humanimal Trust, championing One Medicine and role-modelling the Trust’s values

· Translate Board-approved strategy into clear operational priorities, delivery plans and measurable outcomes

· Line-manage the operational team: allocate work, set objectives, provide coaching, and manage performance and wellbeing

· Maintain and improve operational policies, procedures and controls in line with charity regulation, GDPR/data protection and recognised good practice

· Ensure effective delivery of core operational functions (administration, supporter care, governance support, data management and supplier coordination)

· Protect the Trust’s reputation by maintaining high standards of quality, confidentiality, safeguarding and risk management

· Monitor progress against the operational plan, tracking risks, issues and dependencies and reporting regularly to the Chair/Trustees

· Lead on team resourcing and capability: recruitment planning (where applicable), induction, training and continuous improvement

· Work closely with the Chair and Trustees to support good governance, prepare papers, and ensure actions and decisions are implemented

· Attend and present at Board meetings

Finance

· Manage day-to-day financial processes for the Trust, ensuring appropriate approvals, controls and timely processing

· Oversee expense claims and supplier payments in line with policy; ensure accurate records are maintained for audit and reporting

· Track and report on income/expenditure and operational costs, highlighting variances and supporting budget planning with Trustees and finance support (where in place)

· Maintain a clear audit trail for key financial decisions, contracts and delegated approvals

Planning and Organising

· Develop and implement operational plans that translate Trustee priorities into clear workstreams, milestones and accountabilities

· Plan, organise and prioritise team workload and resources to deliver objectives, balancing immediate operational needs with longer-term planning

· Maintain and review the organisational risk register, escalating issues and ensuring proportionate mitigations are in place

· Maintain and review the Trust’s policies and guidance documents

· Monitor and report delivery, performance and compliance (e.g., quarterly/annually as agreed), supporting effective governance and continuous improvement

Decision Making

· Make operational decisions to deliver the Trust’s agreed plans within delegated authority, escalating strategic or high-risk matters to the Chair/Trustees

· Lead and line-manage the operational team, including recruitment planning (where applicable), workload allocation and resource deployment

· Liaise with external partners, supporters, volunteers, suppliers and professional advisers to support delivery and maintain effective relationships

· Liaise with the Chair of Trustees and the Trustees on a regular basis.

· Evaluate and improve processes, systems and ways of working to enhance quality, efficiency, supporter experience and internal control

· Identify learning and development needs for the team and support continuous improvement and professional development

· Manage operational capacity and prioritisation, ensuring resources are aligned to the Trust’s delivery commitments

· Approve expenditure, contracts and commitments within delegated authority and in line with policy

Internal and External Relationships

Internal

· Chair of Trustees and Board of Trustees (including sub-committees), providing timely updates, papers and delivery reporting

· Operational team and volunteers, providing leadership, coordination and support

External

Supporters, donors, partner organisations, volunteers, suppliers and professional advisers (e.g., finance, HR, legal), acting as an operational point of contact as required

Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Style Required

Essential

· Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience), with strong digital/IT capability (MS Office and CRM/databases) and a clear understanding of GDPR/data protection.

· Proven experience in an operational leadership/management role, delivering organisational plans, improving processes and achieving measurable outcomes.

· Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively with Trustees, colleagues, volunteers and external stakeholders.

· Strong people management skills, supporting staff through change, setting clear expectations and creating an inclusive, high-performing team culture.

· Demonstrable experience working in or with a charity/not-for-profit, with a good understanding of governance, compliance and supporter-facing operations (experience in human health, animal health or science an advantage).

· Strong judgement and analytical skills, able to manage competing priorities, budgets and risks and to deliver reliably in a small-organisation environment.

Desirable

· Understanding of the UK charity regulatory environment and good governance practice.

· Experience working with Boards/Trustees, including preparing papers, reporting on delivery and supporting effective decision-making.

· Knowledge and experience of fundraising operations and supporter care.

· Demonstrable understanding of, and commitment to, One Medicine.

Job Context and Special Features

This role is a key senior management position within Humanimal Trust, with responsibility for ensuring that strategy is translated into effective delivery, that the operational team is supported to perform at its best, and that the Trust operates with strong governance, compliance and financial control.

