Senior finance business partner jobs

Strategic IT  Lead- Shape Technology Strategy, Innovation and Digital Future 

Location:

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Hybrid (2 days in Office) Leatherhead, Surrey 

Salary:

£Competitive per annum plus benefits 

Hours:

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Part time, 22.5 hours 

Contract:

Permanent 

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A New Opportunity to Shape SeeAbility's Digital Future

SeeAbility is looking for an exceptional Strategic IT Lead to shape our digital, technology, and data strategy at a pivotal time in our growth. This is a senior leadership role with real influence and visibility. Reporting to the Finance Director, you will help define how technology drives our mission and improves outcomes for the people we support.
Do you want to use technology to make a real difference in people’s lives?

Leading Strategy, Innovation and Digital Transformation 

You will lead SeeAbility’s organisation‑wide approach to digital, data, and technology. Your work will ensure our systems and tools are modern, secure, and ready for the future.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the development of our IT and digital strategy
• Overseeing major system changes and digital upgrades
• Driving the adoption of AI and intelligent tools
• Strengthening data governance and data quality
• Enhancing digital services across the organisation
• Building a secure, resilient, future‑ready technology environment

You will partner closely with:

• The Strategic IT team, who you will lead and develop
• The Head of Technical IT, ensuring alignment across all technology functions
• Colleagues across operations, finance, and service delivery
• The Senior Leadership Team, advising on risk, transformation, and long‑term digital priorities

Are you confident influencing senior leaders and shaping strategy at the highest level?

A Role for Visionary, People-Focused Leader

You are a forward‑thinking technology leader who brings clarity, energy, and strategic insight. You combine technical understanding with strong people and communication skills.

You bring experience in:

• Leading organisation‑wide digital and IT strategies
• Managing data, infrastructure, and major technology platforms
• Modernising systems and improving digital capability
• Delivering secure environments and mitigating technology risk
• Driving digital transformation in medium‑to‑large organisations
• Working in charity, social care, or not‑for‑profit settings (desirable)

You excel at:

• Translating complex technical topics into clear business decisions
• Building strong relationships across teams and departments
• Leading high‑performing, collaborative teams
• Balancing long‑term vision with operational realities
• Making decisions with good judgement and strategic awareness

Do you thrive in environments where technology has the power to create social impact?

What You Will Bring:

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Strategic, adaptable, and future‑focused
• Confident at senior levels, with strong influencing skills
• Motivated by purpose‑driven work
• Skilled at both strategy and hands‑on problem‑solving
• Committed to creating modern, user‑centred digital experiences
• Passionate about using technology to empower people and communities

Are you ready to lead meaningful change and shape a more digital, connected SeeAbility?

Why This Role Matters

This is a rare opportunity to lead an ambitious digital journey with:

• Real autonomy
• Senior visibility
• Strategic influence
• A strong mandate for change
• The chance to create lasting impact for people and communities

If you want to lead our digital future — and help build a modern, resilient, user‑centred technology environment — we would love to hear from you.

Why Join Us as a Stategic IT Lead?

We don’t just offer jobs — we build careers and celebrate people.

Your Development & Appreciation

• Annual Excellence Awards – we celebrate your impact
• Long Service Awards – recognition every 5 years
• Development Discussions – your growth matters
• Leadership Development Academy – take your next step

Your Work-Life Balance

• 33 days holiday (pro-rata) (incl. bank holidays), rising to 41 days with long service
• Life events leave – time off when it matters most
• Organisational Sick Pay – 2 weeks after 6 months, up to 12 weeks over 3 years
• Buy or sell annual leave
• Enhanced Family-Friendly Pay + Paid Fertility Leave
• Carers Leave

Your Money Goes Further

• £500 monthly bonus draw – two lucky winners every month
• Blue Light Card + retail discounts & cashback
• Access to Tickets for Good
• Pay reviews + competitive rates
• Pension scheme with tools to plan your future
• Paid DBS & renewals
• Season ticket loans
• Advance Pay & Savings via Stream

Your Wellbeing Counts

• Cycle to Work scheme
• Life assurance – 2x annual salary
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye tests
• Discounted gym membership
• In-house Wellbeing Coach

Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare

SeeAbility is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. We expect all staff to uphold this commitment and have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding. 

Safer Recruitment

As part of our safer recruitment procedures, we require the following checks for all successful applicants:

• A criminal background check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (where appropriate).
• Documentary evidence to confirm your identity, current address, and the right to work in the UK.
• Health Declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered. 
• References will be obtained to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to (a) health or social care, or (b) children or vulnerable adults. 

