Children support volunteer volunteer jobs in Edgware, greater london

Head of philanthropy

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About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Philanthropy to lead and transform our major donor programme. This role is full time, based at our King’s Cross office in London, with hybrid working in place. The successful candidate will work 2–3 days per week on site and meeting donors, with the remainder worked remotely.

This is a critical senior leadership role responsible for developing and delivering an ambitious philanthropy strategy that builds a sustainable pipeline of five, six and seven-figure, multi-year gifts from high-net-worth individuals.

You will shape and grow a sector-leading major donor programme – strengthening stewardship, building influential networks and inspiring transformational support for people with complex disabilities.

What You’ll Lead

Strategic Income Growth

• Develop and deliver an ambitious philanthropy strategy.
• Build and manage a sustainable, multi-year pipeline of five, six and seven-figure gifts.
• Review and enhance stewardship journeys and relationship management standards.
• Expand and develop mid-level giving programmes to grow supporter volume and value.
• Identify, engage and steward key ambassadors and networks.
• Deliver high-impact events that generate strong return on investment.
• Develop compelling, emotionally engaging proposals and presentations.

Leadership & Culture

• Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing philanthropy team.
• Coach and empower managers to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Model inclusive, values-led leadership.
• Partner with senior leaders across the organisation to align strategy and propositions.
• Embed collaboration and co-production across fundraising activity.

Performance & Governance

• Take full accountability for budgets, KPIs and income targets.
• Monitor and forecast income performance, taking corrective action where needed.
• Lead cross-team strategic initiatives that strengthen capability and shared learning.
• Ensure compliance with the Fundraising Regulator Code of Conduct, GDPR and data protection requirements.

About You

We are looking for a strategic, relationship-led fundraising leader with a proven track record of securing transformational support from high-net-worth individuals.

You will bring:

• Demonstrable experience of transforming a major donor programme.
• Proven success securing and stewarding multi-year, five and six-figure gifts (and above).
• Significant leadership experience within the not-for-profit sector.
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis.
• Data-driven decision-making skills (ideally with experience of Power BI, MS Dynamics or similar).
• Exceptional communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• A values-led approach that authentically includes people with lived experience.
• The ability to operate confidently within a large and complex organisation.

You will also be willing to travel within the UK and attend occasional evening and weekend events.

About Sense

We believe that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Sense is proud to be a disability confident leader.

Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition, we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement.

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. 

Salary: £62,651 per annum

Contract Type:                         Fixed Term Contract – Maternity Cover (up to 12 months)

Closing date:                         12 April 2026 at 11pm

Interview date:                      4 – 15 May 2026

About CARE

CARE International is a global humanitarian organisation leading the fight to end poverty in the world’s most challenging situations. Women and girls are at the centre of our work, because we cannot overcome poverty and inequality until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We know that when a crisis erupts, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, so we work alongside women, so they have the power to make change where it’s needed most. Founded in 1945, CARE currently works in over 100 countries and last year alone reached 53.4 million people through nearly 1,500 projects.

Why work for CARE International UK?

CARE International UK is currently developing its new 4-year Strategy working within the CARE International Vision 2030, which will launch in July 2026. The strategy will build on our focus on women’s leadership in crisis, seeking to work more directly with women’s rights/women-led organisations. The post-holder will be joining us just as we begin implementing the strategy, and this will be an exciting time to shape new and evolving ways of working with women’s rights activists from across the globe. The Advocacy and Influencing team are central to achieving the goals of the strategy by encouraging the UK  Government and other UK-based stakeholders to use their power on the world stage to counter the rollback on women’s rights.

The Head of Advocacy and Influencing is a key organisational leadership role and will be part of the CIUK Extended Leadership Team working with other heads of team and the senior leadership team to help run the organisation effectively and deliver the 4-year strategy.

About you

You will have significant experience of advocacy and/or public affairs with a track record of driving strategies that achieve measurable policy, attitude or legislative change. You will be a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills in English, and the ability to translate complex issues into plain English. You will have experience of project management and preferably budget management, particularly team or donor-funded project management. You will be media trained and confident speaking to and influencing a range of external senior stakeholders.

