Senior grant manager jobs in London

Join London Legal Support Trust and use your communications skills to champion access to justice. Create engaging content, manage our website and social channels, and promote our programmes and fundraising events. We are looking for an organised, creative communicator with strong writing, digital and content management skills. This permanent, full-time hybrid role is based in Holborn and offers flexible working, generous leave and development opportunities.

Help shape the future of an ambitious local charity

MRS Independent Living supports older people, disabled people and people experiencing mental health challenges to live independently, stay active and remain connected to their communities. We combine practical in-home support with innovative community-led projects that tackle inequalities and improve wellbeing.

We're looking for a Deputy Director who is excited by the opportunity to help lead this established local charity into its next chapter. 

This is a role for someone who enjoys thinking strategically while also rolling up their sleeves to make things happen. You'll work alongside the Director to shape our future, develop new services, build partnerships and secure funding. You'll also be happy stepping into day-to-day operations when needed to support the team, maintain continuity and ensure our services are high quality and running smoothly.

Whether your background is primarily in fundraising and you're looking to broaden your operational leadership experience, or you've led services and want to develop your fundraising and strategic skills, this role offers an excellent opportunity to build a well-rounded senior leadership career.

About the role

As Deputy Director you'll provide leadership across our community projects, helping us develop and deliver sustainable, high-quality services that make a real difference to our community.

You'll:

• Work with the Director and Board to shape organisational strategy and future development.

• Lead fundraising from trusts, foundations, corporate partners and other income sources.

• Oversee our community projects, ensuring they deliver expected outcomes.

• Support, coach and develop project staff and volunteers.

• Build strong partnerships across the voluntary, health and public sectors.

• Lead monitoring, evaluation and reporting to demonstrate our impact.

• Deputise for the Director when required.

• Take a practical, hands-on approach - providing operational support wherever it's needed. 

We're looking for someone who has:

• Experience in fundraising, service management or both, ideally within the charity and voluntary sector.

• Ideas to develop and grow our community work, and the confidence and project management skills to operationalise them. 

• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support others.

• Excellent relationship and partnership-building skills.

• A collaborative, adaptable approach with the confidence to switch between strategic thinking and practical delivery.

• A commitment to co-production, equity and user-led approaches.

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected local charity while developing your own senior leadership experience.

You'll join a small, supportive team where your ideas will influence organisational strategy, new services and long-term sustainability. No two days are the same, and you'll have the opportunity to work across fundraising, operations, partnerships, governance and organisational development—making this an ideal stepping stone towards a Director or CEO role.

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can make a tangible difference to people's lives while broadening your skills and experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Our staff benefits include: 

• Flexible and hybrid working

• Generous holiday allowance of 28 days (pro rata) per year plus bank holidays, rising to 29 days after one years’ service

• Enhanced sick leave and pay

• Enhanced family leave and pay

• Ongoing opportunities for learning and professional development

• Employer pension contributions of 4%

• Life assurance cover equivalent to one year’s annual salary for members of our workplace pension scheme

About Hope for the Young

Hope for the Young removes the obstacles to young refugees and sanctuary-seekers’ education and wellbeing through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support.

The Mentoring Programme supports young refugees and sanctuary-seekers aged 16-25 by matching them with trained volunteer mentors who provide weekly one-to-one support tailored to the young people's needs. Mentors help with teaching English, enrolment advice, study skills, confidence and trust building, and provide emotional and practical support that helps young people access new services, adapt and settle into their communities.

The Grants and Advocacy Programme supports young people who, due to their immigration status, have no access to student finance or other financial support to enable them to go to college or university. We provide small grants to pay for tuition fees, living allowances and travel expenses, alongside tailored advocacy support to enable young refugees and sanctuary-seekers to access education in the UK.

About this role

Hope for the Young is looking for an experienced and proactive Head of Finance and Operations to lead the smooth running of our finance, systems, HR and office functions. This is a hands-on role at the heart of a small, ambitious charity, giving you the opportunity to shape how we operate as we grow our support for young refugees and sanctuary-seekers across London.

You will oversee financial management and reporting, ensuring accurate records, robust controls and clear budgeting and forecasting to support the charity's long-term sustainability. You will also lead on our Salesforce system and wider data practices, manage day-to-day office and operational matters, and take responsibility for HR across the organisation. You will also line-manage our Finance and Administration Officer.

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys working across multiple areas of responsibility and thrives in a small team environment. Working closely with the CEO and Head of Programmes, you will play a central role in ensuring Hope for the Young has the systems, processes and people in place to deliver our mission effectively, efficiently and sustainably, helping us support more young people seeking safety to build safe, hopeful futures.

We offer a flexible and hybrid working environment, however you will be expected to come to our office in Brixton for a minimum of 1 day per week (on a Wednesday, which is our office team day).

Key responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

· Lead and oversee the charity's financial management, ensuring robust controls, effective processes and compliance with financial policies and procedures.

· Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and financial planning in collaboration with the CEO and Head of Programmes to support organisational sustainability.

· Oversee the delivery of day-to-day finance operations, including bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and financial record-keeping, delivered by the Finance and Administration Officer, providing guidance, training, and support as necessary.

· Monitor income, expenditure, reserves and restricted and unrestricted funds, ensuring accurate financial reporting and effective resource management.

· Prepare and present monthly management accounts, financial reports and analysis to support decision-making by the CEO and Board.

· Maintain and strengthen financial controls, delegated authority arrangements and audit processes to ensure strong financial governance.

Leadership, Governance and Organisational Management

· Lead organisational operational planning and risk management, ensuring systems, processes and resources align with and support delivery of the strategic plan

· Sit as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), contributing to organisational strategy, cross-team planning and key decision-making alongside the CEO and Head of Programmes.

· Maintain the organisational risk register, working with the CEO and Board to identify and mitigate strategic and operational risks.

· Own the organisation’s policy framework, maintaining the policy register and ensuring the timely revision, review and compliance of all policies.

IT and Office Management

· Lead the development, administration and optimisation of Salesforce, other fundraising platforms and related system integrations to support fundraising, donor engagement and programme delivery, liaising closely with the Salesforce consultant to implement system enhancements and resolve issues.

· Drive the continuous improvement of Salesforce systems, processes and data management practices, ensuring high standards of data quality, security and operational efficiency.

· Oversee the IT infrastructure, managing the procurement and ongoing maintenance of IT hardware, systems and software with support from the external IT provider.

· Provide training, guidance and user support on Salesforce, Sharepoint, and all related platforms to maximise staff capability and system adoption.