This is a one-year fixed term appointment for a 28-hour (3.5 day) working week, starting at the earliest opportunity.  The role is home-based in the UK, with occasional travel to other locations in the country.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader to relaunch and build the next phase of the UK Democracy Network: a national network that helps organisations working to strengthen democracy across the UK connect, collaborate and coordinate more effectively.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a growing national network. The Network already has strong foundations, sector backing, and three years of core funding secured. The next step is building it into an independent, trusted and influential organisation that helps the democracy sector work together more effectively.

About the Network

The Democracy Network exists to help make collaboration across the democracy sector more effective. It connects organisations, practitioners and professionals across the UK democracy ecosystem, helping to reduce duplication, strengthen relationships, share intelligence, and enable more coordinated collective action.

About the host organisations

The Network is jointly incubated by two organisations with deep roots in UK civic tech, democratic education, and sector-wide network building:

The Politics Project supports young people to use their voice by giving them access to brilliant democratic education. They work with young people, teachers, youth practitioners and politicians to help them learn about, teach and actively participate in democracy. The Politics Project also leads the Democracy Classroom Network, a sister network of over 100 organisations across the democracy, education and youth sectors which support over 3,500 teachers and youth practitioners to engage young people in democracy.

Democracy Club produces the most comprehensive election data in the UK. Established in 2010 and registered as a Community Interest Company in 2015, it runs the national polling station finder Where Do I Vote and candidate lookup service Who Can I Vote For, serving election information to millions of UK voters each year and supplying data to the Electoral Commission. Democracy Club brings a mailing list of 35,000, an active community of 1,200 volunteer contributors collaborating on election information, and strong digital and data expertise to the Network.

Our vision for the Network

Over the last year, we have carried out extensive consultation with members of the UK Democracy Network, the Network’s Steering Group and funders. Through this process, we have developed a new vision for the Network that is designed to reflect and support the diversity of the democracy sector, and the wide range of approaches, perspectives and organisations within it.

Our model is built around a series of smaller thematic, geographic and demographic-based “hubs” within the wider Network. These hubs will create spaces for organisations and individuals working on particular issues, in particular places, or with specific communities to collaborate more effectively, while remaining connected to the wider democracy ecosystem.

Alongside this, the Network will support stronger coordination and information sharing across the sector through activities such as a monthly bulletin, shared events, an annual conference and practical tools and databases that help partners collaborate more effectively.

Importantly, we want to build on and strengthen the excellent work that already exists across the democracy landscape, rather than duplicate it. Over time, we also hope the Network can help incubate and support new hubs and collaborations around emerging issues and opportunities within the democracy sector.

About the role

The Network will be delivered by a small core team: a Network Director (this role), a Network Manager (in post), and a Network Coordinator (to be recruited).

Our medium-term ambition is for the Network to become an independent organisation in its own right. We see this role as central to shaping that transition, with the successful candidate expected to lead the Network into its next phase as an independent organisation over the course of the grant period. 

Key responsibilities

The Network Director provides overall leadership of the Network and is responsible for its long-term sustainability and strategic direction. 

Specifically: 

• Strategic leadership. Set strategic direction for the Network in consultation with members, hosts and the Steering Group / Board.

• Represent the Network. In networking and fundraising events, high-level roundtables and in high-profile relationships with government, funders, media and sector leaders.

• Lead on fundraising. Develop relationships with major funders, alongside Hattie Andrews at The Politics Project, building a diversified, sustainable funding base.

• Oversee the Network's transition to an independent legal structure. Support the establishment of the Board, working with Harriet Andrews and Sym Roe to recruit members with a mix of professional expertise and elected network representatives.

• Build an inclusive, supportive team culture. Line manage the Network Manager and Network Coordinator.

• Oversee monitoring and evaluation. Lead reporting to funders, and support the annual review process with the team and Steering Group / Board.

Person specification

We are looking for a values-driven, experienced, strategic leader. They will have strong people and financial management skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the democracy sector. They will be an excellent communicator, comfortable leading through complexity and change, and motivated by a commitment to strengthening UK democracy. 

The postholder will be expected to work in-office two days a week and attend regular in-person engagements in London.

Benefits

• 33 days’ annual leave pro rata, including Bank Holidays (with three days off between Christmas and New Year).

• 4% employer pension contribution.

• 2 working days / 15 hours of volunteer leave a year.

• Cycle to Work scheme.

Further information about the role and job specification can be found in the Candidate Recruitment Pack.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The UK democracy sector has historically been less diverse than the country it serves, and we want to help change that, starting with how we recruit. We particularly welcome applications from people who are underrepresented in democracy sector leadership, including people of colour, disabled people and people from working-class backgrounds.

How to apply

Please apply via charity job with the following:

• Your CV (no more than two pages).

• A supporting statement of no more than 500 words, setting out how your experience, skills and knowledge meet the person specification and why you are drawn to this role.

The closing date is 11.30pm, Sunday 14th June 2026.

We will shortlist on the basis of the supporting statement against the person specification.

The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with the Henry Smith Foundation on the recruitment of a Grants Database and Processes Manager. This is a pivotal role within the Grant Operations Team, responsible for leading the day-to-day management, development, and continuous improvement of the Foundation’s grants database and associated processes.

When grant-making systems work well, funding reaches the organisations that need it, and those organisations can reach the people they help without delay. When they don't, the gaps are felt by real people waiting for real support.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring grant-making activity is supported by robust systems, accurate data, and efficient, user-centred workflows. It combines technical system ownership with strong relationship building, project delivery, and a commitment to learning and improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as system lead for the Foundation’s grants database, ensuring data quality, integrity, and day-to-day reliability
• Design, implement, and continuously improve grant-making processes, tools, and workflows
• Lead system improvements and projects, including testing, configuration, and collaboration with external suppliers
• Provide guidance, training, and hands-on support to colleagues to ensure confident and consistent system use
• Oversee reporting and data outputs to support operational insight and organisational decision making
• Champion best practice in data management, documentation, and compliance across grant operations

Person Specification

• Proven experience managing or administering complex databases and systems
• Track record of designing and improving operational processes and workflows
• Experience delivering training or support to non technical colleagues
• High level of attention to detail, with confidence working with data and reporting
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A proactive, solutions focused approach with a strong commitment to learning and continuous improvement
• Alignment with the Henry Smith Foundation’s values and commitment to equity and inclusion

What’s on Offer
Salary: £45,500 per annum
Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)
Contract: Permanent
Location: London – Typically one day per week with variation (core days: Tues & Wed) in the King’s Cross office

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Requesting reasonable adjustments
We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application or interview stages, please let us know. You can share your needs at any point in the process. Adjustments can be tailored to suit both physical and mental health needs. Our team will work with you to ensure you have what you need to perform at your best.

Our approach to candidates using AI in applications
We recognise that technology, including AI tools, can be helpful when preparing job applications, and we welcome the use of tools that support you in presenting your experience clearly. However, it’s important that your application genuinely reflects your own skills, experience, and voice. We therefore recommend reviewing any AI-generated content carefully to ensure accuracy and authenticity.

If you are invited to interview, we’ll want to hear directly from you about your skills and experiences. Any significant differences between your application and how you present yourself in person may negatively impact your application.

At Samaritans, our vision is that fewer people die by suicide. Every day, our volunteers and staff provide life-saving emotional support to people in distress, and behind that work is a culture built on compassion, inclusion, learning and human connection.

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Samaritans is seeking an experienced and ambitious Trust and Grants Manager to lead and grow a vital income stream supporting our life‑saving work. Reporting to the Head of Trusts and Statutory Income, you’ll play a central role in delivering an ambitious Trusts programme raising over £2 million annually, while inspiring and leading a talented team.

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​Contract

• £40,000-£45,000 per annum plus benefits
• Full Time (35hrs per week)
• Permanent
• Hybrid working - Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. This role is linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office with a blend of home working and option to work out of our London office as required.
• In-person working - expectation of a minimum of 1 office day each week on Tuesdays in Ewell.
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences

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About the role

​As Trust and Grants Manager, you’ll be responsible for developing and delivering our Trust Fundraising Strategy, ensuring strong performance, excellent funder stewardship and long‑term growth. You’ll manage high‑value relationships, lead strategy and planning, and provide inspiring line management to Trust fundraising colleagues.

Working closely with colleagues across Income Generation, Business Development and operational teams, you’ll ensure Samaritans’ work is communicated compellingly to Trust and Statutory funders, grounded in evidence, insight and lived experience.​

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What you’ll do

• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust Funding Strategy, with clear KPIs, work plans and performance analysis
• Oversee a Trusts programme raising over £2m per year, with responsibility for future growth
• Personally manage a portfolio of high‑value Trust relationships, delivering £600k–£700k annual income
• Shape and deliver donor cultivation and stewardship approaches that create inspiring funder experiences
• Line manage and develop Trust fundraising staff, supporting performance, wellbeing and professional growth
• Produce compelling, high‑quality funding applications, cases for support and reports on Samaritans programmes and projects
• Lead prospect research and pipeline development, identifying new large Trust opportunities
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Samaritans to ensure strong alignment with organisational priorities
• Contribute to senior leadership discussions, team planning, away days and cross‑departmental initiatives
• Embed learning, insight and sector best practice into team ways of working

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About you

​You’re an experienced Trust fundraiser with a strong track record of securing six‑figure grants and building effective relationships with major Trusts and Foundations. You combine strategic thinking with attention to detail, and you’re motivated by making a meaningful social impact.

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You enjoy leading and developing others, thrive in collaborative environments, and are confident working with data, budgets and complex funding requirements. Above all, you’re committed to Samaritans’ vision of fewer people dying by suicide, and to working inclusively, ethically and with compassion.

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What you will bring:

• Proven success in securing six‑figure Trust, Foundation, Lottery or public sector funding
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including persuasive storytelling
• Strong grant management, stewardship and donor care expertise
• Experience developing and managing fundraising strategies, plans and pipelines
• Confidence working with financial information, budgets and full cost recovery models
• Analytical skills and the ability to translate evidence into compelling funding cases
• Experience line managing or supporting the development of staff (desirable)
• A collaborative, curious and values‑driven approach to work
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and lived‑experience principles

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​Full outline in the Job description below. 

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Why Samaritans?

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At Samaritans, people matter deeply. We know that meaningful impact starts with how we support each other.

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We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and flexible workplace where everyone can thrive. We value diversity of thought, background and lived experience, and we actively encourage applications from people from all communities.

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Every person at Samaritans plays a role in helping fewer people die by suicide. If you are motivated by purpose, compassion and the opportunity to make a lasting difference, we would love to hear from you.

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For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available below. You can also visit our careers website to access this.

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We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans. 

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To Apply

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Please complete the application questions including those outlined below, and submit your CV.​

Please note the following questions have a 300-word limit for each answer.​​

Q1 What interests you about Samaritans and our work? What do you think might make Samaritans compelling to Trust Funders?

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Q2 Tell us about your demonstrable experience securing six‑figure Trust or Statutory grants. What approaches did you use to build your pipeline, cultivate funders and secure large or multiyear grants?

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Q3 This role requires strong project leadership, cross‑organisational collaboration and stakeholder management. Can you share an example of how you have led a large programme application, and what your approach to collaboration and stakeholder management was in delivering a successful outcome?

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We kindly ask that you don’t rely on AI tools for your application answers, or to generate interview answers. We want to see your own unique ideas and writing skills. We want your application to stand out from the rest and showcase your own strengths.

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Applications close at midnight on Monday 25 May

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Interviews

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All applicants will receive notification of the outcome of their application, at the appropriate time.​

1st stage interviews will be online: w/c 1 June

2nd stage interviews will be held in person in our Surrey office (KT17 2AF). Date TBC.

Job Title: Finance Business Partner

Location: Homeworking with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London). The role will also be considered on a fully homeworking basis.

Salary: £47,701.95 per annum plus £3000 London Weighting (which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Full Time, Fixed Term (until April 2027)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Finance Business Partner on an interim fixed term contract basis during a period of significant change for the charity. 

Refuge is transforming the way it manages its finances, modernising all aspects of financial management across the organisation with the implementation of a new finance system.

We are looking for an experienced Finance Business Partner to cover this Interim Fixed Term Maternity cover contract, you will bring a deep understanding of delivering a modern finance partnering service, ideally in a charity or housing association setting.  As the Finance Business Partner in this very hands-on role, you will manage and carry out all aspects of business partnering, preparation of monthly management information and insights to meet the needs of our colleagues across the organisation.

This is an exciting time to join an organisation which provides crucial services to women and children, helping us build our capabilities and make a significant contribution. This is a fixed term contract role and will allow you to focus on delivering what we need in the short term, whilst putting in the foundations for the next stages of financial transformation.

If you are inspired by our mission and would like to bring your skills and energy to our work, we look forward to receiving your application.

Closing Date: 09:00am 26 May 2026

Interview Date: Week Commencing 8 June 2026