In past roles, you will have line managed colleagues and may have managed teams, and will know how to work with others, including in coalition with other organisations, to design and deliver advocacy campaigns. You will understand how to motivate your team to deliver against an organizational strategy. Your leadership style will be aligned with CIUK’s feminist leadership principles and values. You will have strong understanding of, and preferably experience working on, international development issues, in particular with reference to gender equality.

About the role

The Head of Advocacy and Influencing is a leadership role with significant responsibility for external analysis and positioning for CIUK - including through regular updates to the board Impact and Transformation Committee. The role is responsible for providing strategic direction for CIUK and CI’s advocacy and influencing and leading the team to deliver UK and globally facing advocacy campaigns. The role is responsible for ensuring high quality publications and managing sign off and profile risks as part of CIUK’s risk management strategy. The Head of Advocacy and Influencing will also act as a senior external spokesperson for the organization to the media, parliament and public events. The role has significant responsibility for positioning and meeting expectations of donors who fund the team’s work.  The Head of Advocacy and Influencing is critical for ensuring the CEO and SLT have up-to-date power analysis, political analysis and policy lines for external engagement with high level targets.  

As the manager and contract holder for the Centenary Action Group campaign and fundraising coordinator and a standing member on the Steering board of the Centenary Action Group, the role also manages CARE UK’s role as a convener and ally of the UK women’s rights movement in line with our global commitment to shift the power and localization.

The role covers four main areas of responsibility:

Strategic Leadership & Delivery

Play a key role in the delivery of CIUK’s new 4-year strategy. Lead cross-organisational teams to deliver high quality policy analysis, advocacy and campaign strategies to UK government, parliamentary and private sector targets. Work with communications to design and deliver integrated campaign plans.

External representation and relationship management

Build the visibility and reputation of CIUK by building and managing key external relationships in government, parliament, private sector and across the sector, including in coalitions and alliances. Provide strategic advice on political developments, external opportunities, and risks, ensuring timely and well-informed positioning, and prepare the CEO/SLT for high-level external engagements. Serve as a senior spokesperson for CIUK in political, media, and public forums. Work with the CARE confederation to develop advocacy lines and approaches.

Thought leadership and Policy Development

Provide strategic leadership of the Gates Foundation partnership, delivering against expectations and securing further funding from this and other donors. Ensure a rigorous evidence base for CIUK’s policy agenda, both by working with CIUK’s team of thematic experts, as well as commissioning and managing research projects where needed. Prepare and approve briefings, position papers, op-eds and other communications in support of CARE UK’s influencing goals. Oversee CIUK’s strategic role in Centenary Action, including representation on the Steering Group and overall coordination. 

Team and line management

Set and drive the advocacy and influencing team’s annual plans and contribution to the organisation’s strategic priorities. Be accountable to delivering on team KPIs and organisational KPIs that link to the team’s work, and for managing the team’s budget. Play a key role in the leadership of the Programme and Policy department. Provide strong line management to direct reports and demonstrate a strong personal commitment to CIUK’s equity, diversity and inclusion goals and feminist leadership principles.

Right to Work in the UK

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of appointment. Proof of right to work will be required as part of the recruitment process. For more information, please visit the UK Government's guidance on right to work. Where you do not have current right to work in the UK, then this will be discussed with you as part of the recruitment process. Please note that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship and further information (should you require sponsorship to work in the UK) on eligibility can be found here.

Safeguarding 

CARE International UK has a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse to, sexual harassment of or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. CARE International UK expects all staff to share this commitment through our Safeguarding Policy (link here) and our Code of Conduct (link here). They are responsible for ensuring they understand and work within the remit of these policies throughout their time at CARE International UK.

Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. All offers of employment at CARE International UK are subject to: 

· Satisfactory references. CARE International UK participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (link here).  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. 

· Appropriate criminal record checks (including a Bridger check, link here).

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures. 

