Senior executive assistant to the ceo and chair jobs
How's your job search on our site?
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)
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Brightside is the UK’s leading and safest online mentoring provider, with 23 years’ experience in delivering personalised and flexible online mentoring to young people. We exist to connect young people facing barriers with relatable role models so they can make confident and informed decisions about the future. Our flexible technology gives young people a mentor in their pocket, on their own schedule, to support their next steps.
The Data and Insights Manager will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating quality and impact across our mentoring programmes. The postholder will work closely with the Programmes Team to embed impact in project design and to produce evaluations that assess the impact of mentoring against our theory of change outcomes. The postholder will complete data analysis and evaluation reports for individual mentoring programmes as well as our whole portfolio to present our impact at an aggregate level. The postholder will produce organisation wide impact reports for external publication and work closely with the senior management and leadership teams to demonstrate and celebrate our impact. This is a varied role, suited to candidates interested in using data and insights to improve processes and articulate impact to a wide range of audiences.
Responsible for
- Championing and quality assuring our theory of change, ensuring that programmes are designed with impact at the centre and within the frameworks that will give us the most robust data sets
- Quantitative data analysis for individual programmes and our portfolio of mentoring programmes as a whole, clearly presenting our impact against our outcomes
- Qualitative data analysis of mentoring messages, written feedback and focus groups/1:1 interviews
- Producing high quality evaluation reports for individual programmes, including recommendations for future iterations
- Producing organisational impact reports and blogs/posts, to present our impact to external audiences
- Creating and maintaining PowerBI dashboards to present live impact data
- Proofing and testing baseline and exit surveys to ensure accuracy of questions and survey logic across our portfolio
- Overseeing our data collection tools and upskilling the team to use them effectively/accurately
- Overseeing our external communications to ensure regular sharing of case studies and impact stories through our comms and marketing (social media, newsletters etc.)
- Conducting focus groups and interviews and writing up case study stories Ensuring that all data collection is accurate and in line with our policies
- Annual data uploads to HEAT and monitoring our HESA return
Please download the job description document and read the essential criteria and application instructions carefully. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Our mission is to help young people make confident and informed decisions about their future
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.