Head of finance and business systems jobs

Can Do is a start-up using digital technology to create social change. We work across addiction, mental health, homelessness, poverty and justice to help people access the support they need.

We are looking for a general manager to work as part of a small team. This is a practical, hands-on role that keeps the organisation running well day to day. It will suit someone who enjoys creating order, improving systems, and supporting meaningful work behind the scenes.

This is a varied role in a start-up environment. Things are still being built, processes are developing, and we need someone who brings steadiness, organisation, and a calm, reliable approach with a meticulous eye for detail.

We’re looking for someone who:

· Has experience of general management or similar role

· Has worked in a relevant sector, for example addiction, mental health, homelessness, poverty or justice

· Understands and enjoys the reality of a small, evolving start-up

· Is calm, steady and level-headed

· Has meticulous attention to detail and is a practical organiser who gets things done

· Can use digital and AI tools to simplify processes

· Is empathetic and purpose-driven to help people

This role may not be the right fit if:

· You prefer large, structured organisations with established systems

· You are mainly looking for roles centred on visibility, profile, or personal recognition

· You are seeking a heavily defined role rather than one that grows and adapts

If this feels like the kind of work you want to be part of, send your CV and a short note on why you’re interested.

Position: General Manager

Location: London/South East (with UK wide travel as required)

Contract type: Flexible (full or part-time, contractor/employed)

Salary: Up to £50,000 pro rata depending on experience

WHO WE ARE.

Can Do is a start-up using digital technology to create social change. We work across addiction, mental health, homelessness, poverty and justice to help people access and navigate support. We are small, practical, and focused on building something that works for people facing disadvantage.

THE ROLE

You will be the operational lead for the organisation, working in a small team with founder Mark Johnson to turn plans into delivery and ensure the day-to-day running remains smooth and reliable. The role is varied, practical, and suited to someone who enjoys building structure and supporting others to succeed.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

· Someone with experience in general management in a social enterprise, or small start-up

· A meticulous and practical organiser who enjoys making things work and getting things done

· Someone who wants to work with purpose, helping build a socially oriented organisation

· Efficient, empathetic, and comfortable juggling a wide range of tasks

· Tech-savvy and confident using AI/digital tools to make processes simple and efficient

· Flexible: this role could be full-time, part-time, or suit someone returning to work

WHAT YOU’LL DO

· Project management: Plan and manage projects from start to finish, making sure deadlines are met and everyone delivers on their part.

· Meetings and follow-up: Organise and run management meetings, keep notes, and make sure agreed actions happen.

· Governance: Oversee compliance and act as Company Secretary, keeping records accurate and up to date.

· Finance: Use Xero and work with accountants/bookkeepers to oversee budgets, accounts, and financial reports so the numbers are always clear.

· Fundraising and business development: Support funding applications, proposals, and relationships with partners to bring in new opportunities.

· Operations: Keep the day-to-day running smoothly – from diary management and HR basics to coordinating contractors.

· Communications: Maintain simple but effective comms, updating the website and keeping social media active.

SKILLS & QUALITIES

· Strong organisational and project management skills

· An excellent writer, whether contracts, bids or public facing materials

· Experience of operations, governance, and finance oversight in a small organisation

· Confidence managing budgets and financial reporting (not a finance role, but able to keep track)

· Able to communicate clearly and keep people focused

· Empathetic, socially minded, and committed to putting people first

· Steady, reliable, and happy working in the background to let others thrive

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY.

Can Do welcomes applications from people with lived experience of social challenges. We are committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion in our recruitment process and workplace culture.

Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life. We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life.

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working with older people across the UK. 

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

This is a critical and influential role at Independent Age, reporting to the Head of Governance. The post holder will provide high-quality support across a broad and impactful portfolio, including risk management, procurement and contracts, governance, safeguarding and business continuity, helping to build a culture where accountability, learning and continuous improvement drive meaningful change. 