Equality and Diversity

We are committed to Equality and value Diversity. We are a Disability Confident Employer and particularly welcome applications from disabled people. We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role (see person specification). If you require the candidate brief or need to submit your application in an alternative format, because of a disability, please do get in touch by sending an email to HR.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from people of underrepresented backgrounds, including those from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Salary:                                 £62,651 per annum

Contract Type:                     Fixed Term Contract – Paternity Cover (up to 10 months)

Closing date:                       7 April 2026 at 11pm

Interview date:                  4 – 15 May 2026

About CARE

CARE International is a global humanitarian organisation leading the fight to end poverty in the world’s most challenging situations. Women and girls are at the centre of our work, because we cannot overcome poverty and inequality until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We know that when a crisis erupts, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, so we work alongside women, so they have the power to make change where it’s needed most. Founded in 1945, CARE currently works in over 100 countries and last year alone reached 53.4 million people through nearly 1,500 projects.

Why work for CARE International UK?

CARE International UK is currently developing its new 4-year Strategy working within the CARE International Vision 2030, which will launch in July 2026. The strategy will build on our focus on women’s leadership in crisis, and expand on our strengths in anticipatory action and women’s access to economic opportunities. This includes investing in CIUK’s Early Action Fund, which sits within the Programme Management Team and works with country offices to support communities to prepare for and respond to climate and conflict-related emergencies. The Programme Management Team is at the centre of driving the impact we want to achieve through our new strategy, and continuing to work towards our goal of giving more power, resources and space to local organisations and communities, in particular to women-led organisations and women activists, so they can lead the decisions, debates and programmes that affect their lives.

The Head of Programme Management is a key organisational leadership role and will be part of the CIUK Extended Leadership Team working with other heads of team and the senior leadership team to help run the organisation effectively and deliver the 4-year strategy. CIUK’s restricted income from donors is significant and is CIUK’s largest income stream; as such the Head of PMT has a high level of responsibility for stewardship and effective management of the ongoing programme portfolio. Our largest programmes are complex multi-partner consortia in fragile contexts with budgets of up to £60m. The role-holder also has a crucial role to play in identifying learning from our programmes and sharing these across CARE and the sector.

About you

You will have demonstrated experience working with a range of donors, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with deep knowledge of how the FCDO operates, how they are structured and contract programmes, as well as their current priorities. You will also have experience delivering programmes with corporate partners, and trusts and foundations. You will have the ability to build strong relationships and have demonstrated ability to negotiate complex contracts with donors and influence donor positions. You will have a strong programme management and risk management background that allows you to understand and work across multiple projects and contexts, and manage risk at the portfolio level, dealing effectively with new risks and issues as they emerge.

As a leader of a large team, you will have strong people leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate strategy into action, motivate colleagues and demonstrate to team members how their role links to organisational strategy and objectives. Your leadership style will be aligned with CIUK’s feminist leadership principles and values. You will need to have experience of working in donor-funded organisations, understand cost recovery models, and have experience working to deliver large-scale programming in development and/or humanitarian contexts.  A good understanding of the current debates in the sector on local leadership and a commitment to the principles set out in the pledge for change are essential.

About the role

The Head of Programme Management leads a large team to oversee all of CIUK’s active humanitarian and development projects funded by UK donors. The team leads CIUK’s relationships with Country Offices and Regions and develops close partnerships to help us achieve long-term and effective programming across the humanitarian and development arena. The team also builds strong relationships with institutional donors and works with the Partnerships and Philanthropy team to deliver corporate-funded programmes. The Head of Programme Management is responsible for ensuring strong grant management and donor compliance including programme financial management. The team ensures that CARE provides and is recognised by donors for offering excellent value for money and real impact for its programme participants. The team also leads CIUK’s approach to delivering smart development and humanitarian programmes with an increasing focus on equitable partnership approaches. 

The role covers four main areas of responsibility:

Representation and relationship management

Holding relationships with a set of senior stakeholders including FCDO Senior Responsible Owners, other donor counterparts, CARE Country Directors, Programme Directors and Regional Directors. Negotiating contract terms with donors and troubleshooting delivery issues with country offices. Positioning CARE’s work to external stakeholders, including personally representing CIUK in external forums and with donors.

Organisational and team leadership, strategy and planning:

Set and drive the programme management team’s annual plans and contribution to the organisation’s strategic priorities. Be accountable to delivering on team KPIs and organisational KPIs that link to PMT’s work. Play a key role in the leadership of the Programme and Policy department. Provide strong line management to direct reports and demonstrate a strong personal commitment to CIUK’s equity, diversity and inclusion goals and feminist leadership principles.

