Operation Director Jobs in Camberwell, Greater London

London Youth has a track record of providing high quality outdoor learning and trips away from home, for over 75 years.  You will be joining us at a critical time as we seek to provide these opportunities for more children and young people than ever before.

As the Director you will oversee the smooth operation of Hindleap Warren, in East Sussex, and Woodrow High House, in Buckinghamshire.  You will also lead on the safety and safeguarding aspects of London Youth’s work, supported by a strong and well-qualified team.

Having already undertaken substantial renovations at Woodrow during the pandemic, London Youth is making plans to improve the Hindleap site.  You will be leading that capital investment programme.

London Youth aims to make more trips happen for our member youth organisations and young Londoners who would not otherwise get the chance. You will have a key role to play in maintaining existing support for this work and securing new opportunities.

Working closely with a highly committed and skilled Senior Team, the Director of Outdoor Centres is a key appointment to the team to enable us to realise our ambitions.

To be considered for this role we are looking for a highly motivated, values-based leader with a passion for improving the lives of young people.

London Youth is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcomes applications regardless of sex, gender, race, age, sexuality, belief or disability.  To be successful in this role you will need to be personally committed to our anti-racism approach and our broader diversity work.

You will be expected to be on site at least three days a week.

Further details about the role and London Youth can be found on our Careers page, please take a look by clicking the apply through company site button.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact, Alison Henderson, Director of People with the contact details on our job page.

Salary: £27,000 - £30,000 per year based on experience (Pro rata if part-time)

Terms: Permanent. Full-time or part-time with a minimum of 4 days/week (0.8 FTE). 

Location: Remote. We will strongly prefer candidates who can be based in the UK.

Probation: 6 months

Reports to: Director of Finance and Operations

Who We Are

Humanists International is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) and the global representative body of the humanist movement, uniting a diverse community of non-religious organisations and individuals. Inspired by humanist values, we are optimistic for a world where everyone can have a dignified and fulfilling life. We build, support and represent the global humanist movement and work to champion human rights and secularism.

We campaign on humanist issues. We defend humanists at risk of persecution and violence. We lobby for humanist values at international institutions, including the United Nations. And we work to build the humanist movement around the world. 

Our Members and Associates include humanist, rationalist, secular, ethical culture, atheist and freethought organisations from all over the world. Our community also includes many individual supporters who share our vision and values.

About the Role

Humanists International has another separate entity based in the US. This role will be a part of the UK operations team but will collaborate with the US finance team occasionally when it’s required, for example, during the audit period. Both UK and US finance teams are managed by the same Director of Finance and Operations who is based in London. 

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who can provide excellent finance and administrative support to the small, predominantly home-based team. We’re seeking someone who is personable, highly organised, has attention to detail and is keen to take initiative and learn new skills. Onboarding training will be provided, but we would like you to demonstrate transferable skills. 

You will work on a wide variety of tasks which will include bookkeeping and bank reconciliations, being the first point of contact for the organisation, as well as providing general administrative support to the team. You will be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across a diverse international team.

This is a full-time or part-time with a minimum of 4 days/week (0.8 FTE), permanent position, which is predominantly home-based but does require the attendance of in-person events such as the General Assembly and Team Building. You will also be expected to attend a number of board-level meetings held on weekends to take meeting minutes - further details are listed in the Key Responsibilities section.

We are open to flexible work arrangements and committed to diversity and inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

• Taking charge of the day-to-day financial activities and office administration of the organisation.

• Ensuring high-accuracy bookkeeping and bank reconciliation are completed to deadlines. 

• Ensuring adequate financial documents are filed on Drive to comply with the audit requirements.

• Preparing invoices and receipts to stakeholders as required.

• Generating month-end Budget vs. Actual Report from accounting software on time, for the Director of Finance and Operations to review. 

• Preparing financial data for quarterly Finance Report in tables for the Director of Finance and Operations to conduct quarterly financial analysis.

• Assisting the Director of Finance and Operations with the preparation of financial data, tables and files for the annual budgeting and UK audit.

• Reviewing and processing expense claims. And ensuring the Expenses Policy is being followed. 

• Preparing and attaching expense receipts to the CEO’s monthly credit card statements.

• Being the first point of contact of the organisation. Managing office inbox, answering office calls and sorting out the letters.

• Attending online board meetings (four times a year on Saturdays) and investment committee meetings (twice a year on weekdays between 5-7pm) to take meeting minutes. Board meetings normally take 3 hours and investment committee meetings take 45 minutes. These meetings are usually planned 6-8 months in advance.  TOILs will be provided when the meeting is held outside your normal working hours.

• Assisting the CEO with board papers and circulating them to board members before board meetings.

• Arranging flights and accommodations for the CEO and board members to attend in-person meetings when required.

• Arranging meetings for the CEO when required.

• Assisting staff and board members with queries on finance or administrative matters.

• Any other appropriate duties.

Essential Skills

• Accounting, finance, or economics qualification.

• A minimum of two years’ experience in bookkeeping and administration roles. 

• Experience using financial software. e.g. Quickbooks, Xero, Sage or equivalent.

• Understanding of the chart of accounts structure, cash/accrual accounting basis.

• Understanding of the expense claim process.

• Experience preparing the budget. (Not necessarily the whole organisation’s budget, but specific section(s), for example, travel costs and fixed-costs related budget lines would be essential.)

• Excellent organisation, time management and multi-tasking skills with the ability to prioritise and plan a busy workload. 

• Self-motivated and able to meet all deadlines.

• Supportive, collaborative and able to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Abilities to work independently with initiative.

Desirable Skills

• Understanding of the annual audit process.

• Understanding of the organisation’s annual budgeting process.

• Experience of working in a not-for-profit sector.

• Awareness of charity accounting and restricted funds.

• Submitting Gift Aid Claims.

• Experience using CRM system.

• Experience in remote working.

Staff Benefits

• 30-days annual leave (this is in addition to the UK public holidays). Pro rata if you work part-time. 

• Remote working

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Season ticket loan

• Cycle to Work Scheme

Application Process

Please download and complete our Employment Application Form for Finance and Admin Officer below, and send it to a dedicated email address (which can be found on the last page of the Job Description PDF below) with the subject heading “Job Application for Finance and Admin Officer” no later than 10:00 am  (BST) on 29th April 2024.

Successful shortlisted candidates will be notified by COB 1st May 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place on 7th - 8th May 2024 online.

This opportunity is also listed on our website: https://humanists.international/about/work-with-us/

Resurgo’s mission is to inspire and equip organisations to bring about ambitious and sustainable social change through our expertise in coaching, impact management and programme delivery. We’re a bold and innovative organisation with the ambition to transform society.

We are looking for a capable and creative individual to join the leadership of Resurgo, with oversight of strategy development and implementation, finance and governance. As a strong leader and people manager with experience across strategy and finance, you will have an ability to lead projects with multiple complex priorities through to completion, be a confident decision maker and communicator, and be passionate about social transformation.

The important stuff 

Salary: from £65,000, flexible dependent on experience

Contract: Minimum 6-12 month fixed-term contract

Hours: 5 days per week (4 considered), 9.30am – 5.30pm, with occasional evening work for events such as our Spear Celebrations.

Location: Hammersmith, London – we are an office-based organisation with some work at home possible in agreement with the line manager

Closing date: Friday 3rd May, 09.00am (We are interviewing on a rolling basis and might close the application early if we find the right candidate).

Interviews: We anticipate interviews to commence from w/c 6th May. 

Application Pack: Have a look at our application pack for more information.

Person Specification 

• An active Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Resurgo, and a demonstrated commitment to social impact and our mission to play a meaningful part in the repair of our social fabric
• Strong strategic thinking and business and financial acumen – experience in a management consulting or financial management role is essential
• Self-motivated forward planner with the ability to navigate complex fast-moving environments, adapt to changing circumstances, and exercise initiative, with a track record of driving growth and achieving results
• Financially literate, with experience overseeing strategic financial processes, e.g., budgeting, financial management and resource allocation
• Good IT skills with a working knowledge of Salesforce and Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. An awareness of charity regulatory and compliance requirements is beneficial
• Strong proven leadership skills and the ability to relate confidently to a range of audiences
• Relational team player with high emotional intelligence, a sense of humour and fun, and the ability to inspire and motivate diverse teams

Key Responsibilities
 

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Leading the organisation through the iterative development and implementation of strategic projects to serve the ambition of Resurgo, to “inspire and equip organisations to deliver ambitious and sustainable social change”
• Provide direction and support to Heads of Department, setting them up to succeed in the implementation of ambitious plans
• Line management of the Strategy Managaer, who project manages and drives the delivery of annual departmental targets and strategic projects across the organisation.

Finance

• Line management of Head of Finance, providing strategic leadership in the development of the finance function and oversight of organisational financial management
• Lead the annual planning process, working with the Head of Finance and Director of People, Culture & Operations to shape and deliver annual financial planning

Oversight of Governance, Risk and Opportunity

• Executive Chair of the Strategy, Finance and Risk steering group, owning the most significant risks and opportunities facing Resurgo at an organisational level, ensuring actions are taken to mitigate risks and that we are set up to maximise opportunity
• Responsible for overseeing governance structures and ensuring they are fit for purpose as the organisation develops and grows
• Supporting the Executive Assistant to the CEO in the facilitation of the effective running of the Boards of Resurgo Trust and Resurgo Consulting, including planning and overseeing Board and key Steering Group meetings.

Active Participation in and Support for Resurgo’s team and mission

• Help build and develop Resurgo’s ethos and Christian life as a team member, including leading and contributing to daily team prayer meetings as an integral part of Resurgo’s operation and for the success of its mission

Please feel free to let us know if you may require any reasonable adjustments to participate fully in our recruitment process.

The Director of Operations will work as part of the management team to develop and implement the organisation’s strategy and operational plans and to build the longer term sustainability of the organisation. They will be required to deputise for the Chief Officer in their absence and assist in the overall management of the organisation. As part of the management team the role demands a high level of flexibility, initiative and commitment. The role also involves working with the Chief Officer to design and improve our monitoring, evaluation and learning across the organisation in line with our new strategy.

The Director of Operations will have lead responsibility for overseeing the day to day operations and coordinating external partnerships and relationships. Operational oversight includes the two core pillars of work:-

1. Streams of Sanctuary programmes and awards (by streams we mean mainstream sector e.g. schools)
2. Coordination and development of network of refugee supporting groups

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please complete the form on their ewbsite to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

For further information please see the job description and person specification.

Closing date – Monday 6th May at midday (we will be unable to accept applications after this deadline)

Interviews will be held online on Tuesday 14th May

Hours: 37 hours per week

Holiday entitlement:  28 days plus 8 statutory Bank holidays, pro rata

Salary: £43,050

Based: Home working

Wild in the City was established in 2013 and was incorporated as an asset locked non- profit Community Interest Company in April 2016 to address the growing problem of disconnection from nature and generational loss of knowledge and skills, and to help make nature a meaningful part of everyday life. 

We are a national organisation supporting well-being through relationship with nature. We offer programmes in hiking, woodland living skills, natural history and ecotherapy, using the skills of our ancestors to develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and nurture a sense of belonging to communities past and present. 

We are a black led organisation with a focus on health and supporting Black and minority ethnic communities in accessing nature and the countryside, addressing the widely acknowledged lack of representation and lower levels of involvement of people of colour in nature-based activity. We are a leading organisation in research and the facilitation of forums about race and nature. 

We have an exciting vision for increasing the participation of people of colour in nature- based activity and highlighting black perspectives about the natural world through our core programmes. 

• Nature Guides 

• Nature Connectors 

• Wild in the City Festival 

• Black Nature Narratives 

• Research and Consultancy

We’re looking for an exceptional individual to become our new Director of Operations. The right person will balance strong interpersonal and leadership skills and robust operational ability in the areas of finance, administration and fundraising. The role of Director of Operations is central to helping us achieve our ambition of further growing as a Black led institution for learning and caring about nature. We are looking for someone with the experience to help shape our growth and guide implementation of our 5 year plan, and who will grow with us to become our Chief Operating Officer.

• The role is offered for 21 hours per week.

  Closing date: 3rd May 2024 

  Interview: w/c 13th May 2024 

  Start date: as soon as possible 

  Full job description with responsibilties and person specification is attached

Growing Hope seeks a highly-motivated and experienced Director of Operations who is passionate about our mission. The ideal candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the charity’s essential operations.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead and develop our finance, HR, IT, and governance functions. This will provide the backbone for Growing Hope to continue making a tangible difference in the world and ensure the charity’s long-term sustainability and growth.

This role will report to the CEO of the charity and will work closely as part of the Senior Leadership team. The Operations Director will have oversight of HR, IT, Operations, Finance and Governance within the charity. This will involve line management of the Finance Officer and Operations Officer in the team. As the charity grows we want to ensure that we have strong governance, processes and financial reporting across Growing Hope and the local charities. As a small charity, the role will require balancing practical tasks with strategic planning and management. The role will be based in King’s Cross (2 days office based) with occasional events outside of the office. 

Further information about the role is found in the job description and person specification. All applications must be submitted along with a CV via our website.

For more than 30 years, War Child has been driven by a single goal – ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war. We aim to reach children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and stay long after the cameras have gone to support them through their recovery. We work with local communities and governments to help protect and educate children, and support them to heal and learn, for a safer, brighter future.

Last year, War Child UK agreed to come together with War Child Holland, War Child Germany, War Child Sweden and Children in Conflict in the USA, each of whom previously operated as independent NGOs, to form the War Child Alliance, which went live in January 2024. The new Alliance now runs our overseas projects, our research, scaling and advocacy programmes on behalf of us all, utilising our collective power and influence to have the greatest possible impact for children affected by war. As a member of the new Alliance, War Child UK is now a highly effective and innovative fundraising entity, raising crucial funds and awareness of our work globally.

Join us as our Director of Finance and IT at War Child UK, a pivotal role within our Leadership Group reporting directly to Helen Pattinson, CEO. Your role is to lead our finance and IT, but as a member of our leadership group to take joint responsibility with other Directors for leading the organisation.

As Finance and IT Director, you'll lead the optimisation of our finance and IT systems to streamline recording and reporting of financial transactions. Your analytical skills will be essential as you explore cost and income centres, supplying vital data necessary to significantly enhance our fundraising efforts.

Beyond day-to-day operations, you'll play a strategic role in long-term financial planning, fostering collaboration across the War Child Alliance. Together with fellow leaders, you'll steward the wider organisation, ensuring War Child UK is ready for success and equipped with ambitious financial investment frameworks.

Success in this role also entails ensuring our IT systems maintain the highest standards of excellence, delivering accurate and timely financial performance insights. You'll contribute to a vision where War Child UK achieves extraordinary results within a financially sound Alliance, empowering members to maximise their impact while being accountable for every penny raised.

You will be a qualified accountant with exceptional strategic and operational experience. You do not necessarily need to have prior international development experience, although you will need to demonstrate that you can build effective working relationships with overseas counterparts. Experience of working within a complex fundraising environment would be highly advantageous though.  For this role, we are also as keen to hear from experienced directors who are excited by what we do as we are from those for whom this would be their first senior leadership role.

Tall Roots is acting as an employment agency partner to War Child UK. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please email Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

Job Title: Finance and Operations Manager

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week (however, we will consider part-time 28 hours per week)

Salary: £38,000 - £45,000 per annum 

Location: The successful candidate will either be posted at our office in London or Colchester: Coram Campus, 41 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ or Colchester Wellington House, 4th Floor, 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA

About Coram

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

One of the nine members of the Coram group, Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) is the UK’s specialist centre for children’s rights in education, immigration, community care and family law, and provides significant international legal systems consultancy. The centre is located on the Coram Campus in central London with bases in Colchester and Leeds. We champion access to justice through information and advice, legal practice and representation, policy and strategic litigation. Our Legal Practice Unit provides advice and representation primarily under legal aid contract. Our Migrant Children’s Project promotes the rights of refugee and migrant children, young people and families through the delivery of advice, practice change through training and capacity building to professionals and systems change through research, policy and advocacy.

About the role

This role will provide financial and operational leadership and management for CCLC particularly focussed on the Legal Practice Unit and the Migrant Children’s Project but with support for the Child Law Advice Service and Coram International where required. Managing a small finance team, the role will hold primary responsibility for core financial functions within CCLC including legal aid billing and management and tracking of grant and other charitable funding. Through systematic and efficient financial management, the post holder will play a pivotal role in CCLC’s financial sustainability. The role will act as a key point of contact with Coram’s central finance team and a range of internal and external stakeholders on financial matters.

The role will also oversee the smooth running of the London and Colchester offices through line management of operations and administrative staff.

The role would suit a high organised and efficient business support professional with experience of financial management within the legal or charity sector. In particular, candidates with experience of legal billing and more specifically, civil legal aid billing, would be welcomed.

This is a largely office-based role in order to fully provide support to the finance and operations team. However, some remote / hybrid working may be possible depending the experience of the candidate after the initial settling in period (to be negotiated with the successful candidate).The finance team are split between the London and Colchester offices and the post holder should expect some travel to both locations. The large majority of the legal and policy team are based in London and as such regular (at least twice weekly) presence in our London office will be expected. However, on other days the candidate could be based in the London or Colchester office.

Whilst this is a full-time position, we will consider requests for part-time working (28 hours per week minimum) and we will endeavour to offer some flexibility with days and hours to be agreed.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing date: Wednesday 24th April 2024 at 23:59

Test and Interview date: Week commencing Monday 29th April 2024

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Director of Impact & Development – The Solicitors’ Charity

We’re looking for a Director of Impact & Development to develop and implement income generation and communication strategies and to develop strategy and practice around impact measurement and client feedback collection. The Solicitor’s Charity is the independent charity that, since 1858, has been supporting solicitors and their dependants in times of need or crisis.

Salary: c£66,000 - c£70,500(rising to c£67,250 - c£71,750 after successful completion of 6-month probationary period). The point on these salary ranges at which you will be paid is currently dependent on your location.

Flexible working arrangements are possible, including homeworking with occasional attendance in person at meetings, largely in central London (6-8 per year). Most staff work from home, though we also have an office in southwest London.

The Director of Impact and Development role

 We have recently agreed our strategy for 2024-2026. Two key objectives for this period are to grow and diversify our funding streams and to increase awareness of the charity.  We are also keen to understand better the impact that our activities have on our clients so that we can ensure that we are doing well the things they need to support them and so that we have stories to tell to help with fundraising and communications. Finally, we are keen to engage members of the profession in spreading the word about our work, including through a volunteer ambassadors’ scheme.

As holder of this senior role you will lead in these areas, developing and implementing effective strategies ad processes. You will work initially with our existing communications agency and with fundraising consultants but by the end of the year will need to have formed a view and put in place plans that either continue with these arrangements or bring more work in house.

Success in the role will be shown by significantly more income coming from sources other than our investments and donations of unclaimed client balances by law firms; by more people knowing about, supporting, and approaching the charity for help; and by us understanding better what works to help our clients and using this knowledge to promote development of the charity.

We’re looking for someone with at least 10 years’ experience in leading change in organisations (as an employee and/or a consultant) and evaluating organisational impact through metrics, feedback and benchmarking. At least 10 years’ experience in leading a marketing, communications and/or a fundraising function with proven experience in leading the development and implementation of marketing, fundraising and communications strategies and implementation plans in a similarly sized and geared organisation. You will also have a track record in developing organisational design, targets, operating models and business modelling in the charities and not-for-profit sector.

Other key demonstrable skills and experience include:

· Strong interpersonal and partnership skills, able to influence and work with a range of stakeholders at all levels, within and outside of the organisation.

· Ability to lead and motivate others and create strong working relationships with colleagues at all levels.

· Strategic thinker, able to see the big picture, recognise long-lasting, high impact decisions and implement clear operational delivery plans

· Strong analytical skills to be able to provide analysis of financial information (and other data) and oversight.

· Ability to present ideas, concepts, plans, and policies at Board level (and to a range of individuals, including senior external contacts) clearly and persuasively.

· Experience of working in a flatter organisational structure where levels of resource mean being willing and able to operate at both strategic and hands-on levels.

Why should you join us at The Solicitors’ Charity?

We are a small (but growing), friendly, largely virtual organisation with an enthusiastic, skilled, and experienced workforce. We are excited to have finalised our new strategy that will ensure we embed a holistic approach to improving the wellbeing of solicitors in need and their dependents.

Besides competitive salaries we have generous pension arrangements (up to 10% matched employer/employee contributions) and holiday entitlement (30 days plus Bank Holidays for a full-time member of the team, and an additional day on or near your birthday). There are Employee Assistance and staff discounts programmes in place, and we are flexible about working arrangements (hours and location). We also are piloting a Wellbeing Award of up to £500/year.

To apply:

i) please send a concise CV (2-3 pages) plus

ii) a covering letter of no more than 2 pages fully and clearly explaining how you meet each of the criteria set out in the job description and person specification to the email give in HOW TO APPLY. 

Deadline: Noon on Tuesday 30th April.

Please also address any questions to the email account listed in HOW TO APPLY.

Initial interviews: 10th May.

These may be held online. Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this advertisement early. We encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

This role is responsible for delivering the operational backbone of the ICA including the maintenance and upkeep of our grade one listed premises on the Mall. Overseeing a range of building management and operational duties, this person will ensure the facilities are fit for purpose, safe and secure, comfortable and in good state of repair. They will ensure operational policies and procedures are compliant with relevant legislation. They will also ensure IT and office management processes are effectively delivered. To succeed, the postholder must be proactive, hands on and work closely with all ICA staff and deeply understand the needs of curatorial, private hires, café bar and front of house departments to provide the best possible premises conditions for the ICA’s needs. They must also ensure positive relationships with external stakeholders.

Contract type: 18 months fixed term

We help young people to build life-long belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their own passions and discover talents they never knew they had. Because when you prove yourself that you’re ready for anything nothing can hold you back.

Do you want to be part of that?

The Operations Officer will support the operation and development of the AAP programme across the UK. This role will support a portfolio of AAPs – the AAP network itself encompasses a variety of providers for all Sections of the Award, from, large UK wide charities to sole traders.

This position will involve working alongside two other Operations Officers within the AAP Team, splitting the support of AAPs into three portfolios. The role will be field-based, and applicants will work from home most of the time, meeting with the AAP contacts virtually, delivering training and conducting audits remotely wherever possible, with some travel to attend field-based audits when necessary, as well as attending conferences and meetings. 

What we are looking for:

We are looking to recruit a dynamic, proactive, and effective team player to join the AAP Team. The post holder will report to the UK Operations Manager (Approved Activity Providers) and will be responsible for the day-to-day contact with and management of Approved Activity Providers (AAPs) in order to support the delivery of the AAP Team business plan.

You will be a passionate advocate for the work of the DofE and be driven to realise the DofE’s strategic ambition to give more than one million young people the chance to participate in our life-changing programmes, over the next five years.

A full job description can be viewed below.

What will you get in return?

The opportunity to work for a successful and dynamic charity that has the development of young people at its heart and the wellbeing and development of its people constantly in focus.

You will be joining a team of empowered colleagues working together.

From day one we offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary, generous pension, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and 3 days paid director days over the Christmas shutdown, volunteering days, Healthcare cash plan, employee assistance programme and an extensive online training programme, plus many more. 

How to apply:

If you think you have the desired skills and experience, then please apply online. As part of the application process, you will be expected to complete a statement of suitability and answer competency-based questions relevant to the role to help us assess your application.

Closing Date: 28th Aprilat Midnight

First Interviews: 9th and 10th of May - To be held virtually 

Second interviews: 14th of May  -Venue to be confirmed

If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.

The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.   All successful applicants will be required to undergo a basic Disclosure and Barring Service check. (e.g. DBS/PVG or similar), including work/education references and covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.

**The geographical allowance is based on a staff member having a home or office-based postcode within 30 miles (as the crow flies) from Charing Cross, WC2N 5HS. The allowance is 7% capped at £4,000 (pro rata) per annum.

At Refugee Action Kingston (RAK) we're dedicated to helping the successful integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the local community. With over three decades of experience, we provide a comprehensive range of services including welfare support, immigration and legal advice, education, counselling, and career guidance.

Our values

• Empathy: we put ourselves in the shoes of those we work with.
• Enterprise: we're innovative and resourceful in our approach to supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
• Empower: we strive to empower our clients, helping them achieve their aspirations.

Role overview: as the Director of RAK, you'll lead our organisation in supporting refugees and asylum seekers in South West London to lead fulfilled and independent lives. Proposals for hybrid working will be considered. Your responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership

• Developing and implementing annual plans aligned with our strategy, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, to achieve desired outcomes.
• Maintaining efficient systems for the charity's operations, ensuring good governance and financial sustainability.
• Overseeing all aspects of organisational management including finances, resources, services, and communications, in cooperation with trustees.

Governance and Organisational Management

• Working closely with trustees to direct and deliver RAK's objectives according to the charity's strategy.
• Leading and supporting the RAK team to fulfil objectives, emphasising client needs, monitoring outcomes, and integrating learning into operations.
• Ensuring compliance with governance requirements, supporting board responsibilities, and contributing to trustee meetings and reporting.

Financial Management and Human Resources

• Ensuring effective financial management, leading finance and project management teams to maintain controls, preparing reports, and managing spending within budget.
• Developing organisational structure and processes for positive people and service management, adhering to legislation and quality standards.
• Fostering a healthy working culture that encourages staff and volunteers to excel, contribute ideas, and embrace diversity.

Fundraising

• Developing and executing RAK's fundraising strategy, exploring new avenues to diversify funding sources.
• Collaborating with the fundraising manager to cultivate relationships with funders, submitting funding bids, and providing reporting.
• Focus on growing unrestricted funds to reduce reliance on grants.

Advocacy and Influencing

• Cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders to amplify the impact of RAK's work.
• Advocating for the needs of our clients to local authorities, healthcare providers, and other relevant agencies.
• Maintaining an effective advice and advocacy service, meeting quality standards (AQS & OISC) and regulatory requirements.

General Duties

• Undertaking any other related duties as required and appropriate to the role.

Person Specification
Essential Criteria

1. Leadership and Change Management: proven track record of leading client-focused services, driving strategic development, and managing change effectively.
2. Project and Programme Management: experience in creating and delivering complex projects aligned with strategic objectives.
3. Fundraising Expertise: understanding of fundraising importance in the charitable sector, with a history of successful and innovative fundraising initiatives.
4. Digital Proficiency: ability to harness digital tools so that roles are carried out efficiently and competently.
5. Financial Management: track record of managing budgets and contracts effectively.
6. Analytical Skills: experience in complex report writing and data analysis.
7. Empathy and Inclusivity: ability to empathise with clients from diverse backgrounds and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
8. Team Leadership: excellent people skills, with the ability to empower and motivate staff and volunteers to operate effectively.
9. Partnership Building: strong ability to build partnerships, manage coalitions, and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders.
10. Communication Skills: excellent communication and persuasion skills, including experience in public speaking.
11. Governance Knowledge: understanding of governance principles in the voluntary or public sector.
12. Safeguarding: experience in leading on safeguarding and health and safety.

Desirable Criteria

1. Asylum System Knowledge: understanding or lived experience of the asylum system.
2. Policy and Advocacy: experience in asylum-related policy or advocacy work.
3. Commercial Awareness: experience in negotiating with statutory, local, or voluntary organisations/authorities.

About the Foundation:

The Avicenna Foundation was set up in 2023 to to support outstanding young British Muslims by providing them with scholarships for their undergraduate degree. The scholarships are mainly focused on awarding scholarships in the Social Sciences and Humanities for those interested in politics, policy-making and becoming agents of positive change.

Alongside the scholarship, the Avicenna Foundation runs a development programme for the scholars to expand their skills and abilities in various areas like leadership, communication and collaboration.

The Foundation has developed immensely in the first year with the launch of the charity; onboarding of it’s first cohort of 30 scholars and the development of a leadership programme.  It now needs propelling into the next stage as the charity develops to ensure a robust charity structure and programme in place.

Key Responsibilities:

Operations:

- Manage the day-to-day operations of the charity, and manage changes required within programmes and activities as a result of changing external landscapes or contexts.

- Implement strategies for advertising the scholarships, receiving and reviewing applications, shortlisting candidates, conducting interviews, and making final selection decisions. Some of these things are already in place and may need reviewing and enhancing.

- Work with the Scholar Development Coordinator to oversee the leadership development programme, provide guidance and help the programme to grow.

- Maintain regular communication with the scholars, their progress, and address any issues or concerns that may arise.

- Ensure programme objectives and outcomes align with the overall strategy and aims of the Foundation, and are realistic and achievable within timeframes and budgets.

- Organise any events, programmes necessary to the scholars.

- Use data to track progress and drive improvement; proactively manage risks; and ensure effective use of the Foundation’s resources and budgets allocated to you.

Governance:

- Provide leadership and guidance to achieve consistency of governance across all of the Foundation’s activities, from development, delivery, measurement and evaluation and reporting perspectives.

- Regular communication and updates to the board, prepare board papers and contribute to Trustee meetings as required.

- Create, maintain and ensure continued adoption of governance frameworks, policies and templates.

- Ensure implementation and maintenance of risk registers for the charity and across all programmes.

- Manage finances, budgeting, reporting, and record-keeping

- Prepare the Foundation’s annual report.

External Engagement

- Lead on strategic communications by developing and implementing an integrated public affairs and communication plan that are consistent with the goals and values of the Foundation.

- Building and cultivating exceptional diverse reciprocal partnerships across a wide range of stakeholder groups, grounded in delivering impact through collaboration.

- Work with educational partners to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the scholarship programme

-  Leverage messaging and networks to positively impact the growth and reputation of the Foundation.

- Strengthen our brand reputation to maximise our impact and reach.

- Help identify, create and develop meaningful opportunities for the young people the Foundation works with.

- Establish an alumni network and support continuous professional development for alumni.

- Produce briefings and critical information for internal and external stakeholders, and review reports, submissions, and letters where appropriate.

Experience and Skills

This is not a prescriptive list, and we do not expect applicants to meet every item outlined below. We recognise that it can be hard to find the ideal balance of knowledge and skills for this role. We are open to what this balance is, so if you are stronger in one or the other area but think you could do the job please still apply, and tell us why the role is right for you.

Required

- An appreciation and understanding of the Foundation’s values and vision.

- Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders.

- Experience in successful partnership working.

- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, lead, influence and motivate others.

- Good financial acumen and experience of managing and working within set budgets.

- A proactive, flexible approach, and ability to progress work independently in a fast-paced environment.

- Diplomatic approach and highly self-motivated with a positive and energetic attitude.

- Focuses on what matters most, setting priorities and adapting them where required, with the right level of communication.

- Excellent attention to detail, accuracy and organisational skills.

- Takes satisfaction in delivering work to a consistently high standard, and programmes on time and on budget.

- Communicates clearly and confidently to senior team members, and presents information effectively, at the right time, with the right level of information.

- Plans ahead, anticipates and reacts to change and project needs, and remains flexible and adaptive in the face of change.

- Experience of working to tight deadlines without close supervision.

- The ability to identify personal strengths and weaknesses, and a willingness to develop, adapt and learn

- A passion and interest in developing work streams to support the development of young people.

-  A high level of digital literacy to include MS Office, G Suite, social media and other online platforms.

Advantageous

- Knowledge and experience in effective charity governance, with experience working within the charity/non-profit space.

- Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK as it relates to issues impacting students, young people and Muslim communities.

- Expertise in project/programme management with proven ability to manage complex projects, including the ability to develop and manage budgets, timelines, and resources.

- Structured thinking when working through problems, overcoming hurdles, mitigating risks and dealing with issues.

- Confidence in, and experience in, liaising with a wide range of stakeholders and project participants

- Previous work within areas of young people, local communities, or further education is a plus.

- An understanding of effective safeguarding (training can be provided, but experience an advantage)

- An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant field.

Please note that this job description is a guide to the work you will initially be required to undertake, but does not cover all of the duties the post holder may have to perform. Responsibilities will evolve over time, in discussion with the post holder.

Ministry of Stories champions the writer in every child. Co-founded by author Nick Hornby in 2010, we help young people discover their confidence, imagination and potential through the power of their writing. We develop self-respect and communication skills through writing programmes and mentoring for children in our community, by working in schools, and at our dedicated writing centre in East London. We empower young people to write brighter futures for themselves through the power of their ideas, creativity and imagination.

We are looking for a confident leader to work closely with the Director to continue the growth and resilience of our organisation. You’ll drive successful fundraising and trading income, and understand how our communications can support this.

You will be a forward planner with an ability to respond to opportunity and manage risk. With keen attention to detail as well as the overview, you’ll have strong financial management skills. You will be great with people, have excellent communication skills, and be able to bring the best out in our team.

You will enjoy working in a supportive, busy and fun environment and be motivated by our commitment to champion the writer in every child.