Working closely with senior leaders and the Board, you will play an important role in enabling effective and confident decision-making across every level of the charity. This is an opportunity to contribute across a wide range of areas and to see the direct impact of your work on how the organisation functions and delivers its mission. 

We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for risk management, alongside a strong understanding of not-for-profit governance best practice. You will also bring experience in at least one of the following areas: procurement, contracts management, third party contract risk, business continuity planning, policy management or safeguarding.

You will be an excellent communicator, confident working with senior stakeholders, with strong attention to detail and a proactive, can-do approach. Above all, you will take pride in getting things done efficiently and to a high standard and be motivated by the opportunity to work for a values-led organisation making a meaningful difference to older people.

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9-day fortnight. 

If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the above criteria but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included. In line with this, our office has many inclusive features, and there is no dress code. 

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all, but if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. Those contracted to work in the office are required to attend the office a minimum of 4 days per month. This role supports Board and committee meetings which may be held online or in the office, meaning availability to support with this is required. 

You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the Careers page on our website.

Application Process:

To apply, please visit our website to submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification (please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific requirements and need support to apply in an alternative format).

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Therefore, please do not include your name, photo, or information to indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement. Please do not omit dates of employment. Please ensure the title of any uploads does not contain your name. 

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: Tuesday 14 July, 23:59

1st Interview Dates: Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 July, online via Microsoft Teams 

2nd Interview Dates: Wednesday 29 July, in person at our London Office (Avonmore Road)

Technical Lead (Contract)

Contract: Initial 6-Month Contract (Rolling)
Rate: £500–£650 per day
Location: London (Hybrid Working)
Reporting to: Head of Service Delivery

Technical Lead – Enterprise Technology & Service Operations

We are currently seeking an experienced Technical Lead to join a high-profile organisation on an initial 6-month rolling contract. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on technical leader to take ownership of a complex enterprise technology estate, ensuring operational excellence, resilience, security, and continuous improvement across business-critical systems.

Working closely with the Enterprise Architect, Head of Service Delivery, managed service providers, and senior business stakeholders, you will play a key role in bridging the gap between technology design and operational delivery, ensuring new solutions are successfully transitioned into BAU support and optimised throughout their lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the transition of newly implemented technology solutions into operational support.
• Act as the technical custodian for the live IT environment, ensuring stability, resilience, performance, and security.
• Provide technical governance and oversight of third-party managed service providers.
• Assess technical changes for impact, risk, and alignment with architectural standards.
• Lead root cause analysis and resolution of major incidents and recurring technical issues.
• Maintain technical standards, documentation, and operational architecture artefacts.
• Drive platform lifecycle management, upgrades, patching strategies, and technical debt reduction.
• Collaborate with Security and Resilience teams to ensure secure-by-design principles are embedded throughout the technology estate.
• Facilitate technical reviews with stakeholders to identify risks, improvements, and optimisation opportunities.
• Contribute operational insight into technology roadmap planning and future-state initiatives.
• Ensure compliance, security, and regulatory requirements are effectively managed.

Required Experience

We're looking for a technically strong leader with broad enterprise technology experience and a proven track record of operating within complex environments.

Essential Skills

• Strong technical expertise across enterprise infrastructure, cloud platforms, security, systems, and integration technologies.
• Experience supporting enterprise architecture within operational environments.
• Strong understanding of ITIL and service management best practices.
• Ability to translate architectural designs into sustainable operational support models.
• Experience managing and governing outsourced or managed service providers.
• Strong knowledge of change management, risk assessment, and technical governance.
• Experience balancing BAU support, operational improvement, and strategic technology initiatives.
• Comfortable working within both agile and traditional delivery frameworks.

Stakeholder Management

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to influence senior business and technology stakeholders.
• Proven experience working closely with architects, service delivery teams, and external partners.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive technical discussions and resolve complex issues.
• Passion for operational excellence, documentation standards, and continuous improvement.

What's on Offer?

• Initial 6-month contract with strong likelihood of extension.
• Competitive day rate of £500–£650 per day.
• Hybrid working model with a London-based office.
• Opportunity to influence the operational direction of a large-scale enterprise technology environment.
• Work alongside senior technology leaders and architects on strategically important initiatives.