Financial and compliance management

Provide close and effective management of multi-million pound budgets. Reforecast accurately throughout the year, identifying and working with country offices to rectify implementation issues. Manage risks and issues at portfolio level, raising high and critical risks for attention by senior leadership and board as necessary. Ensure donor compliance is followed.

Programme quality, monitoring evaluation and learning

Ensure that CIUK closely monitors project implementation, relevance of programme outputs and outcomes and ensures programmes meet relevant technical standards and up to date best practice. Programmes fulfil requirements on programme quality and adhere to do no harm standards, the Core Humanitarian Standard, and ensure that CARE’s safeguarding standards are met throughout the life of the programme. Proactively share knowledge from CIUK’s programmes across the confederation and externally.

Right to Work in the UK

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of appointment. Proof of right to work will be required as part of the recruitment process. For more information, please visit the UK Government's guidance on right to work. Where you do not have current right to work in the UK, then this will be discussed with you as part of the recruitment process. Please note that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship and further information (should you require sponsorship to work in the UK) on eligibility can be found here.

Safeguarding 

CARE International UK has a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse to, sexual harassment of or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. CARE International UK expects all staff to share this commitment through our Safeguarding Policy (link here) and our Code of Conduct (link here). They are responsible for ensuring they understand and work within the remit of these policies throughout their time at CARE International UK.

Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. All offers of employment at CARE International UK are subject to: 

· Satisfactory references. CARE International UK participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (link here).  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. 

· Appropriate criminal record checks (including a Bridger check, link here).

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures. 

Equality and Diversity

We are committed to Equality and value Diversity. We are a Disability Confident Employer and particularly welcome applications from disabled people. We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role (see person specification). If you require the candidate brief or need to submit your application in an alternative format, because of a disability, please do get in touch by sending an email to HR.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from people of underrepresented backgrounds, including those from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Role Overview:
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with their client on a fantastic Interim Internal Communications Officer role. This position plays a vital part in ensuring staff feel informed, engaged, and connected through engaging content and dynamic channels, supporting the organisation’s strategic goals during a crucial transitional period.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with senior team members to develop and implement internal communications strategies that foster engagement and clarity.
• Craft compelling, accessible content for a variety of channels including intranet, newsletters, emails, posters, digital screens, and online communities.
• Interview colleagues and shape initial inputs into polished stories and updates, ensuring clarity and impact.
• Create basic multimedia assets, including graphics and short videos, to enhance internal messages.
• Manage regular content cycles such as weekly intranet news or newsletters, maintaining high standards and deadlines.
• Lead the production of email updates for colleagues and line managers, ensuring timely delivery and relevance.
• Support the organisation and promotion of internal events, including webinars, town halls, and conferences, from invitation creation to post-event follow-up.
• Maintain and update intranet pages, offering guidance to other teams on content management.
• Monitor and evaluate internal communication effectiveness through data analysis, recommending improvements.
• Act as an initial point of contact for internal communications queries, advising colleagues on content sharing best practices.
• Assist with media monitoring and active participation in team meetings, workshops, and planning sessions.
• Support the preparation of progress updates for trustees, volunteers, and donors by repurposing content and tracking distribution timelines.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience creating and distributing internal communications via digital and face-to-face channels.
• Experience supporting or delivering organisational events, both online and in person.
• Ability to produce engaging stories by interviewing colleagues and shaping content effectively.
• Familiarity with digital tools such as Microsoft SharePoint, Teams, Canva, and basic video editing software.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with an eye for detail.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships across diverse teams.
• Organised, adaptable, and able to manage multiple deadlines with a collaborative approach.

What’s on Offer:

• Pay: £126.48 per day + £22.35 daily holiday
• Location: Hybrid – 2 days per week in Central London Office
• Contract: 4 month contract

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.

Charity People is excited to be partnering with The Talent Foundry, a national education and social mobility charity, as they recruit a Programme Coordinator - a vital role at the heart of delivering their award-winning employability and skills programmes to thousands of young people each year.