· Ensure a fully functioning office base which enables Hope for the Young to deliver its operational activities in the most efficient and effective manner.

Human Resource Management

· Lead and oversee HR operations, including the recruitment, onboarding and retention of staff and volunteers

· Oversee employee lifecycle processes, including inductions, appraisals, performance reviews and professional development planning

· Ensure compliance with employment legislation and organisational policies through effective management and administration of contracts, HR records, employee benefits and people processes

· Lead on team wellbeing, fostering a supportive, inclusive, and resilient working culture across the team

The job description as described will be reviewed on a regular basis to respond to any changing needs of the post.

Benefits

• 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), excluding bank holidays, plus additional time off over the Christmas period

• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential counselling/support helpline

• Regular development opportunities to support professional development

• Quarterly wellbeing afternoons – group outings or activities to relax and unwind

Further Information

• You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this job.

• You must adhere to Hope for the Young’s Equal Opportunities Policy at all times.

• Your employment at Hope for the Young is subject to two satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.

• There is a 3-month probation period for this role.

To Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of forced migration. If you think you have the skills and experience to be our new Head of Finance and Operations, we would love to hear from you.

We understand that AI can be a helpful tool when writing job applications. However, our advice is to not over-rely on AI and ensure your application is a true reflection of you and your voice. We can often tell when AI has been over-relied on and, in many cases, this is not giving applicants the best chance of success.

To submit your application you will need to send your CV and supporting letter, outlining how you meet the person specification for this post and explaining why you would like to work for Hope for the Young.The deadline to apply is 9am Thursday 3rd September. Interviews will take place on 10th and 11th September. If successful, you will be invited to a second interview the following week.  

Reports to: Community Support Manager 
Contract: Full-time 

Role Purpose 

As Community Support Lead: Grantmaking, you will provide the day-to-day administrative and operational support that enables HOST to deliver hosted grantmaking activities accurately, safely, and efficiently for our hosted partners. 

You will be line managed by the Community Support Manager and work closely with the Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers to deliver Hosted Grantmaking. Your primary focus will be grantmaking administration: due diligence coordination, grant agreement support, process tracking, records management, and audit-ready documentation. 

You will also provide secondary cover for general Community Support activity, including onboarding administration, payment or invoice queries, routine partner communications, and escalation. Relationship ownership and strategic funder or partner management will sit with the Community Support Manager, Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers, and relevant senior colleagues. 

Core Responsibilities 

1. Hosted Grantmaking Administration and Process Tracking 

• Maintain clear, accurate, and up-to-date grantmaking records across ClickUp, Zendesk, CRM systems, shared folders, and relevant internal trackers. 

• Track hosted grantmaking processes from initial request through due diligence, agreement preparation, approval, disbursement, and reporting. 

• Monitor deadlines, dependencies, missing information, and next steps, following up promptly and clearly. 

• Support the Community Support Manager and Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers to maintain visibility of live grantmaking activity, bottlenecks, risks, and upcoming priorities. 

• Keep grantmaking documentation organised, complete, and accessible to Finance, Legal, Partnerships, and Community Support colleagues. 

2. Due Diligence Coordination and Documentation 

• Administer due diligence processes for hosted grantmaking activities, ensuring required checks are initiated, tracked, and documented. 

• Coordinate the collection of information and supporting documents from hosted partners, grantees, funders, or internal colleagues as directed. 

• Maintain audit-ready due diligence records, ensuring forms, evidence, approvals, and risk notes are saved in the correct systems. 

• Spot missing information, incomplete checks, or process delays and escalate promptly to the Community Support Manager, Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers, or relevant colleagues. 

3. Grant Agreement and Grant Process Support 

• Coordinate the administrative steps required to prepare, review, issue, sign, and store grant agreements and related documentation. 

• Track agreement status, including drafts, internal reviews, approvals, signatures, amendments, and filing. 

• Liaise with Legal, Finance, Partnerships, and Community Support colleagues to keep grant agreements moving through the agreed process. 

• Flag inconsistencies, missing approvals, unusual terms, or unclear documentation for review by the Community Support Manager or Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers. 

4. Payment, Disbursement and Finance Coordination Support 

• Support the administrative coordination of grant disbursements, payment requests, invoice corrections, and related finance workflows. 

• Check that payment-related documentation is complete before progressing requests to Finance. 

• Track payment and disbursement status, following up on missing information or delays where appropriate. 

• Respond to straightforward payment or invoice queries from hosted partners, escalating complex or sensitive issues as needed. 

5. Community Support 

• Provide flexible cover across general Community Support activities, including onboarding administration, system guidance, routine hosted partner queries, and follow-up actions. 

• Support onboarding processes by preparing materials, updating records, tracking completion of onboarding tasks, and ensuring next steps are clear. 

• Maintain accurate records of partner interactions, ensuring relevant issues, risks, and decisions are documented and shared with appropriate colleagues. 

• Escalate relationship-sensitive, complex, or higher-risk matters to the Community Support Manager or relevant Partnerships lead. 

6. Systems, SOPs and Process Improvement 

• Support the creation, testing, and improvement of SOPs for hosted grantmaking, due diligence, grant agreements, onboarding, and payment-related workflows. 

• Identify gaps, duplication, or unclear steps in grantmaking and Community Support processes, and suggest practical improvements. 

• Keep internal checklists, templates, and guidance up to date so grantmaking processes are easier to follow and audit. 

7. Risk Identification and Escalation 

• Identify potential financial, operational, compliance, or reputational risks arising from hosted grantmaking administration or partner support activity. 

• Escalate risks promptly to the Community Support Manager, Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers, Legal, Finance or Partnerships colleagues as appropriate. 

• Maintain clear records of risks, decisions, approvals, and follow-up actions. 

You Bring 

• Experience in administration, operations, grants administration, programme support, community support, or client service. 

• Strong organisational skills, with excellent attention to detail and confidence managing multiple tasks, deadlines, and trackers. 

• A process-minded approach, with the ability to follow agreed steps carefully and spot where information, approvals, or documentation are missing. 

• Clear written communication skills, with the ability to provide warm, accurate, and practical updates to partners and colleagues. 

• Confidence using digital tools such as ClickUp, Zendesk, CRM systems, shared drives, spreadsheets, and cloud-based documents. 

• An understanding of, or willingness to learn about, due diligence, compliance, grant agreements, and audit-ready record keeping. 

• Good judgement about when to resolve straightforward issues independently and when to escalate complex, sensitive, or higher-risk matters. 

Key Relationships 

Internal: Community Support Manager, Partnerships Manager: Grantmakers, Partnerships Manager: Changemakers, Community Support Team, Finance Team, Legal Team. 
External: Hosted partners, grantees, funders, fiscal sponsorship partners, service providers, and other stakeholders involved in hosted grantmaking and project hosting processes. 

Performance Indicators 

• Grantmaking records and trackers are accurate, current, and easy to use. 

• Due diligence, agreement, approval, payment, and reporting steps are tracked and followed up on time. 

• Missing information, delays, unusual terms, and risks are escalated promptly. 

• Grant agreements and supporting documents are complete, correctly filed, and audit-ready. 

• Routine hosted partner queries and CS cover tasks are handled clearly, warmly, and within agreed timeframes. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop Build Studios – a small and dynamic built environment charity – and Build Workspace – the charity’s central London co-working space in Waterloo.

This role could suit an experienced sector leader looking for a leadership role, or a rising leader ready to step up.

Working closely with our dedicated Board of Directors and our small team, you will lead the development of the charity, oversee development and delivery of projects and identify new opportunities, partners and funders.

You will also oversee the smooth running of the co-working space, delivering a high quality service to members and promoting a collaborative environment for a diverse group of small and start-up practices.

The role is a part time opportunity (2 days/week) with the potential to expand. Salary £60,000 FTE (pro rated to 2 days/week - £24,000 per annum)

About us

Build Studios is a charity that works to inspire the next generation about the built environment through collaboration and learning. We have been working from our central London base in Waterloo since we were established nearly ten years ago.

We work with our community to improve awareness, access and aspiration for young people to careers in the sector. This takes place through outreach work with schools, careers enrichment and events.

Our engagement with young people takes place at a number of points in their school journey – from our ‘Healthy Homes’ programme with primary pupils, built environment careers enrichment with secondary aged students and digital design for sixth formers – inspiring them about the importance of good city design to their everyday lives. We continue this engagement into the world of work through Alternative Practice, our community of students and young workers, who come together through events and activities, to collaborate with others from across the sector.

Our workspace company, Build Workspace, provides co-working space, support services and events for start-ups and small businesses in the built environment sector.

We aim to attract entrepreneurs, creative young businesses, self-employed specialists and freelancers, providing an affordable, collaborative workspace in a central location, right next to Waterloo and the South Bank.

Profits from the co-working space are ploughed back into the charity.

About You

You will be

- Passionate about the built environment and knowledgeable about the sector

- Experienced in managing people and projects

- Experienced in managing finance and budgets

- Willing to take a hands-on and proactive role across all aspects of the running of a small organisation

- Proficient in presenting and advocating for an organisation or cause

- Able to demonstrate successful fundraising and business development experience

You may also be

- Experienced in developing projects and programmes

- Experienced in working with boards or committees

We actively encourage applications from under-represented groups.

Job Description

The role will involve the following:

Line management: managing and developing Build Studios and Build Workspace’s small staff team, with access to retained HR support agency. Leading annual appraisals and regular 1:1s.

Governance : managing the annual cadence of quarterly board meetings, AGM and associated companies house and charity commission filing, liaising closely with the boards of directors of both companies.

Business Planning: annual business planning, working with the board, staff team and other stakeholders to develop an ambitious annual plan in line with Build Studios five year strategic plan.

Budgeting and financial management: production of annual budget, working closely with the Treasurer and Chairs of Build Studios and Build Workspace; quarterly monitoring of financial performance in liaison with accountants; day to day management of project budgets and payments.

Fundraising: Leading fundraising bids with relevant grant funding bodies, developing new programmes in line with their (and Build Studios’) strategic priorities. Approaching sponsors for financial support, making a compelling case for investment.

Project management: Taking a lead role in managing projects, ensuring delivery, reporting and impact measurement are conducted in line with funder requirements and our own standards.

Communications and marketing: Supporting the team with delivering strong communications and marketing through our various channels (website, LinkedIn, Instagram, newsletters). Engaging external agency/freelance support where appropriate. Working with the operational team to deliver timely and effective communications to members in the Workspace.

Operations: Working with operations team to ensure high quality management of the workspace, having oversight of health and safety, space management systems and software and landlord liaison, and maintaining a healthy pipeline of prospective members. Ensuring appropriate operational cover is in place for the workspace during staffed hours.

Engagement: Building positive relationships with Build Studios and Build Workspace members and partners, seeking mutually beneficial opportunities to develop profile and engagement, through events and collaborations.

Other information

The contract of employment will be with Build Workspace, but the post-holder will work across both Build Studios and Build Workspace.

We would expect at least one of the two days to be worked on site at Build Studios (Waterloo, London). The remaining day can be worked flexibly at the office or from home.

Build Studios is actively seeking additional funding from grants and sponsors to grow our outreach and engagement programmes. Future successful funding bids will enable this role to be extended to more days beyond the core 2 days/week.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a full DBS check.

The role has 25 days paid annual leave (pro rated to 10 days for 2 day/week role) plus bank holidays. Additionally 5 days’ paid sick leave (pro rated to 2 days for 2 day/week role).

How to apply

Please apply with CV and covering letter, demonstrating how you would be well suited to the role, to Helen Santer 

Closing date for applications: Friday 21st August at 5.00pm

Interviews are scheduled for 1st and 2nd September.

We will offer written feedback to all candidates shortlisted for interview.

No agencies please.

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

OneSky is seeking a highly motivated and organized individual to manage our corporate and foundation partnerships outside of Asia. The Director of Partnerships is a seasoned international NGO fundraiser and an excellent communicator and collaborator. They will have a track record in building, maintaining, and stewarding new and long-term corporate and foundation donor relationships, and soliciting and securing gifts of USD$50,000 and up. They will oversee a portfolio of existing funders while also developing a pipeline of new potential institutional funders. 

Reports to: Senior Director of Partnerships

Location: UK or US 

Role requirements:

• Solicit and secure grants and sponsorships that allow OneSky programs to flourish.
• Collaborate with other global team members to grow and diversify foundation and corporate partnership opportunities. Continually research and identify prospective corporate and foundation donors across multiple sectors that align with our mission priorities to maintain a robust and diverse prospect pipeline.
• Develop and maintain strategic, high-level relationships with funding partners and prospects in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Collaborate with the Director of Grants to develop and submit competitive and compelling proposals, reports, budgets, and supporting materials by their due dates.
• Work with Finance, Communications, Program and MEAL staff across the organization to ensure accurate and consistent messaging in all OneSky funding proposals and reports.
• Ensure funder engagement benefits and deliverables are met or exceeded within the required timeframe.
• Establish consistent use of the CRM function of Salesforce to track pertinent donor and prospect information, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Represent OneSky at regional industry conferences, meetings (virtual and in-person), program site visits, and fundraising events.as required.
• Monitor and provide regular updates to leadership regarding fundraising strategies, activities, prospects, progress, and revenue.
• Undertake any additional fundraising activities that may be necessary and compatible with the nature of this role. 

Qualifications & Skills:

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field
• At least 5 years’ experience in generating significant income from foundations and corporate partners for nonprofit purposes
• Demonstrated success in developing and stewarding long-term philanthropic partnerships
• Experience working across cultures and managing stakeholder relationships in multiple countries
• Superior project management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to making the world a better place for young children
• Based in the UK or US

Preferred

• Experience in an educational or child welfare INGO
• Salesforce NPSP proficiency, or similar CRM

Salary & benefits

OneSky offers a comprehensive benefits package appropriate to the employee’s country of employment, along with a flexible and collaborative international work environment.

Head of Finance

Reports to: Director of Finance, Data and Innovation

Line reports: 2

Location: London, hybrid working, with minimum 40% of working time in the office

Salary: London £54,000 (salary band £54,000 - £58000; Outside London £51,500 (salary band £51,500 to £55,500)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

The Head of Finance will lead the day-to-day finance function, ensuring our financial information is accurate, timely and useful. The role will oversee financial reporting, controls, compliance, payroll, budgeting and forecasting, while managing and developing the finance team. The postholder will work closely with budget holders and senior leaders to support good financial decision-making across the organisation. The role will also provide oversight of key operational areas, including premises, health and safety, equipment and outsourced technology support.

In the first 6–12 months, the postholder will be expected to strengthen monthly reporting, improve budget holder support, maintain clear financial controls, support the annual audit and help embed effective finance processes across the organisation.

Financial responsibilities

· Ensure that all financial data is accurately recorded, maintained and reported in accordance with relevant accounting standards and guidelines

· Ensure compliance with relevant financial, tax and statutory obligations, including VAT, PAYE and other reporting requirements

· Lead financial business partnering across the organisation, ensuring budget holders have the knowledge, skills and tools to manage their budgets effectively. This will include:

• • Running effective budgeting and forecasting processes to ensure the organisation has a robust plan
  • Producing monthly management accounts with useful variance analysis to ensure proper financial management

· Alongside the Director of Finance, develop and maintain financial controls to safeguard the charity’s assets, ensuring clear processes are in place and control checks are documented

· Take full management responsibility for the finance team, lead, motivate and develop them to ensure that they are focused, competent and working effectively and efficiently

· Maintain clear review and approval processes so that financial work is properly checked, authorised and documented

· Oversee finance processes for the trading subsidiary, including reviewing postings, accounts and consolidation entries

· Produce or review monthly payroll amounts and postings

· Lead preparation for the annual audit and statutory accounts, ensuring working papers, reconciliations and supporting evidence are complete and accurate

· Ensure restricted funds, grants and project income are recorded, monitored and reported accurately

Operations

· Ensure premises and properties are managed appropriately on a day-to-day basis

· Ensure we comply with H&S standards in our multiple offices

· Ensure the organisation has the resources it needs to do their job through the procurement/ provision of laptops and other equipment

· Work with colleagues to ensure we comply with GDPR

Person specification: Skill / experience 

Essential

A demonstrable interest and commitment to working with, and supporting people from, a refugee background

Financial and Operational Responsibilities

Strong management accounting experience, including business partnering with budget holders to support good decision-making

Good understanding of UK charity accounting, including charity SORP, audit and year-end reporting

Professional accounting qualification or substantial relevant accounting experience

Management experience and ability to support and develop line reports in a welcoming and inclusive environment 

Understanding of key compliance areas relevant to charity finance and operations, including VAT, Gift Aid, PAYE, P11D and GDPR

Good understanding of charity controls and risk management

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, strong experience using finance systems (we currently use Xledger) and an interest in AI

Experience of charity fund accounting, including restricted funds and grant reporting

Experience of managing/supporting in the management of outsourced technology providers 

Personal Traits

Able to improve processes and deliver practical changes that make finance easier to use across the organisation

Able to manage competing priorities and maintain high standards during busy periods

Self-motivated, organised and able to deliver agreed outcomes on time

Analytical thinker with good problem-solving skills

Practical, flexible and willing to support both strategic and day-to-day finance work

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex information to different audiences

Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to form effective working relationships with other teams

Desirable

Committed to continuous improvement and the use of agile tools to support business change

Considerations 

· As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks for some roles, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.

· We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action. 

Help build the operational foundations of a pioneering national nature-based mental-health service for young people.

We are looking for an experienced, highly organised Operations Lead to turn an ambitious pilot into a scalable national membership model.

Salary: £40,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience
Hours: 37.5 hours per week; applications for a four-day week (30 hours / 0.8 FTE) are also welcome
Contract: 18-month fixed term, with the intention to extend or become permanent subject to delivery and funding
Location: Hybrid, with regular work with the Dose of Nature team and travel to member organisations across the UK

Dose of Nature is a mental-health charity improving mental health and wellbeing through structured, evidence-informed engagement with nature.

We are establishing a Young Person Memberships service for young people and young adults under 25. Through this model, trusted youth, community, education and clinical organisations will be trained and supported to deliver the Dose of Nature programme in the places and services young people already know.

The first phase is an 18-month pilot with approximately four to six member organisations. It will test, refine and validate a model that can be scaled nationally.

About the role

As Young People’s Memberships Operations Lead, you will establish and manage the operational infrastructure needed to make this new service work.

You will manage the end-to-end journey for member organisations: from initial engagement and readiness assessment, through onboarding, training and implementation, to active delivery, reporting, learning and renewal.

Working closely with the Young Person Memberships Service Lead, you will coordinate the systems, information, people and processes that enable safe, effective delivery. You will be the principal day-to-day contact for member Lead Coordinators, ensuring that actions, milestones, documentation, meetings and reporting are followed through.

You will develop practical systems and workflows; coordinate training, supervision and partner meetings; maintain delivery trackers, risk and incident logs; support governance and quality assurance; and produce clear programme reporting for senior leaders, trustees, funders and partners.

This is a hands-on service-building role for someone who enjoys creating order from complexity, building trusted partner relationships and turning plans into action.

About you

You will bring significant experience in operations, programme management, service delivery or partnership coordination. You will have experience coordinating a complex programme across multiple organisations or delivery sites, and of developing practical systems, processes and workflows.

You will be confident managing partner relationships, maintaining action plans and risk logs, gathering and reporting data, and coordinating meetings, training or workshops. You will be highly organised, proactive and calm under pressure, with the judgement to know when to resolve an issue and when to escalate it.

Experience in mental health, young people’s services, health, education, charities or community organisations would be valuable, as would experience of NHS or VCSE partnerships, quality assurance, grant-funded programmes or multi-site delivery.

We welcome candidates who are motivated by improving young people’s mental health and interested in the role of nature, relationships and community in recovery.

Dose of Nature is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references, eligibility to work in the UK and required safeguarding checks.

Please download the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying.

Help MSF UK protect sensitive information and build trust through practical, proportionate information security and data protection. Develop specialist skills while working on varied, meaningful issues across the organisation.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon-Fri

Duration: Permanent

Location: London - hybrid, 2 days per week in office (including Wednesdays)

Salary:£41,902.62 to £51,214.32 per annum| Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually and are subject to our appraisal and performance review process.

Job Purpose:

The Information Security and Data Protection Coordinator supports MSF UK and Ireland in the effective coordination and day‑to‑day operation of its information security and data protection arrangements. The role focuses on maintaining key records, documentation and processes that underpin compliance with data protection legislation and good information security practice, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

Working within the Transparency and Accountability (T&A) Team, the role supports the development and ongoing operation of MSF UK and Ireland’s information security and data protection framework by liaising with colleagues in IT, Procurement and other departments, and by supporting designated risk owners. The role provides practical coordination and advice to help ensure that appropriate technical and organisational measures are documented, reviewed and applied in a way that meets operational needs and regulatory requirements.

The post holder plays an important enabling role, supporting information security and data protection decision makers (especially the Data Protection Focal Point and the Senior Information Risk Owner) to take a risk-based approach to compliance decisions by maintaining accurate records, coordinating processes, and supporting effective governance, reporting and incident management.

Astra Foundation is seeking a Foundation Director; a dynamic, seasoned and strategic leader with a background in philanthropy who is motivated by their mission to combat loneliness in young adults, empower youth to reach their full potential, and reduce plastic pollution, primarily in the UK and France. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a young foundation and support the next phase of its evolution, building on strong foundations to further steward support for their priority areas and civil society partners. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, with a willingness to handle all aspects of the Foundation’s work, from high-level strategy and external relations to day-to-day administration.

Employment Details: 

• Location: Haringey (N17), London, UK. (This is an In-Person role with optional one day working remotely) 
• Job Title:  Director of Operations 
• Reporting to: CEO, with accountability to the Board of Trustees 
• Line Manages: Operations Co-ordinator and Finance Officer
• Employment Type: Full-Time (40hrs Per Week)
• Start date: October 2026 (Ideally, or later if you have a notice period) 

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: 25 days (Exclusive of Bank Holiday)
• 1 x WFH/flexi working as per policy
• CPD Budget: £1000
• Group Life Insurance
• Discount on Food (Specific Restaurants)
• Free Brunch every Thursday
• Company Well-being Events
• Pension Contribution

Summary of the role:
The Director of Operations is a pivotal senior leadership role at Sister System, responsible for strengthening the people, culture, systems and organisational foundations that enable our mission to thrive. Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees, the postholder will play a central role in delivering our current strategic priorities and shaping the next chapter of Sister System as we develop our future strategy beyond September 2027. 

This is a significant opportunity to help shape a growing, values-led organisation founded on co-curation, sisterhood, race & gender equity and the belief that girls and young women should be active architects of the services, systems and opportunities designed for them. With oversight of financial management, people and culture, compliance, risk and organisational infrastructure, the Director of Operations will lead on empowering & ensuring that our internal culture and ways of working reflect the same care, accountability, ambition and empowerment that sit at the heart of our model. 

The role will be instrumental in translating our founding vision into strong, sustainable practice, ensuring Sister System is equipped to grow its impact while remaining deeply connected to the voices, experiences and leadership of the girls and young women we exist to serve. 

Our Charity:
Sister System exists to ensure that care-affected girls and young women are not defined by the systems they have experienced, but are supported to recognise their strengths, shape their futures and access the same opportunities as their peers. 

Our culturally competent, co-curated model works alongside girls and young women aged 13–24 through a long-term journey of support, progression and leadership. Across three interconnected stages, we provide trusted relationships, mentoring, therapeutic support, education, leadership development and pathways into employment. Our approach recognises that meaningful change takes time, consistency and a community that continues to believe in her. 

Founded with girls and young women, not simply for them, Sister System places their voices, experiences and ambitions at the heart of everything we do. Through our growing hub-and-spoke model, we are expanding our reach while also influencing the wider systems, services and institutions that shape their lives. 

Our ambition is not only to improve individual outcomes, but to demonstrate a better way of working with care-affected girls and young women—one that is relational, culturally responsive, asset-based and built around what they tell us they need to thrive. 

As Sister System enters its next phase of growth and prepares to shape its future strategy, we are seeking an experienced and values-led Director of Operations to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the people, culture, systems and infrastructure that will enable our organisation—and the girls and young women alongside us—to achieve even more. 

Our Vision: 
A world where empowered girls reach their potential through equitable opportunities.

Our Mission: 
To bridge the gap between care-affected girls and young women within mainstream society by working alongside them to ensure they have the same opportunities that everyone else has – at home, school, work and within our communities. 

Our Values: 

• COLLABORATIVE 
  We co-curate programmes with our Sis-Stars. We seek powerful partnerships. 
• EVIDENCE-BASED 
  We build trust and respect within our sector. 
• MASTERFUL 
  We aim for excellence as standard and share our learning. 
• SOLUTION-FOCUSED 
  We innovate to overcome challenges with a long-term goal in mind. 
• TENACIOUS 
  We are not afraid to take a stand and push for change. 

 
Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership and Implementation 

• Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to translate Sister System’s strategy, theory of change, operational model and financial plans into clear organisational priorities and coordinated action. 
• Play a central role in shaping Sister System’s next strategy ahead of the September 2027 refresh, ensuring it reflects our founding commitment to co-curation, the voices of girls and young women, our evolving three-stage model and our future growth ambitions. 
• Lead the development of proportionate planning, monitoring and review processes that enable the Senior Leadership Team to track progress, reflect on performance, identify barriers and remain accountable for delivery. 
• Monitor progress against agreed strategic goals and KPIs, ensuring that risks, dependencies and areas requiring leadership attention are clearly identified and addressed. 
• Support senior leaders to turn strategic priorities into realistic plans, with clear ownership, timescales and measurable outcomes. 
• Ensure that learning from delivery, impact data, staff experience and the voices of girls and young women inform strategic decision-making and organisational improvement. 
• Cultivate a strong shared sense of purpose across Sister System, helping colleagues understand how their roles contribute to our mission, values and long-term ambitions. 

Financial Strategy and Audit 

• Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to shape, implement and regularly evaluate Sister System’s financial strategy, ensuring it supports our mission, strategic ambitions and long-term sustainability. 
• Provide clear, financial recommendations to the CEO, helping the organisation navigate the balance between delivering high-quality, meaningful impact for girls and young women, achieving value for money and maintaining financial resilience. 
• Translate Sister System’s strategic priorities, delivery model and growth ambitions into realistic financial plans, forecasts and scenarios that support timely and well-informed decision-making. 
• Lead financial scenario planning and ensure that the CEO and Board have a clear understanding of the financial implications, risks and trade-offs associated with key organisational decisions. 
• Lead and oversee the annual audit process, working effectively with external auditors, the finance team, senior leaders and the Board to ensure a robust, timely and transparent process. 
• Ensure that learning and recommendations arising from audits, financial reviews and assurance activity are translated into clear improvements and strengthened organisational practice. 

Financial Management 

• Lead the development, monitoring and management of annual budgets, reforecasts and longer-term financial plans, ensuring resources are aligned with Sister System’s strategic priorities. 
• Hold and actively manage the tension between quality, impact, affordability and value for money, ensuring financial decisions protect the integrity of Sister System’s model and the experience of the girls and young women we serve. 
• Provide the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board with clear, accessible and timely financial information, insight and recommendations to support effective leadership and governance. 
• Produce high-level financial reports and analysis covering budgets, cash flow, reserves, forecasts, strategic KPIs and other relevant performance indicators. 
• Maintain and continuously strengthen proportionate financial systems, controls and processes that reflect Sister System’s size, stage of growth and evolving operating model. 
• Ensure that robust financial and performance-reporting infrastructure is in place, with clear accountability, reliable data and appropriate oversight across the organisation. 
• Support Directors and budget holders to understand their financial responsibilities, manage resources effectively and make informed decisions within agreed parameters. 
• Identify emerging financial risks, pressures and opportunities for greater efficiency, advising the CEO on appropriate actions and ensuring these are monitored and addressed. 
• Oversee high quality bookkeeping practice to ensure reporting is accurate and up to date. 
• Work with the fundraising team to develop budgets for proposals and create timely financial reports for funders and donors 

Culture and Operational Effectiveness 

• Work closely with our People and Culture consultant, CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape and embed a progressive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture aligned with Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. 
• Champion a culture of regular, honest and constructive feedback, helping managers and colleagues to hold crucial conversations with clarity, care and accountability. 
• Ensure that Sister System’s internal culture reflects the relational, empowering and values-led approach that sits at the heart of our work with girls and young women. 
• Review existing organisational processes and workflows, identifying practical opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, collaboration and efficiency. 
• Develop and embed proportionate ways of working that support Sister System’s current size, evolving operating model and future growth. 

People Planning and Management 

• Lead the development of a clear and forward-looking people plan that ensures Sister System has the right structure, capacity, capabilities and leadership in place to deliver its strategic ambitions. 
• Support managers to build high-performing teams through effective objective-setting, regular feedback, performance management and professional development. 
• Foster an environment in which people are supported to grow, appropriately challenged and held accountable for delivering against agreed expectations. 
• Facilitate professional learning, career development and progression across the organisation, ensuring that opportunities are transparent, equitable and aligned with organisational need. 
• Oversee workforce and succession planning, ensuring that the organisational structure remains appropriate, affordable and responsive to Sister System’s development. 
• Work with the CEO and relevant advisers to ensure fair and appropriate pay, benefits and working conditions. 
• Oversee recruitment and the end-to-end employee experience, from attraction and onboarding through to development, retention and exit. 
• Ensure that people policies, practices and management approaches are legally compliant, consistently applied and reflective of Sister System’s values. 

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Ensure that Sister System meets its legal, regulatory and governance responsibilities as a charity and employer. 
• Lead the development and maintenance of a proportionate organisational risk-management framework that protects Sister System’s people, assets, reputation and ability to deliver its mission. 
• Ensure that key organisational risks are clearly identified, owned, monitored and reported to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. 
• Promote a culture in which risk is understood and actively managed without limiting thoughtful innovation, learning or ambition.

Governance, Communications and Facilities 

• Facilitate clear, timely and effective communication and cooperation between the Board of Trustees, CEO and Senior Leadership Team. 
• Support the development of strong governance systems, ensuring that trustees receive the information, insight and assurance required to fulfil their responsibilities effectively. 
• Work closely with trustees through the Finance and Audit committee 
• Oversee the organisation’s IT infrastructure and digital systems through external providers, ensuring that they remain secure, reliable and appropriate for Sister System’s needs. 
• Oversee the effective operation of Sister System’s physical workspace within a fully managed office environment, working with building management and relevant external providers where required. 
• Ensure that Sister System provides a safe, welcoming and accessible environment for girls and young women, staff, volunteers, visitors and partners across its hub, spoke locations and external activities. 
• Ensure that appropriate health and safety systems, procedures and responsibilities are understood, implemented and regularly reviewed. 

Person Specification 
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and values-led operational leader to join Sister System’s Senior Leadership Team. You will combine sound judgement and strong organisational skills with a warm, collaborative leadership style and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for care-affected girls and young women. 

You do not need to be a specialist in every area of the role. You will, however, need the confidence and experience to lead across a broad operational portfolio, work effectively with professional advisers and external providers, and provide clear, practical advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. 

Essential Experience and Knowledge 

• Significant experience in a senior operations, finance, people, governance or organisational leadership role within a charity, social enterprise or similarly values-led organisation. 
• Experience of translating organisational strategy into clear priorities, plans, systems and measurable outcomes. 
• Experience of developing and managing organisational budgets, forecasts and financial reporting, with the ability to balance quality, impact, affordability and value for money. 
• Experience of supervising or coordinating an external audit process, working effectively with auditors, finance colleagues and the Board. 
• Experience of people planning, performance management and supporting managers to build capable, accountable and high-performing teams. 
• Experience of developing or improving organisational systems, processes and ways of working during a period of growth or change. 
• A sound understanding of charity governance, organisational risk, compliance and the responsibilities of senior leaders and trustees. 
• Experience of working collaboratively with a CEO, senior leadership colleagues, trustees, consultants and external professional advisers. 
• A strong understanding of equity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice, and the ability to embed these principles within organisational culture and decision-making. 

Skills and Leadership Approach 

• An approachable, emotionally intelligent and credible leader who can build trust, motivate others and develop effective working relationships across an organisation. 
• The ability to lead with both care and accountability, supporting open feedback and helping colleagues to hold constructive and sometimes crucial conversations. 
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to understand the wider organisational picture while maintaining oversight of important operational detail. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial, people or operational information clearly and accessibly. 
• Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, meet deadlines and maintain momentum. 
• Sound judgement and the confidence to provide constructive challenge, identify risks and offer clear recommendations to the CEO and Board. 
• A practical and solution-focused approach, with the ability to move from discussion and planning into coordinated action. 
• The ability to handle sensitive, confidential and personal information professionally and in accordance with Sister System’s policies, data-protection responsibilities and GDPR. 
• Energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for strengthening an ambitious organisation as it prepares to shape and deliver its next strategy. 

Values and Commitment 

• A demonstrable commitment to Sister System’s mission and to improving the opportunities, experiences and outcomes of care-affected girls and young women. 
• The ability to model and champion Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. 
• A commitment to co-curation and to ensuring that the voices, experiences and leadership of girls and young women inform organisational planning and decision-making. 
• A commitment to continuous learning, reflective practice and personal and professional development. 

Desirable 

• Lived experience of the care system, or a strong professional understanding of the experiences of care-affected girls and young women. 
• Experience of working within a founder-led organisation or alongside a founder CEO. 
• Experience of supporting an organisation through growth, restructuring or the development of a new strategy. 
• Knowledge of culturally competent, trauma-informed or relational approaches to working with young people. 
• A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience in operations, finance, human resources, governance or organisational leadership. 
• Experience working with social care and educational service providers (statutory and third sector). 
• Knowledge of the Charity SORP, Charity Commission reporting requirements, and other third-sector financial regulation. 

Sister System is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is subject to two satisfactory reference checks and DBS enhanced disclosure.

How to apply

Please apply via our recruitment platform Breathe by 31st August 2026. You will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following questions:

Values alignment 
Sister System's model is built on co-curation (working with girls and young women, not simply for them) and on being Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. Which of these values do you feel most aligned with, and which do you find hardest to live up to in practice?
 
People & Culture
Sister System is a founder-led organisation, underpinned by race and gender equity and a culturally competent, trauma-informed approach to working with girls and young women. Tell us about a time you strengthened internal culture of this nature within a team. What resistance did you meet, and what was different a year later?

Finance 
A key element of the role is monitoring income against budget for current and future years. Charity income can provide additional complexities, particularly with different types of grants. Please explain your understanding of these complexities, and how they impact on recording and reporting, including examples from your own experience if relevant. 

Timeline
Deadline for applications: End of day Monday 31st August 2026 
First round interviews: w/c 7th September 
Second round interviews: w/c 14th September
Decisions made: by 22nd September 

Thank you for your interest in joining Sister System in our mission to inspire and empower young women. 

Position: Deputy CEO

Reporting to: CEO

Location: London or Bath (hybrid working at either location)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Salary range: £65,000 - £75,000 (dependent on experience)

Deadline: 18:00 (BST) on 11 September 2026 

EJF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

About the Role

Environmental destruction and human rights abuses are rarely separate crises - they are cause and effect. The Environmental Justice Foundation was founded on this understanding, and for two decades we have fought to protect the natural world and the people whose lives and freedoms depend on it.

We are seeking an exceptional Deputy CEO to help lead EJF into its next phase of growth and impact. This is an extremely rare opportunity to take on a crucial leadership role at a highly respected international NGO at a pivotal moment.

As Deputy CEO, you will play a central role in shaping EJF's strategic direction, team leadership and operational excellence, working in close partnership with the CEO and senior team to scale our impact, strengthen our global presence, generate new income, and ensure the organisation continues to deliver courageous, evidence-led change.

The Deputy CEO will take on critical tasks to enable the CEO to focus on delivering the strategic vision, providing vital leadership and development of EJF's programmes and governance. You will assume specific, nominated areas of programme management, supervising and guiding campaign and communications teams and providing a clear line of decision-making and direction.

The role will work closely with the CEO and senior leadership to continually improve the organisation's efficiency and effectiveness, entrench the ethos, vision and values that define our working culture, and help deliver the positive impact for the natural environment and the human rights that depend on it.

From strengthening governance and organisational performance to driving innovation, growth, and collaboration, you will be instrumental in maintaining an agile, resilient, impact-driven organisation capable of confronting some of the world's most urgent environmental challenges.

This role calls for an experienced and confident manager and leader with strategic vision, operational rigour, communications acumen and a deep commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental justice. You will bring people together across cultures and disciplines, empower emerging leaders, and foster a high-performance, inclusive organisational culture. Externally, you will help represent EJF with credibility and influence, building alliances with funders, policymakers, partners, and frontline communities to accelerate systemic change.

Key Responsibilities

1. Mission and Purpose

● Alongside the CEO and Founding Director, continuously reaffirm and embed EJF's Mission, Vision and Values, ensuring they are deeply embedded across all programmes and teams to foster cohesion and strategic alignment globally.

● Safeguard our core mission of environmental justice and strengthening grassroots capacity in the Global South, ensuring that the organisation, across its multiple geographies and jurisdictions, adheres to this core purpose and scope.

● Articulate and deliver the highest possible professional standards, working culture and practice across all aspects of EJF's work.

2. Campaign Delivery, Amplification and Impact

● In close partnership with the CEO, guide and oversee the organisation's strategic and tactical approach across its operations and campaigns.

● Provide additional guidance, recommendations and scrutiny on the planning, production and release of reports, films and other campaign materials.

● Help shape EJF's external positioning, ensuring coherence between evidence, advocacy, partnerships and communications.

● Strengthen EJF's visibility and reach by engaging the media, attending and presenting at high-level meetings, liaising with key contacts and major funders, and acting as a spokesperson in the CEO's absence.

3. People, Culture and Leadership

● Help to further develop and support a high-performing Senior Management Team (SMT), individually and collectively, fostering accountability, collaboration and strong leadership practice.

● Guide and mentor teams to ensure they remain focused on delivering EJF's mission and priority objectives with strategic impact.

● Ensure fairness and equity for staff across the organisation, alongside consistently high standards of management.

● As directed by the CEO, serve in his absence to ensure the campaigns and programmes continue uninterrupted, working closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT).

4. Operations and Funding

● Work with the Operations Team to ensure EJF's exemplary operational efficiency across all areas of its work, championing continuous improvement of systems, processes and tools to strengthen efficiency, resilience and internal knowledge sharing.

● Work with the CEO, Founding Director, COO, and other team members to secure funding to support all our operations. This will require direct liaison with key donors, identifying new funding streams and ensuring compelling proposals, grant reports and updates are delivered on time.

● Ensure our operations across geographies and jurisdictions adopt a unified approach in all aspects of our work while respecting local contexts and needs.

5. Risk and Security

● Ensure that robust security and safeguarding measures are in place, regularly reviewed and actively embedded across teams.

● Contribute to organisational risk management, providing an additional oversight role for legal, reputational, political and operational risks across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring guidance and support are in place to secure compliance with relevant laws, regulations and ethical standards in all operating contexts.

Essential Experience, Skills and Attributes

We are seeking a values-driven, strategic leader with the judgement and organisational capability to help guide EJF through its next phase of growth and impact.

You will bring:

● Significant senior leadership experience (typically 10+ years), ideally 6+ years within the charity or not-for-profit sector.

● Proven success in programme design and delivery and organisational management, including oversight of complex budgets and resources.

● Strong financial acumen, with the ability to improve cost-effectiveness and maximise impact.

● Outstanding communication skills, including exceptional written English and the ability to engage diverse audiences, from teams to funders and senior decision-makers.

● Sound judgement and strategic thinking, with the ability to navigate complexity and make high-quality, values-led decisions, including in fast-moving or high-stakes environments.

● Strong people leadership, with experience building inclusive, high-performing teams, supporting senior colleagues, and developing emerging leaders across cultures and geographies.

● Experience contributing to organisational strategy, change, and governance, with confidence engaging boards and leading through growth or transition.

● A collaborative, diplomatic approach, combined with resilience, adaptability, and composure under pressure.

● Experience working in international or distributed organisations, and building effective external partnerships, including with donors, business partners and grassroots groups.

● An ability to travel internationally, occasionally at short notice.

● A clear commitment to EJF's Vision, Mission and Values, and to fostering a culture of excellence, equity, safeguarding, and impact.

While not essential, the following would be a strong advantage:

● Additional languages, particularly French, Spanish, Portuguese, or German.

● Professional media or communications experience, with demonstrable skills in shaping narratives, engaging audiences, and supporting organisational visibility.

● Experience in field research and/or investigations, ideally in complex or international contexts.

● Proven ability to manage projects, people, and budgets remotely, including supporting geographically dispersed teams.

What We Offer

In return for your leadership and commitment, we offer a rewarding package designed to support your well-being, flexibility, and professional growth:

● 30 days annual leave (including public holidays), increasing with each year of service, plus additional paid leave between Christmas/New Year.

● Private healthcare package.

● Generous pension scheme, with employer contributions increasing over time.

● Hybrid working (minimum 3 days in the office).

● Cycle-to-work scheme.

● A dynamic, supportive, and inclusive working environment, with genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.

● The chance to play a senior leadership role in an organisation delivering real-world impact for people and planet.

Join Us

EJF's strength lies in a rare combination: deep, trusted relationships with grassroots communities on the front line of environmental destruction, and the expertise to turn that local knowledge into major campaigns that protect our oceans, our climate, and the ecosystems that sustain us all. As Deputy CEO, you will help ensure that strength keeps growing — sharpening the leadership, systems and teams that connect community action to global impact, from coastal fishing villages to the corridors of international policy.

At EJF, leadership means courage, integrity, and impact. As Deputy CEO, you will help steer campaigns that expose environmental crime, defend those on the frontlines, and secure lasting protections for ecosystems and communities alike. Together, we work to protect people by protecting the planet — and to build a fairer, more resilient future for all.

If you are ready to bring your skills to a mission that matters, we would love to hear from you.

Application

To apply, please use this link to upload your:

● Cover letter outlining your suitability and interest in the role (max 2 pages)

● CV (max 2 pages)

Deadline: 18:00 (BST) on 11 September 2026 

** We encourage early applications as we review on a rolling basis and may begin interviewing shortlisted candidates ahead of the deadline.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No other communications or agencies, please.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. EJF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Contract: Interim, immediate start until mid-November 2026
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly hands-on Interim Head of Finance to join an international not-for-profit organisation for a short-term assignment.

The key priority will be to hold the fort during a period of transition, ensuring the day-to-day finance function continues to operate effectively before providing a comprehensive handover to the incoming permanent Head of Finance.

This is very much a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up role. Alongside overseeing the finance function, you will be comfortable getting into the detail yourself, including making payments, managing payroll and VAT returns, maintaining accurate financial information and supporting the migration to a new banking provider.

A significant project during the assignment will also be leading the development of the organisation’s 2027 annual budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the day-to-day finance function throughout the interim period.
• Manage and support the Finance Officer.
• Maintain accurate and timely financial information, reporting and controls.
• Take a hands-on role in payments, payroll and VAT returns.
• Manage and oversee the organisation’s Xero accounting system.
• Lead the migration to a new banking provider, ensuring a smooth transition and appropriate controls.
• Lead the preparation of the 2027 organisational budget, working closely with senior leaders and budget holders.
• Provide management information and financial advice to the COO, CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Support effective management and reporting of restricted donor funds, including appropriate allocations and cost recovery.
• Work with fundraising colleagues on grant budgets and donor financial reporting where required.
• Ensure key financial and statutory deadlines continue to be met.
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure the finance function is well organised for the incoming permanent Head of Finance.
• Deliver a clear and comprehensive handover at the end of the assignment.

About You

We are looking for someone who can quickly get to grips with an organisation and operate with minimal supervision. You will be equally comfortable working with senior stakeholders and getting directly involved in transactional and operational finance.

You will ideally bring:

• A recognised accountancy qualification – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong experience operating at Head of Finance / Financial Controller level within a charity, NGO or wider not-for-profit environment.
• Good working knowledge and practical experience of Xero.
• A genuinely hands-on approach, with the willingness to process payments and get involved in payroll, VAT and the day-to-day finance workload.
• Strong budgeting and forecasting experience, ideally having led an organisation-wide annual budgeting process.
• Experience managing and reporting on restricted donor or grant funding, including allocations.
• Knowledge of UK charity accounting and Charity SORP.
• Strong financial controls and process management experience.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• The confidence to quickly establish priorities, keep the function running effectively and leave everything in good shape for the permanent postholder.

This would suit an experienced interim finance professional who enjoys getting stuck into the detail and can provide a safe pair of hands during a period of transition.