Managing director jobs in Bristol
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Due to educational commitments and a strategic review of our services, our Founding Director is stepping back from leading the organisation. This creates an exciting opportunity for a Managing Director to join a women-led movement shaped by lived experience.
Working closely with the Founder, Board, and team, you will take the lead in implementing our strategy, turning vision into action, and ensuring our work is sustainable, impactful, and ready to grow. You will play a central role in securing financial stability, strengthening income streams, and building a resilient organisation for the future.
We are looking for a proactive and experienced leader who can strengthen systems, processes, and team culture, while supporting and developing a small, dedicated team. This role is not just about leadership, but about working alongside others - someone who is human, approachable, and a genuine team player.
You will value collaboration and co-production and feel comfortable working in a culture rooted in trust, flexibility, and compassion. You will bring the confidence to represent the organisation externally, alongside the humility to listen, learn, and grow with the team.
This UK-based, remote role sits within a small, friendly organisation committed to reflection, learning, and continual improvement. You will help shape how we evolve, ensuring we deliver safe, high-quality, trauma-informed, and gender-sensitive support for women affected by their own or someone else's gambling addiction.
We are seeking someone who aligns with our values, understands the realities women face in a male-dominated space, and can lead with humanity and humility.
The Managing Director will be accountable for:
- Strategic direction
- Financial sustainability
- Safeguarding and risk oversight
- Commissioner relationships
- Organisational culture and values
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Lead development and delivery of the 3-year strategic plan.
- Ensure organisational growth aligns with mission and peer-led ethos.
- Identify opportunities for funding, partnerships and influence.
- Ensure services evolve in line with women’s needs and policy context.
Governance & Risk Oversight
- Maintain oversight of safeguarding and clinical governance.
- Ensure robust risk management and compliance systems are in place.
- Report quarterly to the Board on performance, finance and risk.
- Ensure Delegated Authority Framework is implemented effectively.
- Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Financial Sustainability
- Accountable for organisational budget and reserves strategy.
- Oversee funding pipeline and income diversification.
- Negotiate and sign contracts within Board-approved limits.
- Ensure staffing model remains financially sustainable.
Leadership & Organisational Culture
- Lead and support staff team.
- Maintain trauma-informed, women-centred organisational culture.
- Ensure appropriate delegation and clear accountability.
- Protect staff wellbeing and prevent executive overload.
External Representation & Influence
- Represent the organisation with commissioners, funders and partners.
- Build relationships with VCSE organisations, OHID, NHSE, ICBs, Local Authorities and sector bodies.
- Position the organisation as a credible specialist provider.
- Support policy and influence activity at strategic level.
Board Relationship
- Work closely with the Chair
- Provide clear and transparent reporting.
- Support Board development and portfolio governance.
- Ensure Board receives timely information on risk and performance.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Senior leadership experience within VCSE, health or social care.
- Experience in women-specific services.
- Experience managing budgets and financial sustainability including evidence of successful fundraising and income diversification.
- Experience working with statutory commissioners.
- Experience overseeing safeguarding in complex services.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in addiction, gambling harm or mental health sectors.
- Experience within CIC or charity governance structures.
- Experience influencing policy or commissioning frameworks.
- Understanding and appreciation of lived experience communities and peer support spaces
Essential Skills
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Financial acumen
- Strong governance understanding
- Stakeholder diplomacy
- Ability to delegate effectively
- Crisis management capability
- Clear written and verbal communication
We kindly ask applicants to avoid submitting AI generated responses to encourage a real sense of who you are.
Our operational days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We operate flexibly but our regular team meetings are held on a Wednesday and this role is expected to be accessible for our staff within these days.
Please complete the questions within word count alongside a CV to be considered for the role.
Short listed applicants will be asked to submit a 3 minute video on a values based topic as part of the interview process.
We stand alongside women impacted by their own or someone else’s gambling and create space for healing, connection and confidence.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Background
We are Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. Since 1954, we have worked to create a more humane society for animals. Working side by side as the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, we have helped to pass thousands of landmark laws, rescue hundreds of thousands of animals, and cared for and protected millions more.
In 2025, to convey our mission and make sure that everyone understands who we are and the bold work that we do, our organisations are standing together under a new shared name: Humane World for Animals.
We are dedicated to changing the world for animals. We drive change with human action. We help people, communities, governments, and corporations shift behaviour, providing the right support and advocating for policy change to stem the root causes of suffering and cruelty.
Purpose of role
As the Managing Director for the UK and Europe, you will develop and deliver the European fundraising strategy and plans and oversee the execution of all fundraising activities in Europe. These activities include, but are not limited to individual giving, major gifts, bequests, corporate giving, and community fundraising.
Primary responsibilities
The job holder will have the following key responsibilities:
- Oversees fundraising activities and performance in Humane World for Animals’ EU and UK offices. Works closely with the Country Directors and the VP of International Fundraising on the execution of the fundraising programmes. Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency and facilitates collaboration efforts across European offices. (30%)
- Manages all fundraisers in the region and ensures they achieve their goals by providing guidance and advice, training, performance management and career development. Coordinates priorities and tasks and monitors progress. (25%)
- Monitors and reports on performance progress towards agreed revenue targets; efficiency and cost-effectiveness (including external fundraising contractors); and challenges or opportunities in the external fundraising environment. (20%)
- Creates and manages the budget for fundraising expenses and income targets. Sets and reviews multi-year and yearly investment and revenue targets. (10%)
- Leads research, planning, and implementation of new marketing initiatives and acquisition programmes, including but not limited to DRTV, face-to-face, telemarketing and PSMS Mobile channels. Establishes effective donor retention strategies and oversees their execution. (10%)
- Works closely with the VP of International Fundraising to develop and execute a strategic vision to grow fundraising income in the Europe region, translating the vision into an action plan, and ensuring the successful implementation and execution of the vision. (5%)
Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and experience
- An academic degree or equivalent work experience is required.
- A minimum of eight or more years of fundraising experience with a proven track record in driving significant, multi-channel revenue growth across multiple markets.
- A minimum of five years of senior management experience leading fundraising or marketing teams, including leadership responsibilities for staff, strategy development and execution, and budget accountability, preferably in the animal welfare arena, required.
- Demonstrated experience scaling high-performing international fundraising programs. International NGO experience strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to deliver multi‑million income portfolios, optimize ROI, and drive continuous improvement in donor acquisition and retention.
- Experience accurately forecasting and reporting on revenue, expenditures and delivering against agreed KPIs.
- At least five years’ experience in at least one of the following income streams: individual giving, major gifts, bequests, corporate giving, and/or community fundraising. Additionally, a strong preference for marketing experience.
Skills and qualifications
- Excellent people managerial skills: ability to coach, motivate, and manage high‑performing fundraisers across dispersed locations.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to plan workload in order to manage fundraising program priorities and meet agreed targets.
- Ability to demonstrate initiative, entrepreneurial spirit, and drive to achieve desired outcomes.
- Ability to thrive in a matrixed, fast-paced, mission‑driven environment and drive collaboration across countries and functions.
- Knowledge and understanding of GDPR and other data protection regulations.
- Excellent English verbal and written skills.
- Ability to work in a self-directed manner.
- Willing and able to travel extensively in Europe.
To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job ad.
The deadline for applications is Monday 20th April 2026, 8:00 am GMT.
We are accepting applications from individuals based in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Please note: You need to have the right to work and live in the country from where you are applying.
We make bold progress for all animals by working together on the biggest problems—no matter where they are or how deeply entrenched.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Humane League UK is a high-impact charity dedicated to ending the abuse of animals raised for food, combining strategic campaigning with a strong commitment to impact, innovation, and accountability.
As part of The Humane League’s global network, we drive change through influencing the policies of the world’s biggest companies, demanding legislation, and empowering others to take action, improving the lives of millions of animals every year.
The organisation is now at a pivotal moment. With a strong foundation of success and a growing movement for animal welfare, we are entering a new strategic period, scaling our impact, strengthening our operations, and expanding our influence across the UK and beyond.
We are now seeking an exceptional Managing Director to lead our dedicated team and help shape the next stage of our journey.
Managing Director
Remote, UK Based
Starting Salary of £84,078 or £92,486 for Inner London Weighting. This salary is for 30 hours per week over Monday to Thursday.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a strategic and dedicated individual to lead The Humane League UK’s operations – setting direction, delivering ambitious campaigns, and ensuring alignment with global priorities, while working with our high-performing, mission-driven team.
As a visible and influential leader, you will represent The Humane League UK externally, building partnerships, influencing corporate and public policy, and strengthening our reputation as a leader in animal advocacy.
You will also work closely with the global leadership team, Board, staff, and partners. The Managing Director will be the driving force behind The Humane League UK’s strategy and impact.
You will lead an organisation that is bold, strategic, and outcomes-focused, capable of driving systemic change and accelerating progress towards a more humane food system.
About You
We are looking for an inspirational and strategic leader who brings:
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Proven experience as a senior visionary strategic leader with an understanding of animal protection and/or food systems.
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A strong track record of senior leadership, with experience delivering organisational strategy and impact.
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The ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
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Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility and experience in campaigning and influencing across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.
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Strategic thinking combined with operational rigour, able to translate vision into action.
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A strong alignment with our mission and values, and a passion for creating meaningful change.
How to Apply
If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact our retained advisors Erica Ritchie or Anna Gardet via email with a copy of your CV.
Further information can be found at the Prospectus website.
Recruitment Timetable
Deadline for applications: Sunday 19th April
First stage interviews: 5th – 6th May
Second stage interviews and presentation: 18th – 19th May
Final stage interviews: 26th – 28th May