"This role sits at the core of how we deliver exceptional experiences for young people. Your attention to detail, organisation and commitment to great service ensures every programme runs smoothly and has meaningful impact." Jemma Shaw, The Talent Foundry

About The Talent Foundry

The Talent Foundry is a high-impact social mobility charity supporting young people aged 7-18 from under-served communities to build confidence, unlock their talents and develop the skills they need to succeed in higher education and the workplace.

They achieve this by:

• Delivering free, skills-based workshops co-created with schools and employers
• Connecting young people with industry professionals and aspirational career pathways
• Encouraging employers to value potential over background
• Partnering with major organisations including Barclays LifeSkills, Dell Technologies, KPMG, ICAEW, Network Rail, NHS and more

Working with 70,000+ young people each year, TTF is ambitious, fast-growing, and committed to scaling its impact through its five-year strategy, Ambition 2030, which aims to reach one million young people.

About the Role

This business-critical Programme Coordinator role ensures the smooth, efficient and high-quality delivery of The Talent Foundry's workshops and programmes across the UK.

Highly administrative, fast-paced and detail-focused, this role suits someone who thrives on organisation, problem-solving and keeping complex delivery moving seamlessly in the background. You will be the operational backbone of multiple programmes across primary and secondary schools.

You will:

• Provide excellent customer service to schools, partners and facilitators
• Manage bookings, scheduling, logistics, diaries and communications
• Support Programme Managers by delivering end-to-end programme administration
• Maintain accurate systems, spreadsheets and CRM records
• Coordinate facilitators, travel, equipment and technical needs
• Monitor feedback and help ensure brilliant participant and partner experiences
• Contribute to continuous improvement and efficient ways of working

This is a hybrid role requiring confidence working remotely, strong communication skills and the ability to stay self-motivated while balancing multiple priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Coordination & Administration

• Coordinate multiple programmes simultaneously, ensuring smooth end-to-end delivery
• Manage school bookings, session schedules, logistics and facilitator allocation
• Provide clear and timely communication to teachers, partners and internal teams
• Support Programme Managers to meet programme goals and timelines

Systems, Processes & Data

• Use spreadsheets, databases and CRM systems to plan, track and report on activity
• Ensure all processes are followed accurately, contributing to efficiency improvements
• Manage travel, accommodation and technical arrangements for sessions and events

Customer Service & Continuous Improvement

• Deliver excellent service for schools, volunteers and facilitators
• Gather and act on feedback to help improve programme quality
• Occasionally attend workshops to observe delivery and understand impact

Team Contribution

• Work collaboratively with Programme Managers, Coordinators, facilitators and the Schools Engagement Team
• Attend monthly Team Together Days in London
• Uphold safeguarding, data protection, and organisational policies
• Demonstrate a "one-team" approach, contributing to a positive and inclusive culture

About You

You will bring:

• Strong organisational and administrative experience
• Confidence managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication skills and a warm, professional approach
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Excel and spreadsheets)
• A solutions-focused mindset and the ability to stay calm under pressure
• Experience coordinating projects or programmes
• CRM experience (essential)

A passion for social mobility and supporting young people is essential.
TTF particularly welcomes applicants with lived experience of the challenges faced by under-served communities.

Salary, Benefits & Working Arrangements

Permanent, full-time
Salary: £26,000

Monthly in-person Team Together Days in London (approx. 2-3 days per month)
37.5 hours per week

£26,000 per year

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays
• Hybrid home-based working
• Monthly Team Together Days in London (travel required)
• Travel to school sites nationwide (expenses paid)
• £500 annual learning & development budget
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity package after three years
• Pension scheme with employer contributions
• Birthday afternoon off

How to Apply

If you are excited by this opportunity and keen to play a pivotal role supporting young people to discover their potential, please send your CV to to request the full job pack.

If your experience aligns with what we're looking for, we'll be in touch to arrange an initial Teams call and talk you through the next steps.

Key Dates

Launch: Wednesday 25^th March 2026
Closing date: COP Tuesday 7^th April
Interviews: Monday 13^th April

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Context and Purpose of the Role

After five years of dedicated leadership, GROW’s Managing Director is moving on. We are now seeking an exceptional, values-led leader to guide GROW through the next phase of our 2030 strategy and help realise our ambition to become a movement-shaping force within agroecology.