If you're an experienced Technical Lead with a strong background in enterprise technology operations, service governance, and stakeholder management, we'd like to hear from you.

Operations Officer - Music Charity

Are you an organised, proactive individual who enjoys bringing structure, efficiency and support to a growing organisation? 

Our client is a music focused charity, headed by a leading UK music figure and they are looking for an Operations Officer to join a small, passionate team working towards a meaningful mission: helping ensure every child has access to music and creative opportunities. 

This is a varied and rewarding role that would suit someone who enjoys balancing administration, organisation, governance support and digital systems. No two days are quite the same. You might spend one morning coordinating a Board meeting and preparing papers, then move on to improving internal processes, supporting communications activity or helping keep key organisational records up to date. 

What You'll Be Doing 

Governance & Executive Support 

• Coordinating Board and Committee meetings, including agendas, papers and minute taking. 

• Supporting the CEO and leadership team with diary management and scheduling. 

• Maintaining organised and compliant filing systems in line with GDPR and charity requirements. 

• Managing approval processes and ensuring accurate records are maintained. 

Operations & Administration 

• Maintaining and improving digital filing systems and internal processes. 

• Keeping databases and contact records accurate and up to date. 

• Managing the general inbox, post and office supplies. 

• Supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the organisation. 

Finance & Reporting 

• Maintaining accurate financial records, receipts and approval documentation. 

• Supporting budget tracking and preparing reports for senior leadership and the Board. 

• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and support good financial management. 

Digital & Communications Support 

• Providing occasional support to digital and social media activity, including scheduling content and coordinating assets. 

• Maintaining approved image, video and permissions records. 

• Supporting content approval processes to ensure communications are accurate and compliant. 

About You 

We're looking for someone who is: 

• Experienced in administration, operations or office coordination. 

• Comfortable using Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel and Teams. 

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail. 

• A confident communicator with strong written English. 

• Naturally proactive and enjoys finding ways to improve systems and processes. 

• Interested in digital platforms and comfortable supporting social media activity when needed. 

• Passionate about making a positive difference for young people and communities. 

Experience within the charity sector would be beneficial but is not essential. 

Why Join? 

This is an opportunity to become part of a growing organisation where your contribution will have a genuine impact. You'll work closely with senior leadership, help shape efficient ways of working, and play an important role in supporting a charity that is passionate about widening access to music for children and young people across the UK. 

For someone who believes in the power of music to inspire, connect and transform lives, this role offers the chance to combine strong operational skills with meaningful, purpose-driven work. 

If you're looking for a varied role within a friendly, ambitious team that is helping create more opportunities for young people through music, we'd love to hear from you. 

London | £28000 - £30,000 DOE 
Hybrid Working: Tuesday-Thursday in the office, Monday & Friday from home 
Core Hours: 10am-6pm 

Impact and Learning Manager

37.5 hours per week (full time)

£45K per annum

Fixed Term 12 months with possibility of extension subject to funding

About YBI

We are the global leader in youth entrepreneurship. For over 25 years we’ve combined global influence with local knowledge and experience.

We are the only global organisation dedicated to youth entrepreneurship and combine global influence with local knowledge and experience. All work with young people is delivered by and designed in consultation with local experts and organisations, enabling us to successfully deliver global programmes with bespoke solutions in varied contexts.

Our model enables us to deliver a wide range of solutions that span geographies, respond to thematic priorities and evolve with new technologies and fresh challenges.

The Role

We are looking for an Impact and Learning Manager.

The core purpose of the role is to manage YBI’s impact measurement, coordinate programme monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), strengthen data quality and generate actionable insights that inform organisational decision-making.

You will also support the delivery of member engagement initiatives, learning activities, communities of practice, and member experience evaluation, helping to ensure excellent experience in the network.

Please view the full job description and person specification, by clicking on the link below to download the document.

How to apply

• Please review the job description and person specification first.
• Please submit your CV (maximum 2 x A4) and cover letter. 
• You must ensure that these documents clearly demonstrate the expertise, skills, experience and competencies required for this role as they will be used to shortlist you.
• Closing date is 10th July 2026 at 1pm.  Please submit your application as soon as possible as we will be considering applications and interviewing on a rolling basis and may close the advert sooner.
• Candidates must be legally entitled to work in the UK at the time of application as YBI is not a sponsoring organisation.

The Interview Process

• We will have a panel interviews online – dates TBC as interviews will take place on a rolling basis.
• Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a work sample/skills test in line with the requirements of the role.

We look forward to receiving your application.

The Senior Seafood Program Manager works closely with our funder and implementation partner,

Humanity United, acting as a strategic thought partner to advance our shared goals. The role will hold overall responsibility for management of the portf

olio including program and strategy development, budgeting, monitoring and reporting and grant-making.

The role holder will represent the Freedom Fund at high level sectoral events; engaging with a wide range of stakeholders related to the program, building connections that advance our shared priorities.

This role is a fixed term contract, aligned to our next phase of funding partnership with Humanity United for the Asia Pacific seafood program.  The position is expected to commence in September 2026 and continue through to December 2028, with the possibility of an extension.

Interview process: 2 stage interview process: week commencing  14th August 2026
Please see the job description for all details.

Communications Manager

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on communications all-rounder with a breadth of skills to lead all regional and local communications activities in the areas where we are developing new Youth Zones.

The breadth of this role means no two days are the same, which is why we are seeking somebody organised, dynamic and self-motivated with exceptional project management and stakeholder management skills.

Working for an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from under-represented groups; in particular from Black, Asian, Mixed Race & other ethnically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+ communities.

Position: Regional Communications Manager

Location: Hybrid working: two days a week in an OnSide office (based in either Bolton or White City, London) combined with home-working and travel across our Youth Zones Network (including those in development) plus occasional other travel as required.

Salary: £40 - £45k per annum

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours/week)

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: Agile working with flexibility in working hours; 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising to a maximum of 30 days); birthday leave, additional annual leave purchase scheme; company matched pension; company sick, maternity, paternity & adoption pay; Employee Assistance Programme, active and engaged networks to join (including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) and access to Charity Worker discounts.

Closing Date: 12 noon on Monday 13 July 2026 (We may close this role early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.)

First stage interviews (virtual): Thursday 16 July 2026

Second stage interviews (in-person): Thursday 22 July, Location TBC

About the Role

With 19 Open Youth Zones, supporting 60,000 young people, the organisation is moving into a period of steady growth towards their long-term goal of 35 Youth Zones by 2035. This role will take sole responsibility for communications activity across live and established projects including those currently in development.

This is a key role within the communications team that will see you create understanding and awareness between the charity and the key local and regional audiences that matter to us as. 

This role will involve managing a portfolio of end-to-end integrated communications and PR programmes across multiple Youth Zones at various stages of development. You will work closely with the teams, each Youth Zone’s relationship managers and fundraisers, as well as its CEO, and Trustee Board, and Young People's Development Group, acting as their trusted communications advisor. You will also collaborate with local stakeholders including Local Authority communications leads and supporters, to help establish the new Youth Zones as independent charities.

It is important to note that this role lays the foundations for each new Youth Zones’ ongoing communications approach. For each project you will be required to effectively and smoothly handover to the Youth Zones full time communication resource once in place while continuing to provide light touch ongoing support - so some experience mentoring or coaching and supporting others is beneficial.

About You

We will be looking for someone that can demonstrate a broad range of communications skills from brand development to working with local media to place newsworthy, positive stories around the Youth Zone development, to supporting the development of new Youth Zone websites and the launch of social media channels.

You will have experience of:

· Communications, either in agency or in house 

· All-round integrated communications experience, including PR, copywriting and digital

· Building relationships with journalists and working with the media

· Advising internal and external teams and stakeholders at all levels

· Working directly with young people.

· Using digital platforms and tools such as MailChimp, Hootsuite, WordPress and Google Analytics

· Managing creative/design/digital agencies and briefing design and print teams

If you are as confident pitching a story to media as you are managing a branding project or overseeing an event, then this could be the role for you.

About the Organisation

A national charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose that fund and build state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound youth centres called Youth Zones in the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas. The organisation trains the amazing people that run them and offers continuing support to youth zones nationwide through a national network of independent youth charities.

It’s about opportunity.

You may have experience in areas such as Accountant, Business Account, Finance Manager, Director of Finance, Head of Finance, Finance and Systems, Director of Finance and Systems, Finance and Systems Manager, Finance and Systems Lead.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Senior Programme Manager

We are seeking a Senior Programme Manager to lead a flagship initiative shaping how capital markets deliver better outcomes for children and future generations.

Salary: £56,000–£65,000 (dependent on experience) + 30 days’ annual leave (pro rata) and 10% employer pension
Location: Central London (hybrid – 60% office / 40% home)
Contract: 12-month fixed term - (4 or 5 days per week)
Start date: As soon as available
Closing date: Please apply promptly as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

About the role

This is a senior, high-impact position leading a flagship “Investing for Future Generations” Lab, focused on transforming how capital markets understand and respond to children’s lives and outcomes.

You will shape and deliver a market-leading programme designed to embed children’s outcomes into investment decision-making, moving them from a moral concern to a recognised financial consideration. Acting as a central coordinating “backbone”, you will bring together investors, policymakers and partners to drive system-level change.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the strategy, theory of change and delivery roadmap for the Lab
• Building and coordinating a high-impact cross-sector coalition
• Managing programme budgets, governance, risks and reporting
• Producing practical outputs such as investor frameworks, policy papers and insights
• Influencing policy and supporting an enabling environment for impact investment
• Driving partnerships, fundraising and stakeholder engagement
• Contributing to organisational leadership as part of the senior management team

About you

You are a strategic and collaborative leader with experience operating across complex environments and multiple stakeholders.

You will bring:

• Proven ability to design and deliver ambitious strategies with system-wide impact
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, including at senior levels
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence in public speaking and stakeholder engagement
• Experience working with or alongside capital markets, investment or policy environments
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• A passion for using finance as a force for positive societal change

Experience in impact investing or children-focused policy is beneficial but not essential.

About the organisation

This independent, purpose-driven organisation works to transform capital markets to support a fairer, greener and more resilient future. Through collaborative programmes, research and partnerships, it mobilises private capital to address pressing societal challenges.

The organisation is values-led, ambitious and collaborative, with a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity. Flexible working is supported, and applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in finance and policy.

Other roles you may have experience of could include:
Programme Director, Impact Investment Manager, Policy & Partnerships Lead, Strategy Lead, Head of Programmes, Investment Director, Social Impact Lead, Senior Project Director.

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

About Hackney School of Food

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

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

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

About the role

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

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

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

Key priorities

In your first 12 months you will:

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

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

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

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

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

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

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

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

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

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

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

Financial sustainability and income generation 

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

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

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

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

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

Partnerships & External Relations

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

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

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

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

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

Governance and public benefit 

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

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

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

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

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

• Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks. 

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

People, Culture and safeguarding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Risk Management & Compliance

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

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

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

Personal specification

Essential experience 

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.

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

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

Essential skills and attributes

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

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

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

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

• Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills. 

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

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

Desirable 

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

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

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

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

An inclusive workplace

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

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

How to apply

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. Recruitment will take place mainly through schools. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

 The Procurement Lead is responsible for developing and delivering a robust procurement and commercial strategy that ensures value for money, compliance with Procurement Act 2023 regulations in line with AHS being primarily public funded and supports AHS study and operational objectives. The role will lead on sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and commercial governance, ensuring ethical, transparent, and efficient use of public funds.

Main responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement a procurement and commercial strategy aligned with organisational goals and funding requirements.
• Lead procurement planning across research programmes, operations, and corporate services.
• Act as a subject matter expert on public procurement policy and best practice.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, systems, and capability.

Tendering and Contract Management

• Oversee end-to-end procurement processes including tendering, evaluation, and contract award.
• Ensure compliance with UK public procurement regulations (e.g., Procurement Act and associated guidance).
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts, including research, clinical, and grant-related agreements.
• Manage contract lifecycle including performance monitoring, renewals, and extensions.

Commercial Governance & Compliance

• Establish and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure all procurement activities meet audit, transparency, and reporting requirements for public funding.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks across supplier engagements.
• Support internal and external audit processes.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, ensuring high performance and innovation.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (research teams, finance, legal) to understand needs and deliver value-driven procurement solutions.
• Work with external stakeholders including funders, partners and strategic advisors to develop optimum outcomes
• Provide commercial advice and guidance to senior leadership and project teams.
• Promote sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.

Financial & Value Management

• Deliver value for money through effective sourcing and negotiation strategies.
• Monitor procurement spend and identify cost-saving or efficiency opportunities.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Ensure funding is used appropriately, ethically and in line with public funding requirements.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

1. Professional qualification in procurement or supply chain e.g., CIPS Level 5 or equivalent
2. Degree or comparable experience in business, finance, law, or related field.
3. Proven track record of managing complex procurement exercises and contracts.
4. Experience in procurement or commercial roles within regulated procurement environments, specifically those classed as a public authority
5. Strong understanding of UK public procurement regulations and best practice.
6. Commercial acumen with strong negotiation and contract management skills.
7. Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
8. Knowledge of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
9. Strong experience in supplier and stakeholder management.
10. Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities.
11. Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels of an organisation.
12. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.

Desirable

1. CIPS Level 6 or equivalent
2. Membership of a professional body (e.g., MCIPS or FCIPS).
3. Experience managing high-value and complex contracts, including collaborative or partnership agreements
4. Experience in procurement or commercial roles within charity and/or research sectors
5. Detailed understanding of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
6. Detailed knowledge of the UK Procurement Act (or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 historically) and transitions between them.
7. Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
8. Understanding of subsidy control, state aid, or funding compliance frameworks.
9. Ability to analyse procurement data and generate insights using tools such as Excel, Power BI, or similar.
10. Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes in procurement.
11. Ability to build procurement capability across a non-procurement stakeholder base.

Dimensions

• This is a full-time role, 37.5 hours per week, offered initially as an 18-month fixed-term contract with potential route to permanency.
• Flexible working across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be required to AHS locations and partner organisations.
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK.

Application Process

All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job.

Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.

Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.

The closing date for applications is 11:00pm on Sunday 12th July 2026.

Interviews are currently expected to take place on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th August 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of:

• Gender, including gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partnership status
• Having or not having dependants
• Religion or belief
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age

We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.  All job applicants and employees who work for us will be treated fairly and will not be unfairly discriminated against on any of the above grounds. Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training or any other benefit will be made objectively and without unlawful discrimination. 

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

Director

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director to help lead a multi-award-winning charity into its next phase of growth and impact.

Position: Director
Salary: £52,500 - £57,500
Location: Hybrid – at least 4 days per week in the office (N7), with regular travel to prison sites
Hours: Full-time
Closing Date: 10th July 2026

About the Role

The charity supports people serving prison sentences through creative music and peer-led employment programmes. Working closely with the existing Director and Board of Trustees, you will help shape and deliver the organisation's strategic vision while ensuring the successful delivery of programmes across multiple prison sites.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading strategic planning and organisational growth
• Developing and delivering fundraising and income generation strategies
• Securing grants, contracts and partnership opportunities
• Overseeing financial planning, budgeting and reporting
• Managing contracts and relationships with prison and sector partners
• Leading and supporting a dispersed team
• Acting as an ambassador for the organisation with funders and stakeholders

About You

You will be a strategic and hands-on leader with:

• Significant leadership experience within the charity, criminal justice or wider social impact sector.
• Experience as a senior leader, Director, CEO or member of a leadership team.
• A strong track record in fundraising, income generation and partnership development.
• Experience securing and managing contracts, organisational operations and financial oversight.
• Strong strategic, operational, and financial management skills.
• Experience leading and supporting dispersed teams in complex environments.
• A strong understanding of prisons, rehabilitation and the barriers faced by people within the criminal justice system or related sectors (homelessness, substance use, rehabilitation).
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinking combined with a practical, hands-on approach.
• A genuine commitment to social justice and belief in the transformative power of creativity, music and peer-led support.

About the Organisation

Established in 2014, the charity delivers creative music and peer-led employment programmes in prisons across London, Kent, the Midlands and the North East. The organisation works alongside people facing significant barriers, helping them develop skills, confidence and pathways into employment while creating meaningful opportunities for long-term change.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive, Operations Director, Executive Director, Director of Services, Head of Programmes, Director of Operations, Managing Director, Director of Partnerships, Charity Director. #INDNFP

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People. 

Greater Manchester Moving is the Greater Manchester charity committed to changing lives by inspiring a healthier future in Greater Manchester through moving more, sport and physical activity. We play a strategic leadership role in support of the Greater Manchester wide movement, for movement.

We are seeking to recruit an individual with purpose, passion and integrity to lead, support and connect the Greater Manchester system in creating the conditions to enable Active Lives for All.

It’s an exciting time to join the team as we develop our vision to build and foster relationships with and between people, communities and system partners, to enable a whole system approach to supporting the development of community networks, activities and opportunities to move more and tackle inequality.

We are looking for someone who loves working with people, who can unite people from diverse backgrounds around a vision, who understands the power of collaboration and who can work with others to help people connect, support and lead across sectors, organisations and alongside communities to help us achieve the ambitions set out in the ten-year strategy, GM Moving in Action.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high performing Active Partnership team working with a network committed to making positive change through physical activity, sport and movement.

This is a full-time role (37 hours per week), but job shares, secondments and reduced hours will be considered as part of our commitment to flexible working. Working days will predominantly be Monday to Friday. Our team works a minimum of two days a week in person, and our core office day is Tuesday. Occasional evening/weekend work may be required.

We have permanent office space at House of Sport in Manchester, and office space with GMCA and NHS GM at Tootal Buildings, Oxford Road, Manchester. We have regular team and co-working days, blended with homeworking. We trust you to work in a way that suits you and that enables you to be productive and thrive.

Greater Manchester Moving is committed to providing equal opportunities and promoting diversity, irrespective of ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexuality, disability, religion, pregnancy or personal circumstance. We aspire to being a diverse, inclusive and responsible organisation. Our aim is to have a workforce that reflects and understands the communities we work alongside. 

Closing date: Sunday 19 July 2026, midnight 

Interview date: Wednesday 29 July 2026

Join our passionate team and help make a real difference to the lives of adults, children and young people affected by domestic abuse. We are looking for an experienced and motivated Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser to secure vital funding that enables our life-changing services to continue and grow.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future sustainability of our charity. Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, you will identify funding opportunities, develop compelling grant applications, build strong relationships with funders, and manage reporting requirements to maximise income.

We are looking for someone with a proven track record in fundraising, excellent writing and communication skills, and the ability to manage a diverse portfolio of funding opportunities. You will be self-motivated, organised, and passionate about supporting vulnerable people through securing sustainable funding.

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract, with the potential for extension subject to the availability of future funding.

In return, we offer a supportive and flexible working environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to be part of a dedicated team committed to creating safer futures for those experiencing domestic abuse.

If you are looking for a rewarding fundraising role where your work will have a direct and lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

For this role we are looking for highly competent Programme Managers with significant experience in successfully delivering advanced programme and portfolio management, and who have experience delivering large complex multi-stream programmes. You will be PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent qualified, and experienced in a fundraising organisation would be highly desirable.

Reporting to the Head of Change, the Programme Manager will manage the Foundation’s strategic change portfolio of work. You will establish a trusted, secure, well‑governed programme of change. The role will be responsible for delivering the project assurance board, ensuring that all programmes of work deliver the organisational-wide change the charity requires.

This role is cross-organisational, with involvement with the Chief People Officer on the operating model, the Chief Finance Officer, and the Director of Transformation on planning and delivery. 

The role will assist in delivering:

• A transformational, organisation-wide approach to change grounded in best practice.
• High-quality, consistent programme delivery through a strengthened PMO capability.
• Improved organisational readiness and staff confidence during periods of change.
• Clear, measurable outcomes across the Foundation’s strategic transformation priorities.
• A culture that embraces innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Data Leadership:

• Establish and maintain programme governance frameworks, controls, and reporting standards. 
• Ensure the programme delivers measurable business value and ROI. 
• Provide executive-level reporting to sponsors and other appropriate governance groups. 

Portfolio & Delivery Oversight: 

• Oversee multiple interdependent projects, managing the end‑to‑end delivery, from design through to implementation and evaluation.
• Manage the programme with clear plans, milestones, budgets, and risk management so that the Foundation is well informed about the programme’s performance. 
• Drive delivery to time, cost, scope, and quality targets. 
• Ensure benefits realisation planning and post-implementation reviews are held, and findings shared where appropriate. 

Risk & Issue Management: 

• Develop a programme-level risk management framework. 
• Proactively identify cross-project risks and systemic issues, using data, evidence and learning to improve programme effectiveness
• Develop organisational-wide mitigation and contingency strategies. 
• Ensure regulatory, compliance, and governance standards are met within Projects

Change & Transformation Leadership: 

• Lead on large-scale organisational change initiatives. 
• Embed change management and organisational adoption. 
• Develop communication plans to support transformation. 
• Embed new ways of working, processes, or systems. 

Financial & Commercial Management: 

• Support delivery leads with the development of business cases. 
• Ensure financial performance and cost control are managed, an appropriate use of charitable funds and value for money
• Develop in Project vendor and third-party relationships and serve as an escalation point for delivery leads. 
• Assist on procurement strategy where required. 

Team & Capability Leadership: 

• Lead and mentor more junior project managers and delivery leads so that project teams’ performance are consistent across the programme. 
• Develop performance standards and accountability structures. 
• Foster a culture of delivery excellence and continuous improvement. 

Quality & Continuous Improvement: 

• Identify opportunities to improve ways of working, programme design and delivery
• Implement programme assurance and quality control measures. 
• Promote best practices in project and programme management. 
• Conduct lessons-learned reviews and drive process improvement. 

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role.

Skills, abilities, and attributes:

• Self-starter who is adaptable, able to operate strategically and hands‑on in equal measure.
• Willing to learn and develop new skills, and help to develop the knowledge and skills of peers 
• Committed to the principle of continuous improvement, with careful attention to detail and due process 
• Committed to delivering consistent and high-quality customer service to both internal and external stakeholders 
• Good interpersonal skills and able to influence and effectively liaise with both internal and external communities 
• Confident in communicating well, both in writing and verbally, and exhibits listening and influencing skills, working with integrity, and exhibits the Foundation’s core values 
• Skilled in working with agile methodologies 

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications:

• Proven experience in advanced programme and portfolio management expertise, delivering large, complex, multi-stream programmes. 
• Able to demonstrate good strategic thinking and commercial acumen, showing strong problem-solving and analytical capability. 
• Good financial literacy (budget management, cost modelling, ROI analysis). 
• Expertise in building business cases, development, and benefits realisation planning. 
• Expertise in leading cultural organisational changes, bringing planning to life across an organisation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for senior and non‑technical audiences.
• Track record of influencing at senior/executive levels 

Desirable Qualifications: 

• MSP, PgMP, PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent. 
• Experience in fundraising and fundraising organisations (desirable)

Benefits: 

• Contributory pension
• Annual personal development budget
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme