Head of people services jobs in Looe, cornwall

We are seeking an exceptional leader who can act as a credible spokesperson and ambassador for the Catholic Union, building trusted relationships across the Church, parliament and wider society and helping to grow the Catholic Union’s influence and engagement in the years ahead.

Founded in 1870, the Catholic Union of Great Britain brings Catholic laity and Catholic social teaching to the public square across England, Wales and Scotland. Working in partnership with dioceses, parishes, MPs, MSPs, MSs, peers and Catholic organisations, our vision is of a society in which Catholic laity are informed, equipped and encouraged to engage in public life.

Our work is shaped by three key themes: engagement, education and encouragement. Through these we foster informed participation in public debate, help Catholics and the wider public understand contemporary social and political issues through a Catholic lens, and inspire greater confidence for Catholics to contribute to civic and community life.

In recent years the Catholic Union has developed from being largely volunteer-led into a more professional and strategically focused organisation, strengthening relationships across the Church and wider society. Our Weekly Briefing, now read by around 6,500 people each week, has become a key channel for parliamentary reporting, Catholic news and reflection.

As Director, you will lead the Catholic Union at an exciting moment in its development. You will represent the Catholic Union publicly, strengthening relationships with bishops, diocesan leaders, parliamentarians and Catholic organisations. You will act as a trusted ambassador for the Union, grow our channels of influence and engagement, and work with Trustees, Council and a small experienced team to support the organisation’s continued development.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to serve as a public voice for a respected Catholic organisation and help foster thoughtful dialogue and engagement in public life, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please see the job pack attached. Closing date 10th April.

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Full‑time 1 year FTC | Hybrid (UK‑wide with travel to our Bristol Office) | £42,000

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

Salary: £45,215 plus benefits (Our pay philosophy ensures consistency across locations and salaries. The starting salary for this opportunity plus benefits depends on location of the candidate).

The role:

We are recruiting for a values-driven and experienced finance leader to join Mary’s Meals International (MMI) as Senior Finance Manager. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will provide leadership to the MMI Finance team, ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality financial management, reporting and control across our global movement.

This is a key role within the Finance & Procurement Directorate, supporting an ambitious growth strategy. You will play a central role in strengthening financial stewardship, ensuring robust controls are in place, and promoting value for money across our global network.

In this role, you will combine strategic oversight with hands-on leadership - driving excellence in financial reporting, treasury management, compliance, and continuous improvement of financial systems and processes.

You will:

• Lead and develop the MMI Finance team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative and accountable culture.
• Oversee the production of monthly management accounts, forecasts and trend analysis, providing meaningful financial insight to support decision-making.
• Lead on donor financial reporting and proposal support, ensuring accuracy, consistency and timely delivery.
• Support delivery of the annual budgeting process, including provision of key analytics and oversight of review processes.
• Ensure robust financial control across the organisation, safeguarding the proper and effective use of funds.
• Oversee statutory reporting, audit, treasury, payroll and pension activities, ensuring compliance with UK financial, charity and tax regulations.
• Work closely with National Affiliates and Programme teams to strengthen financial processes, systems and controls across the global network.
• Drive continuous improvement of financial policies, reporting and systems, promoting a consistent and high-quality control environment.

About you

You will be a qualified finance professional (CCAB or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience and a strong track record of leading finance teams. Strategic yet pragmatic, you will be comfortable operating at both operational and senior levels - providing clear financial insight, strengthening controls, and supporting organisational growth across a global network.

You will bring significant experience in UK financial reporting (FRS 102), alongside proven experience developing high-performing teams and implementing effective policies, systems, and change initiatives. With strong analytical and conceptual capability, you will translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insight. You will also have experience managing auditors, financial institutions, and external service providers, and be able to prioritise effectively, work autonomously, and deliver to deadlines.

Strong communication skills, sound judgement, and cultural sensitivity are essential in building effective relationships across diverse international contexts. Experience within a UK charity or multinational charitable context, including understanding of UK charity reporting (Charities SORP) would be highly desirable.

About us:

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life, united by one goal, that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. Today, more than 3 million children will receive Mary’s Meals, changing lives through access to food and education. 

We believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life, and are committed to good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, Mary’s Meals is fully committed to a culture of safeguarding. We expect all members of the Mary’s Meals family to share this commitment and to work in the best interests of the communities we serve. Our safe recruitment practices ensure that only those aligned with our high standards join our movement.

Salary advertised is for UK-based candidates. Our salary philosophy ensures consistency across locations where Mary’s Meals operates.

Our Benefits:

• 34 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time working patterns) including bank holidays, increasing by 1 day each completed calendar year, to a maximum of 39 days (+ option to buy another week)
• Flexible working
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life assurance
• Pension

To apply:

If you are inspired to join our movement and our vision, mission and values resonate with you, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please submit your CV along with a short covering note (no more than one page) outlining why you are a strong fit for this role and why you would like to work for Mary’s Meals International.

Senior Finance Manager - JD

 Closing date for applications is Sunday 5th April 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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