GROW is entering a pivotal stage of growth. Our focus now is on strengthening team capacity, centring community voice, developing pathways to leadership and employment, deepening hyper-local networks, and contributing more visibly to the agroecology sector.

With strong financial foundations, a committed team, and a long-standing partnership with a progressive secondary school, this is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation uniquely positioned at the intersection of farming, education, and community action.

The Managing Director will provide clear strategic direction and overall leadership, ensuring GROW remains responsibly-governed, financially resilient, and grounded in its agroecological values. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, they will nurture and inspire a multidisciplinary team of 16 employees and freelancers, strengthen key partnerships, and guide the organisation’s continued development and impact.

Job Title: Managing Director
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Salary: £48,000-£53,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 40 hours per week (9am-5pm with 1-hour paid lunch break)
Location: Hybrid. Minimum 3 days a week on site at The Totteridge Academy, Barnet Lane, N20 8AZ (more days on site expected for the first 3-6 months)
Pension: GROW participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 30% off all GROW Farm produce, annual training budget, subsidised lunches, and a generous holiday allowance of 28 days plus bank holidays.
Probation period: 6 months

GROW is a site-based organisation, and our farm sits at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for a Managing Director who is as comfortable talking with students, volunteers and visitors as they are shaping strategy and leading the organisation’s future. This is a role for a thoughtful, adaptable and hands-on leader who can hold the big picture while staying closely connected to our farm, outdoor programmes and the communities we work alongside.

Leadership at GROW is practical, relational and rooted in place. One day you might be gathering feedback from our Student Board of Advisors, listening to how our programmes are working for the young people who shape them. The next, you might be at the farm stall chatting with local community members selling jars of GROW’s homemade pickles. The Managing Director helps ensure that these everyday moments remain central to the organisation.

The successful candidate will lead a small, committed team of 16 staff, nurturing a culture that is collaborative, knowledgeable and grounded in our values. They will guide GROW’s strategic direction while staying attentive to the daily rhythms of farm and school life that make it a vibrant place for learning, growing and connection. 

Trustees recognise the breadth of this role and are committed to strengthening the organisation’s operational capacity. An early priority for the new Managing Director will be to shape and secure support for an additional capacity-building role that complements their leadership and enables GROW to thrive in the years ahead.

1. Strategy, Governance & Risk

• Provide overall leadership and strategic development of the charity.
• Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Trustees quarterly.
• Ensure charity policies and legal guidelines are up to date, clearly communicated, and embedded in everyday culture.
• Ensure statutory filings (e.g. Charity Commission, Companies House) are accurate and timely.
• Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, including charity law, employment law, data protection, health & safety, safeguarding, and environmental regulations.
• Lead on crisis management and serious incident reporting.
• Prepare high-quality written reports for Board and sub-committee meetings.
• Advise Trustees on strategic opportunities, risks, and sector trends. Support Trustee recruitment, induction, and development.
• Enable Trustees to fulfil their governance responsibilities effectively.
• Engage relevant professional expertise where appropriate to support decision making. 

2. Operations, Education & Farm

• Ensure operational resilience, deputising and covering critical functions during staff absence.
• Work closely with Education Leads to develop the quality of our educational
• programmes, ensuring they align with agroecological principles.
• Ensure thorough Risk Assessments are completed, communicated, and
• implemented for all activities and programmes.
• Support the income generation strategy for the Farm.
• Support the Farm Manager with infrastructure development, including planning permission applications.

3. Finance & Fundraising

• Act as the main point of contact for the charity’s accountants.
• Develop and oversee organisational budgets, leading annual budget-setting and ongoing monthly, quarterly, and forecast reviews.
• Develop and deliver the annual income generation and fundraising strategy with the Head of Fundraising.
• Oversee effective impact reporting with the Head of Fundraising.
• Develop and implement plans to improve cost-efficiency.
• Support the completion of large and complex fundraising bids.

4. Partnerships

• Act as the main point of contact for GROW’s key partner, The Totteridge Academy (TTA), and the Academy Trust, United Learning, to ensure the partnership is effective and positive.
• Build and develop partnerships with schools, youth services, local authority, community growing networks and organisations to support the long-term development of educational programmes and participant recruitment and local environmental impact.

5. Marketing & Profile

• Oversee the charity’s overall marketing and communications strategy.
• Retain strategic oversight of all core marketing and communications, including the press opportunities, charity’s website, printed materials, and promotional content, ensuring that GROW’s voice, values, and impact are communicated clearly and consistently.
• Build and enhance the charity’s public profile through events, speaking engagements, and external representation.

6. People, HR & Safeguarding

• Manage and support the team to effectively perform their roles and develop within GROW, ensuring staff are fully trained and confident with organisational policies.
• Lead the recruitment and onboarding of all staff in line with Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Safeguarding policies, and Safer Recruitment best practice.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensure compliance with any safeguarding requirements set by partner school, The Totteridge Academy.
• Be rigorously mindful of child safeguarding at all times, embedding safeguarding policies in everyday culture and remain up to date with relevant legislation and training.
• Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.
• Develop progressive internal systems, policies, and training that promote a fair, inclusive, and supportive workplace, grounded in our agroecological principles.
• Ensuring the organisation is GDPR compliant and acts as the Data Protection Lead.

7. Values & Culture

• Act as a role model for GROW’s guiding agroecological principles and organisational values in all internal and external relationships.
• Create a supportive, nurturing, high-trust culture in which staff and freelancers can thrive.
• Champion a culture of reflection, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Centre community voice in decision making, governance, and organisational strategy

Direct reports:
Farm Manager
TTA Education Lead
Senior Facilitator
Head of Fundraising
Freelance Programme Leads

This job description is not exhaustive; as a small and evolving charity, flexibility is essential and all staff are expected to take a hands-on approach and support wider organisational needs where required.
 

Person Specification

Essential Personal Qualities

• Strong alignment with GROW’s mission, agroecological principles, and organisational values.
• Ability to lead and nurture a strong, cohesive, and collaborative team intuitively
• and with empathy.
• Resilient and adaptable.
• Calm under pressure.
• Collaborative by nature and solution-focussed in approach.
• Strong commitment to inclusive working practices and social justice.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience working in a Senior Leadership role within a not-for-profit,
• education, and/or environmental sectors.
• Experience of building and maintaining successful partnership work, for example
• with farms, schools, local authorities, funders, and/or community organisations.
• Significant experience of managing and developing staff and freelancers in a
• small team.
• Proven ability to lead organisational strategy and translate it into operational plans.
• Experience working with, and reporting to, a Board or governing body.
• Experience of financial management, including budgets, forecasting, and working with accountants.
• Track record in contributing to fundraising, including securing major bids.
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance, and risk in a regulated environment.
• Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth, or community context.
• Understanding of legal, progressive and inclusive HR systems and policies.
• Ability to develop and oversee marketing and communications that clearly articulate organisational mission, build community engagement and support financial sustainability.
• Demonstrable experience handling and reviewing legal documentation, including contracts, leases, and formal agreements.

Essential Skills & Abilities

• Strategic thinker, able to see and drive forward the “big picture” while managing operational detail.
• Skilled and inclusive people manager, able to motivate, develop, and challenge others.
• Excellent, adaptable and confident communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a broad and competing workload.
• Effective decision-making and ability to work independently with accountability.
• Strong relationship-builder with credibility across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to lead teams through change and uncertainty.
• Strong organisational and administrative capability.
• Sound judgement and a high level of discretion when handling confidential or sensitive matters.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of agroecological farming.
• Experience working with local councils, schools, academy trusts, and authorities.
• Knowledge of charity and regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of the local Barnet area.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

At GROW we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace. All qualified and eligible applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, gender identity or expression, race, national origin, religion or belief,
disability, age, sexual orientation or pregnancy and maternity. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities, especially those who are under-represented in the charity and food growing sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, people from the global majority, neurodivergent individuals, and those with a range of lived experiences. 

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and brings a rich mix of perspectives, skills, cultures, and ways of thinking.

Portfolio Manager, Funding Department

12 Month Fixed Term Contract

£45,905 - £48,848 pa

City of London E1 8QS and we are a hybrid working organisation

Please note this is a hybrid role based on the successful candidate working at least two days a week in our London office. Remote contracts would not be considered for this role.