These checks will be carried out and completed prior offering a date to start employment at SeeAbility’ s expense.

Diversity

SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from underrepresented groups and those who have a disability or neurodivergent condition. We are please to confirm that we are a Disability Confident Employer.

We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Everyone’s unique experiences and views are appreciated, and their opinion valued. We are happy to offer any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role itself to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.

In exceptional circumstances, the exempt from the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1) which provides for the application of a genuine occupational requirement.​

About Toynbee Hall

Based in the East End of London since 1884, Toynbee Hall is a charity working alongside people facing poverty, injustice, and inequality to build a fairer East London. We provide vital advice and support, working in partnership to tackle unfairness and ensure everyone has an equal chance to thrive.

Directorate background

The Advice Services directorate at Toynbee Hall is central to our commitment to address and alleviate poverty in London and beyond. Specialising in debt, welfare benefits, legal support, and generalist advice, our directorate has proven instrumental in significantly enhancing the financial wellbeing of those we serve. Last year alone, our efforts helped individuals and families to be over £23 million better off, showcasing the direct impact of our work.

Job purpose

The Director of Advice Services provides strategic leadership for Toynbee Hall’s Advice Services Directorate, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, accessible and impactful services that support people experiencing poverty, financial hardship, social exclusion and inequality.

Scope of role

The Interim Director of Advice Services is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of all Advice Services delivered by Toynbee Hall.

This includes direct delivery services, partnership programmes, grant-funded projects and commissioned contracts delivered across community, healthcare and criminal justice settings.

The postholder will oversee a complex portfolio that includes:

• Debt advice and financial wellbeing services
• Welfare benefits and generalist advice services
• Legal advice services including employment and housing
• Welfare benefits services for customers with cancer
• Ministry of Justice-funded prison-based advice services
• Future commissioned, grant-funded and partnership programmes

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the strategic direction and development of the Advice Services Directorate.
• Contribute to organisational strategy and planning as a member of the Senior Management Team.
• Ensure services align with Toynbee Hall’s mission, strategic objectives and organisational priorities.

Financial Planning and Performance

• Work with Finance colleagues to develop budgets, forecasts and financial plans across the Directorate.
• Ensure services operate within agreed budgets and deliver value for money.
• Monitor financial performance across contracts, grants and programmes, identifying risks and opportunities.

Business Development and Growth

• Lead the development and delivery of the Directorate’s growth strategy.
• Identify new funding, commissioning and partnership opportunities.
• Lead the development of bids, tenders and funding proposals.

Contract and Partnership Management

• Provide strategic oversight of all contracts, grants and service agreements.
• Lead negotiations with commissioners, funders and delivery partners.
• Ensure effective contract management processes are embedded across the Directorate.

Service Portfolio Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight across all advice services including debt, welfare benefits, generalist advice, legal advice, Macmillan services and prison-based advice programmes.
• Ensure services are integrated where appropriate and provide a seamless client journey.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across all service areas.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of leading large-scale advice, support, health, justice or community services and projects.
• Proven experience of business development, income generation and securing funding or contracts
• Experience of leading complex partnerships / multi-agency programmes.
• Experience of negotiating and managing significant contracts, grants and service agreements.
• Strong understanding of service quality, governance, compliance and risk management.
• Experience of budget management, financial planning and working with finance colleagues to support effective financial oversight.
• Ability to build relationships and influence at senior level with funders, commissioners, regulators and strategic partners.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working within or alongside the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)
• Experience leading within a senior Advice Services Directorate
• Experience in developing or delivering advisor training and technical supervision.
• Understanding of criminal justice or mental-health service environments.

Our Benefits

Annual Leave

• 25 days of annual leave, plus 3 additional days for our Christmas shutdown (on top of bank holidays)
• After 2 years: +3 extra days of leave
• After 3 years: +1 additional day
• After 5 years: A total of 30 days annual leave, plus the 3-day Christmas shutdown

Pension

• Standard Life Pension Scheme – Employer contribution: 4%, Employee contribution: 5%

Additional Perks & Support

• Enhanced Sick Pay for peace of mind during illness
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to support growing families
• Employee Eyecare Vouchers to support your vision health
• Employee Assistance Programme for free, confidential advice and support
• Mental Health First Aid to ensure workplace well-being
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme to help secure your home
• Interest-Free Season Ticket Loan for cost-effective commuting
• Cycle to Work Scheme to promote a healthier, greener way to travel
• Charity Mentoring Network to support professional development and networking
• Westfield Health Cash Plan to cover your healthcare needs specified in the Policy
• Perk Box
• Life Insurance

Please refer to the attached job description for more details.

Job Purpose

To lead and oversee the delivery of TLC: Talk, Listen, Change’s charitable income generation and fundraising function, driving sustainable income growth through a diverse portfolio of opportunities including commissioning, grant applications, charitable trusts and foundations and fundraising activity. The Head of Development will carry out a mixed role, primarily consisting of informing the strategy, supervising the team and supporting them to secure income - while also directly creating some high-value / high-stakes submissions themselves. The role will play a key part in shaping and delivering the organisation’s growth ambitions, ensuring a strong and balanced pipeline across statutory, commissioned and voluntary income streams. As part of TLC’s Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will act as a senior advisor on charitable income generation opportunities and contribute to the wider strategic direction of the organisation. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Contribution

•  Be a member of the Senior Leadership Team of TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, contributing to organisational strategy, growth and long-term sustainability.
• Work alongside the Group Director of Partnerships and Development and other senior leaders to shape and deliver TLC’s development and charitable income generation strategy.
• Act as a senior advisor on development, funding and growth of charitable income sources for the organisation.
• Take a lead role in fostering a culture of ambition, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Development and Income Generation

• Lead the team to deliver focused and successful development activity across TLC, ensuring a strong and sustainable pipeline of opportunities across: Tenders / commissioning (including pre-market engagement such as soft market testing, actual submissions including PQQs, ITTs, framework applications and presentations / interviews) Charitable trusts and foundations, Grants, Fundraising, Corporate relationships
• Work closely with our: Group Head of Marketing and Communications to create and run exciting, engaging campaigns and projects which grow awareness of and support for TLC, ultimately leading to increased income, Director of Finance To ensure budgets are accurate and bids appropriately costed, Director and Heads of Services To ensure we can deliver safely, securely and effectively,  Director of Partnerships and Development To ensure strategic alignment and relationships.
• Ensure a detailed understanding of all tender specifications including a thorough assessment of the implications and requirements of TLC within each opportunity.
• Ensure all submissions are high quality, aligned to TLC values and priorities.
• Work closely with service leads and partnerships colleagues to identify, scope and develop new opportunities. 

Leadership and Management

• Provide strong leadership to the Development team, including line management of Development Managers.
• Support a high-performing, collaborative team culture aligned to TLC behaviours and values.
• Ensure effective performance management, supervision, and development of staff (including one-to-ones, appraisals and team meetings).

Performance, Planning and Delivery

• Lead the development and delivery of a clear development plan aligned to organisational strategy.
• Monitor and report on development and fundraising performance, ensuring a data informed approach to decision-making.
• Provide delegated budget management for development and fundraising activity.
• Ensure smooth transition from development activity to service mobilisation, working closely with operational teams.

External Relationships and Profile

• Build and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, funders and partners with regard to charitable income generation opportunities.
• Represent TLC at external forums, networks and events, contributing to sector influence and profile. Governance and Ways of Working
• Ensure all development and fundraising activity aligns with TLC policies, values and ethical frameworks.
• Contribute to organisational planning cycles, board reporting and strategic development processes.
• Commit to continuous professional development and maintain awareness of sector trends and opportunities. 

The Head of Data leads the Foundation’s enterprise-wide data strategy, establishing a trusted, secure, well-governed and insight-driven data environment. The role is responsible for delivering data governance, data quality, architecture, engineering, reporting, analytics and the effective use of cloud native data platforms across the organisation.

This leadership role accelerates the Foundation’s journey toward becoming a data-mature, insight-led organisation, supporting strategic decision-making, regulatory confidence, operational excellence, and impact measurement.

Reporting to the Director of Transformation, the Head of Data builds and develops the team, shapes the Foundation’s data culture, and ensures data is a strategic asset that drives value, trust and innovation.

The Head of Data delivers a modern, secure and trusted data environment supporting the Foundation’s mission, and ensures high quality of data that strengthens insight, transparency, regulatory confidence and impact measurement. The role also supports a future-ready data capability, supporting long-term transformation across the Foundation, and helps foster a culture that sees data as a shared asset powering decisions, partnerships and community impact. 

Job Description 

Strategic Data Leadership 

• Develop and deliver the Foundation’s enterprise data strategy aligned to mission and organisational goals.
• Enable data-driven decision-making across all Foundation operations, including Finance & Legal, Endowment, Charities and Impact on Urban Health. 
• Embed data into customer experience, operational resilience, risk management and strategic planning. 
• Ensure measurable outcomes linked to data quality, adoption and organisational value. 

Data Governance & Compliance

• Lead and mature a robust data governance framework, including standards, policies, ownership models, quality controls and metadata management.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, Data Protection and relevant regulatory and audit requirements.
• Establish trusted data across the organisation through strong controls, lineage, classification and lifecycle management. 

Data Architecture & Engineering

• Lead on the enterprise data architecture design, including data lakes, warehousing, integrations, pipelines and modelling. 
• Own and optimise cloud-native data technologies across Microsoft Azure, including Fabric, Azure Data Lake, Data Factory, Databricks, Synapse and SQL. 
• Ensure the data platform is scalable, high-performing, secure and aligned to organisational transformation needs.
• Partner with the Business Systems team to deliver seamless integrations with CRM, finance, impact measurement tools and third-party platforms. 

Analytics, Insight & AI

• Lead on the development of enterprise reporting and analytics, delivering timely, accurate and actionable insights. 
• Oversee Power BI governance, semantic models and self-service enablement. 
• Drive predictive analytics, operational insight and (where appropriate) responsible AI/ML adoption to enhance outcomes and impact measurement.
• Champion the delivery and innovation in line with emerging technologies to support operational insight. 

Leadership, Culture & Collaboration

• Work closely with the Head of Change, Head of Business Systems, and IT Operations Manager to develop end-to-end solutions for business systems, data and infrastructure.
• Over time, build and lead the multidisciplinary data.
• Champion data literacy, high-quality data habits and a culture of curiosity across the Foundation.
• Represent the organisation externally with regulators, suppliers and strategic partners.
• Effectively manage internal and external delivery, including procurement and vendor oversight. 

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

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

Skills, abilities, and attributes:

• Self-starter who is adaptable, works with integrity, and exhibits the Foundation’s core values.
• Willing to learn and develop new skills, and help to develop the knowledge and skills of peers.
• Committed to the principle of continuous improvement, with careful attention to detail and due process.
• Committed to delivering consistent and high-quality customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Good interpersonal skills and able to effectively liaise with both internal and external communities.
• Confident in communicating well, both in writing and verbally, and exhibits listening and influencing skills.
• Ability to operate strategically and hands-on in equal measure.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Ability to build trust, develop relationships and lead through influence.
• Commitment to data ethics, privacy, responsible technology and community impact.
• Keeps fully up to date with emerging technologies
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for senior and non-technical audiences. 

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications:

• Proven experience leading data functions in regulated or complex organisations (charity, financial services, healthcare, public sector or similar) – (essential)
• Strong background in enterprise data management, governance, data quality and architecture (essential)
• Deep technical expertise across the Microsoft Azure data ecosystem (Fabric, Data Lake, ADF, Databricks, Synapse, SQL, Purview, DevOps) – (essential)
• Experience scaling cloud-native data platforms and modern data stacks (Lakehouse, pipelines, BI tooling) – (essential) 
• Strong understanding of GDPR, data protection, compliance and data risk frameworks (essential)
• Track record of influencing at senior/executive levels and leading cultural change (essential)
• Experience with Microsoft Purview governance and responsible AI frameworks (desirable)
• Certifications such as Azure Data Engineer, Solutions Architect or equivalent (desirable)
• Experience with Azure/OpenAI, Snowflake/BigQuery/Redshift, dbt or modern orchestration tools (desirable)
• Experience enabling insights in impact-driven, donor-focused or audience engagement organisations (desirable) 

Benefits

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

About the role

Cardiomyopathy UK's Director of Research and External Affairs leads the charity's research, policy and advocacy, and communications and marketing functions, with a team of four staff. The post-holder sets the strategic direction of the directorate, drives high-quality delivery,  upholds the charity's values, and represents the charity externally. The Director is a member of the charity's Leadership Team, working closely with the CEO to steer the charity forward. 

For the right person, this is an opportunity with real strategic scope. We want to build on our strong policy positions and evidence base and translate them into more proactive campaigning and influencing, moving from good policy thinking to concerted public affairs activity, strategic stakeholder engagement, and campaigns that achieve real change. 

The Director will also lead the next phase of our research work, following our inaugural research grant-funding activity and James Lind Alliance top ten work. They will work with the Research Manager and our clinical and academic partners to better define and deliver our ambitions.

Raising awareness of cardiomyopathy, its signs, symptoms and genetic risk, is also within the team's scope. Too many people are still diagnosed late because neither they nor their GP knew what to look for. The Director will drive our communications and marketing agenda purposefully, equally ensuring the charity’s external profile is actively managed and enhanced.

About you

We're looking for a leader who is a collaborative and inclusive, able to build trust with staff, colleagues, external partners and the Board. They will have strong strategic, analytical and planning skills, with the ability to develop coherent strategies. They will have experience as a senior leader/ manager in a charity, health, research or patient-focused organisation. See the Person Specification for further details.
 
Why join us?

Cardiomyopathy UK is the national charity for people affected by cardiomyopathy. We provide specialist nurse support, peer support, wellbeing services and trusted information to thousands of people each year, as well as influencing policy, supporting advocacy, and funding and enabling better research.

We are ambitious about our future. We are committed to quality, accountability and continuous improvement. Most importantly, we are committed to ensuring that everyone affected by cardiomyopathy can live well with the condition.

We are a family friendly employer with flexible and hybrid working. We offer an enhanced Employee Assistance Programme, additional annual leave linked to length of service, and an extra special occasion day each year.

We are midway through our five-year strategic plan, at a genuinely exciting moment, both for the charity and for cardiomyopathy more broadly. If you are excited by the opportunity to shape our Research and External Affairs work, lead a strong team and ensure we can clearly demonstrate the impact of our work, we would love to hear from you.

Play a leading role in shaping the future of Saferworld’s philanthropic partnerships and help drive funding that supports peacebuilding around the world. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced relationship builder to grow a high potential income stream with real global impact.

Saferworld works to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. As our Philanthropy Manager, you’ll join a committed, values‑driven team working in solidarity with people affected by conflict. You’ll lead on a portfolio of established philanthropic partners while also identifying and cultivating new opportunities that align with our mission and principles.

This is a role with genuine scope for creativity and innovation. You will shape cultivation strategies, co‑create funding opportunities with colleagues and partners, and represent Saferworld externally to deepen relationships and secure high‑value, multi‑year support. You will also help position the organisation to engage high net‑worth individuals, foundations and donor‑advised funds as we diversify our income.

Working closely with programme, policy, communications and finance teams, you will ensure our proposals, reports and donor care reflect the quality, impact and integrity of our work. A smaller part of your role will involve overseeing individual giving and gifts in wills, supported by the Funding Officer.

If you are motivated by building meaningful partnerships, influencing change, and contributing to a more peaceful world, this role offers the chance to make a tangible difference while shaping a growing area of work at Saferworld.

Action for Refugees in Lewisham is a thriving, dynamic community charity supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants across South East London. This is an exciting new role to the organisation forming a senior management team alongside the Executive Director, Casework Manager and Education and Finance Manager. This key senior position combines line management of central staff, high level fundraising, grants monitoring and compliance, development of enhanced member co-production, oversight of operational systems and management of pilot projects emerging from AFRIL’s 2027-30 strategy.

Job Purpose:

• To manage and coordinate the operations of the organisation, overseeing high level day to day operations including IT and systems, GDPR, Health and Safety, volunteer management, operational policies and procedures.

• To provide leadership and line management to the Monitoring and Operations Officer, Experts by Experience Coordinator and Community Activities Coordinator. With possible additional line of other project staff as organisational capacity requires.

• Lead the enhancement of processes and systems which support AFRIL’s frontline systems to work effectively and holistically together, providing capacity and support to project managers and leads.

• Lead the development and delivery of AFRIL’s co-production work, supporting the Experts by Experience Coordinator to amplify members' voices at all levels of the organisation.

• Supporting the Director in delivering the organisation's fundraising strategy. Writing a range of funding applications, holding key funder relationships and developing new funding relationships, including the establishment of enhanced individual, community and corporate fundraising relationships.

• Leading on the management and oversight of the grants compliance and reporting cycles, producing monitoring reports for funders with the support of the Operations and Monitoring Officer. Overseeing and developing evaluations and impact measurement systems alongside the Director.

• Assist the Director with the implementation of AFRIL’s strategy, taking a leading role in the delivery of new projects and areas of work to advance the mission and vision of the organisation.

• Supporting the Director with the development and implementation of a communications strategy, enhancing awareness of the organisation's work and impact.

• To represent AFRIL at a range of stakeholder meetings, and develop and manage partnerships to benefit AFRIL’s service users.

• To work collaboratively and dynamically in a small team, following AFRIL policies and reflecting AFRIL’s values.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in growing a major donor programme that directly supports life-changing eye care services in the Holy Land. You will work closely with the Executive Director, UK (EDUK) and senior leadership, including the CEO and Trustees, to contribute to the long-term sustainability of a respected and impactful international charity.

As part of a small, ambitious and collaborative UK team, you will play a major role in shaping and developing the major donor programme, building meaningful relationships with supporters and seeing the tangible impact of your work on patients and communities.

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group (SJEHG) is a UK-registered charity delivering expert eye care to the people of the Holy Land, regardless of ethnicity, religion or ability to pay. It operates through two locally-registered charities to provide services in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

The Operations Officer is a pivotal member of the team who will support the organisation to run its activities efficiently and effectively. As part of a small team, you will work collaboratively with most of the charity’s functions but in particular provide regular support to the SMT, finance, HR and fundraising teams.

Who we are:

WasteAid is an international non-governmental organisation that works in low and middle-income countries to implement environmental and economic empowerment programmes, focusing on support to nascent green businesses and grassroots entrepreneurs. The work improves the livelihoods of some of the poorest and most marginalised, promotes circular economy innovation and contributes to a cleaner and healthier future for all.

Our programmes focus predominantly on the reduction of plastic, organic, textile and e-waste pollution in areas of the world that have no formal waste management systems.

The organisation promotes and shares locally appropriate, evidence based inclusive practices, supporting and empowering others to take positive action. We partner with public, private and community-based organisations in countries where the lack of waste management systems is harming the environment, economy and society. We achieve our goals through our 3 flagship programmes:

- Our Wastepreneur programme for those individuals and micro businesses trying to make a living within the circular economy and make a difference in their communities.

- The WasteAid Circular Economy Network which brings together national stakeholders, local authorities and the private sector to tackle local waste challenges through networking, training, infrastructure support and innovation challenges.

- First Step Resource Management Programmes focus on a whole system approach to divert waste from landfill supporting community behaviour change, basic infrastructure, collector group training and end market development.

The organisation is just over 10 years old and has enjoyed sustainable growth with an annual budget this year of circa £1.2 million. It is a dynamic organisation with an international team who work in a supportive and collegial environment.

WasteAid currently implements programmes in The Gambia, India, South Africa and Uganda.

Purpose of Role

The Operations Officer is a varied role that helps keep the charity’s different functions running smoothly. Working closely with a small team a typical day can be a combination of regular tasks involving prompt and careful handling of incoming communications by email, post and telephone call, responding to invoices or payment requests and preparation of letters, contracts or reports. Other tasks such as recruitment support, staff onboarding, events and travel planning are less routine but may be part of your day as and when they occur.

Team co-ordinating

· Manage calendars and appointments, scheduling team meetings, appointments and events.

· Co-ordinate travel plans including booking transport, accommodation and supporting visa application processes.

· Attend quarterly Board meetings, taking minutes.

· Assist in the preparation and distribution of Board materials.

· Track charity assets and equipment, liaising with outsourced IT support as necessary.

HR Support

· Lead on fulfilment of recruitment campaigns, organising the recruitment pack, placing job adverts, handling applications, arranging interviews and tests.

· Issue contracts, contract variations, ensure signed records and references are filed.

· Prepare the induction of new joiners including introductory meetings and issuing equipment.

· Storing safeguarding records.

· Administer the charity’s HR filing system on SharePoint and the online HR management system.

· Keeping the charity organogram and staff profiles up to date.

· Logistic support for leavers, arranging collection of equipment.

Fundraising

· Work with fundraising colleagues to ensure that incoming communication is routed appropriately or responded to.

· Update records in the charity’s CRM system.

· Print and post written appeal letters.

· Logistics support for fundraising events, charity attendance at conferences, award ceremonies and trade fares.

Finance

· Handle incoming invoices and payment requests, obtaining authorisation from budget holders.

· Manage staff prepayment cards, topping up funds, issuing new cards and cancelling leavers’ cards.

· Prepare a bi-weekly payment run for international payments.

· Support the SMT with expense claims.

· Update the charity’s finance systems and file financial documents in SharePoint.

· Prepare Gift Aid claims, including utilising the charity’s CRM function.

Administration

· Manage personal and shared email accounts.

· Monitor and route incoming post.

· Answer incoming telephone calls, arranging a rota basis with colleagues.

· Preparing and issuing contracts, letters, reports or similar for signatures, including by Docusign.

· Keep all information confidential and comply with data protection and ethics legislation, including being up to date with GDPR requirements.

Other

· Ad-hoc procurement of goods or services as and when required.

· Comply with the charity’s policies and procedures.

· Occasional travel to charity meetings or events is required. Travel outside of the UK is unlikely.

· Any other reasonable duties as required.

Person Specification

Skills & Experience

This listing represents the full and ideal picture of the role. It is likely that not every strong candidate will be able to demonstrate all the listed attributes. If you feel that you can meet most of these qualifications, we encourage you to apply and give some thought as to how you might acquire any other necessary experience/skills after joining WasteAid.

Essential

· Experience in an administrative, operations, finance, HR or team coordination role.

· Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

· Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word, Excel and SharePoint.

· Ability to handle confidential information appropriately.

· Strong attention to detail.

· Comfortable working remotely and collaboratively with a small team.

Desirable

· Experience in a charity, NGO or international development organisation.

· Experience using CRM, HR or finance systems.

· Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding or governance processes.

· Understanding of Gift Aid, safeguarding administration or GDPR.

· Interest in waste management, circular economy, climate, environment or international development.

Personal Attributes

· A self-starter, enthusiastic, reliable and professional.

· Can-do attitude, taking a ‘hands-on’ approach to getting things done.

· Enjoys individual, team and collaborative working.

· Ability to work flexibly and know how to prioritise workload.

· Demonstrates a consistent high standard of work and attention to detail.

· Willingness to learn, confident to make improvement suggestions.

· Works with honesty and integrity and is aligned with WasteAid’s values.

Technical Lead (Contract)

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

Technical Lead – Enterprise Technology & Service Operations

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

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

Key Responsibilities

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

Required Experience

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

Essential Skills

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

Stakeholder Management

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

What's on Offer?

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

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

Job Description 

Job Title:  Strategic Communications and Marketing Planning Manager

Directorate:Communications 

Team/Department (if specific):Marketing and Planning

Date Written/ Amended:August2025

Context and Background

Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it inspires our Communications and Marketingteam to find ever-more creative ways to promote our work and share how people can get involved in making a difference to children’s lives. 

The award-winning NSPCC Communications directorate is known for its talent, expertise and creativity in inspiring and challenging people to act on child abuse. We work collaboratively, both organisationally and across integrated communications disciplines, to deliver shared outcomes and measurable results through all available communications channels. 

The Strategic Communications and Marketing Planning Managerforms part of our Brand and Marketing Planning team. The role is central to developing a strategic framework to support prioritisation of our annual communications and marketing plans, ensuring we’re optimising our activity to drive impact. 

The Communications Planning Manager will lead on the communications and marketing planning process for all teams. Working with teams across the organisation, they will lead on the communications planning process. As part of this responsibility, they will work closely with senior stakeholders within Marketing and Communications and the Fundraising and Engagement directorate to maximise brand awareness and income driven by our communications and marketing activity. 

Job purpose

1.Lead the development and implementation of the strategic framework for annual communications and marketing planning, ensuring it is clear, comprehensive, and aligned with organisational priorities and budget allocation to drive the maximum impact for children and young people.

2.Coordinate and oversee the planning process across all communications teams, facilitating workshops and meetings to engage stakeholders, and ensuring plans are efficiently resourced and delivered.

3.Maintain effective planning systems and processes, ensuring timely communication of plans and priorities internally and externally, and supporting the identification and delivery of strategic communications objectives.

4.Build strong cross-organisational relationships, particularly between Communications and other directorates, to ensure alignment, coordination, and shared ownership of strategic goals.

Key relationships - Internal

·Reports to the Associate Head of Brand and Marketing Planning

·Works closely with the Director of Communications and Marketing on the overall strategy for communications and Marketing and delivery of directorate objectives

·Works closely with cross organisational campaign managers and key stakeholders, including our Senior Leadership Team to inform planning and strategic alignment. 

·Works closely with teams to inform, support and manage communications activity.

·Pro-actively works with managers and staff in other NSPCC Directorates , such as Fundraising and Engagement, Strategy and Knowledge, People, Finance and Services as necessary to further communications relationships.

Key relationships - External

·Creative, media and research agencies.

·Peers within the UK charity sector.

·Industry opinion formers, media and other stakeholders. 

·Professionals/trade bodies/organisations in charitable sector.

Main duties and responsibilities

1.Work with the Associate Head of Brand and Marketing Planning to implement the strategic framework for the annual planning process, ensuring our marketing investment is aligned to strategic priorities, led by market research and media insight, and drives impact. 

2.Facilitate workshops and meetings with relevant comms and marketing teams across the organisation to ensure all stakeholders are aligned and engaged in the annual comms and marketing planning process.

3.Support in the delivery and implementation of the communications strategy, ensuring our annual Communications and Marketing directorate business plans support our audiences to get closer to our cause.

4.Support the Associate Head of Brand and Marketing Planning in the analysis of marketing and communications impact data and insight, to share complex information in a clear and compelling way with the Communications and Marketing Leadership Team, the Director of Marketing Communications, Director of Fundraising and Engagement, Executive Leadership Team and Trustees.

5.     Ensure that there are appropriate processes in place to monitor communications and marketing performance, and delivery against business plans and the strategy.

6.     Maximise income and add value to departmental activities by sharing knowledge, specialist expertise and best practice with others as appropriate.

7.     Support the marketing and operations planning meeting by influencing and negotiating to deliver the comms planning process with internal audiences. 

8.     Work closely with finance, our media agencies and internal stakeholders to understand the investment plans and budgets for marketing across the organisation. 

9.     Support the Associate Head of Brand and Marketing Planning in the development of the brand and media investment strategies. 

Responsibilities for all Staff within the Communications

·A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

·Actively participate in regular department and team meetings, contributing to strategy, discussions and decisions which will be beneficial to the Directorate and wider NSPCC activities.

·Adhere to all the NSPCC’s service standards, policies and procedures. 

·Evidence an understanding of and commitment to the demonstration of the NSPCC’s values.

·Maintain an awareness of and comply with NSPCC data protection regulations. 

·Be responsible for personal learning and development, to support the learning and development of others and the whole organisation. 

·Work in a manner that supports equality, diversity and inclusion 

·Be pro-active in identifying ways to improve personal and team performance

·Maintain an awareness of own and others’ Health and Safety and comply with the NSPCC’s Health and Safety policy and procedures.

·Maintain awareness of NSPCCs safeguarding duties and comply with Safeguarding Code of Conduct.

·Take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with NSPCC work to end cruelty to children, including securing updates on project and service developments and general NSPCC news

A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people

Person specification

1.Excellent written communication skills to analyse, interpret and present proposals, reports and strategic plans in a clear and persuasive way for a wide range of audiences. 

2.Excellent ability to verbally present information, to a range of audiences in a clear, inspiring, and confident way to achieve desired outcomes.

3.Excellent ability to align, prioritise and plan marketing and communications activity against strategic organisational priorities.

4.Excellent ability to establish, develop and maintain relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including senior level individuals and external media agencies and partners to achieve desired outcomes.

5.Well-developed ability to develop, control and manage a communications and marketing plan, keeping within financial limits, monitoring and forecasting income and marketing performance, identifying possible shortfalls or overspends and taking timely and appropriate action.

6.Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage projects, organise and plan own work and the work of others to deliver objectives on time.

7.Experience in marketing and communications planning and strategically scheduling marketing activities on behalf of a large national brand. 

8.Project Management skills

9.Significant experience in leading integrated multi-channel campaign planning for a large organisation. 

10.A personal commitment to ending cruelty to children.

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk. 

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. 

Our principles: 

·Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation. 

·Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.

·We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.

·Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.

·As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.

·All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

About Adolescent Health Study

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

Purpose of the post

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

Main responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

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

Tendering and Contract Management

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

Commercial Governance & Compliance

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

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

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

Financial & Value Management

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

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

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

Desirable

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

Dimensions

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

Application Process

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

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

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

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

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

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

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

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

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

Values

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

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.

BLCF is a leading local grantmaker, striving to be a catalyst for positive change in the community. The Foundation distributes millions of pounds locally each year and is establishing a national reputation for an innovative, community-focused and strategic approach.

BLCF is currently recruiting for an experienced Head of Grants to lead our expanding grants team and join our Senior Leadership Team to steer the future direction of the Foundation.

Applicants will need to have significant previous and relevant experience in a grants management role, and possess excellent leadership, team and programme management skills. Excellent communication and IT skills are also essential.

To apply, please submit a concise covering letter (no more than two pages) outlining your suitability for the role against the job description and a completed application form

Closing date for applications is 12noon on Monday 13th July 2026.