Purpose of Role

The Portfolio Manager plays a key role in the success of Comic Relief’s team responsible for grants that address the effects of poverty. This role is focused on food insecurity in the UK.

The Portfolio Manager will hold direct responsibility for new Comic Relief grant making and ongoing grant management in the UK, ensuring excellent grant making practice.

The Portfolio Manager will collaborate with other teams in the funding department and across the wider organisation to support Comic Relief’s overall objectives, including income generation.

This role sits in a team that also focuses on areas such as homelessness, early childhood development, maternal and child health, and forced migration.

Key responsibilities:

Grant making and ongoing grant management

· Manage new grant making, including working with colleagues to design funding opportunities, assessing funded partners, designing appropriate ongoing support mechanisms, and working with learning colleagues in the Funding Team on appropriate data collection

· Manage assigned funding portfolios and relationships with funded partners, ensuring that the portfolio is managed in a timely and responsive way, using Comic Relief’s (CR’s) systems and processes.

· Coordinate with other colleagues across the different teams in the funding department to ensure effective and efficient ways of working, and fruitful collaboration and learning across different funded issues and areas.

· Manage all ongoing requirements, such as narrative, financial and risk reporting, collaborating across the funding team and wider Comic Relief as appropriate.

· Work with the Assurance and Finance teams to ensure ongoing compliance across the portfolio with legal requirements, our grant conditions, reporting requirements and best practice.

· Collaborate with Partnerships colleagues to manage donor reporting and other information needs for external and internal use, such as information about our funded work and our partners.

Cross organisation and sector collaboration

· Support resource mobilisation partnerships through collaborative and supportive working with Comic Relief’s communications, fundraising and partnership teams.

· Work with the Partnerships Team to support strong relationships with existing and potential co-funding partners, including corporates and/or trusts, foundations and institutions, and support proposal development, reporting and other requirements.

· Work collaboratively across CR to support storytelling around CR’s impact.

· Develop a good understanding of areas of social change within assigned funding portfolios and areas of new grant making to be able to represent Comic Relief’s funding and priorities to internal and external stakeholders

· Contribute to internal communications regarding the work of the team and the wider Funding Team.

· Represent Comic Relief to strategic partners and co-funders, in relevant networks, and at external events.

General

· Manage the work of consultants and other contractors as required.

· Communicate in an open, honest and transparent way with funding applicants, funded partners and funding partners.

· Ensure that, when applicable, people with lived or learned experience are actively engaged with our work, contributing to the design and decision-making process of our funding portfolios.

Note: Some UK and/or international travel may be required for this role.

Person specification

Essential criteria

· Significant understanding/experience of the systems and structures that perpetuate social injustice and keep people trapped in poverty, including the best approaches to address them

· Experience and knowledge of grant making and programme design, including developing, implementing and evaluating programmes, and managing grants within a donor and / or implementing organisation.

· Experience of managing restricted donor funding and supporting ongoing donor management (e.g. government funding and/or funding from other institutions, trusts foundations or corporate entities)

· Personal and effective relationship builder with high emotional intelligence to nurture trust and respect in all relationships.

· Motivation, flexibility and resilience to navigate unforeseen challenges and collaborate effectively.

· Analytical thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture and make appropriate and effective decisions.

· An understanding or lived experience of social injustice, and proven track record of working in alignment with Comic Relief’s commitment to social justice, anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and equity

Desirable criteria 

· Experience with or knowledge of decolonising philanthropy and the wider funding sector

· Understanding of, and commitment to, the use of storytelling to engage the public in programmatic work

· Experience of budget management

Perks and benefits:

· Flexible working hours

· Work from home option

· Life Insurance

· Wellness programs

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

· Paid emergency leave

· Sabbatical Opportunities

· Professional development

· Mentoring/coaching

· Paid volunteer days

· Payroll giving

· Salary sacrifice

· Team social events

· Extracurricular clubs

· Cycle to work scheme

· Free fruit

To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.

Comic Relief reserves the right to close the role early if a large number of applications are received.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why work at Comic Relief

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London,

There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.

Disability Confident Employer

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV and application questions.

We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email us via our website to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters.