Senior legal advisor jobs in Oxford, oxfordshire

"Lead finance. Shape strategy. Change lives."

Aspire Oxfordshire is an ambitious charity working to tackle inequality and create lasting opportunities for people and communities facing disadvantage. Every year, we support people experiencing homelessness, poverty, poor mental health, digital exclusion, unemployment and other barriers to reaching their potential.

Through supported housing, homelessness prevention, education, training and employment programmes and digital inclusion projects, we help people take positive steps towards greater independence, wellbeing and opportunity.

We are now seeking a values-led and commercially minded Head of Finance and Resources to join our Leadership Team and play a key role in shaping Aspire's future.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance professional who wants to combine strategic leadership with hands-on operational delivery in an organisation that makes a tangible difference every day.

As Head of Finance and Resources, you will lead Aspire's finance and resource functions, ensuring strong financial stewardship, effective governance, organisational resilience and sustainable growth. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Trustees and senior colleagues, you will help shape organisational strategy, support business development and fundraising activity, and ensure the charity remains financially strong and well positioned for the future.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who combines strong technical finance expertise with excellent leadership and relationship-building skills. You will be equally comfortable presenting financial information to Trustees, supporting managers to improve financial performance, and helping to identify opportunities that strengthen our impact and sustainability.

You will bring:

• A recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) and/or significant senior financial management experience.

• Experience of leading finance and operational functions within a charity, public sector, social enterprise or similarly complex organisation.

• Strong strategic financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting skills.

• Experience of producing meaningful management information and using data to support organisational decision-making.

• Advanced Power BI and financial reporting skills, with the ability to develop insightful dashboards and reporting solutions.

• Knowledge of grant funding, commissioned services and restricted fund management.

• Experience of developing and improving systems, processes and organisational effectiveness.

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

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with Trustees, funders, partners and colleagues.

• A practical, solutions-focused approach and willingness to work collaboratively across the organisation.

• A commitment to Aspire's values and a genuine passion for creating opportunities for people facing disadvantage.

Why Join Aspire?

This is an opportunity to join an ambitious organisation at an exciting point in its development. You will play a key role in helping Aspire deliver its Strategy 2025–2030, supporting innovative services that help people secure safe housing, improve their wellbeing, gain qualifications, access employment and build brighter futures.

In return we offer:

• Salary: £50,000 – £55,000 per annum

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• Pension contribution

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Hybrid working arrangements

• The opportunity to make a genuine difference in the lives of people across Oxfordshire

Aspire Oxfordshire celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in the charity sector.

Title:     Engagement Manager

Salary:     £42,000–£52,000 (depending on experience)

Contract:     Permanent

Hours:     37.5 per week (Monday to Friday) 

Holiday:     25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:     Home based with regular travel within / to London and across the UK

Probationary Period:     3 months

Reports to:     Head of Department 

Benefits:     An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year, Flexitime policy, 5% pension contribution

Line Management:     Depending on experience, may line-manage the Senior Engagement Coordinator. 

We are River Action

We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution and water shortages. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, take legal actions and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end river pollution and secure freshwater. 

We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and stakeholder mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of communities, rivers and wildlife.

Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.

Who we are looking for

As River Action’s profile, influence and policy impact continue to grow, we are expanding our Public Affairs function to strengthen engagement with decision-makers, regulators, businesses, NGOs, strategic partners and local communities.

The Engagement Manager will play a critical role in helping River Action influence change by developing high-level relationships, building strategic partnerships and providing strategic leadership across River Action’s engagement programmes to advance our policy, legal and campaigning objectives.

This is a senior engagement leadership role responsible for providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity, ensuring River Action’s grassroots campaigning and external influence work are mutually reinforcing

What you’ll be doing

The Engagement Manager will lead River Action’s overall engagement strategy, providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity across the organisation.

Building and managing relationships with senior leaders across government, regulators, NGOs, businesses, financiers, academia and civil society, the postholder will identify opportunities to increase River Action’s influence, support policy and advocacy objectives, and help position the organisation as a leading voice on river protection and environmental reform.

The role will provide strategic direction and oversight to River Action’s community engagement work, including the River Rescue Kit, Community Toolkit and catchment-based campaigning activities, working closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator who will lead day-to-day delivery, community support and programme implementation.

Working closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Development, the Engagement Manager will ensure engagement activities contribute directly to organisational priorities and campaigns and that community insights help shape River Action’s policy, legal and campaigning work.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and deliver River Action’s stakeholder engagement strategy.

• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Develop and implement engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Identify, map and prioritise key stakeholders across government, regulators, business, NGOs, academia and civil society.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with senior external stakeholders.

• Create opportunities for strategic collaboration that advance River Action’s mission and objectives.

• Monitor stakeholder developments and identify opportunities and risks.

Managing Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of River Action’s stakeholder and community engagement programme.

• Ensure effective delivery and continuous development of the River Rescue Kit and Community Toolkit as key resources supporting grassroots campaigners and community groups.

• Oversee catchment-based engagement strategies that strengthen community-led action, advocacy and campaigning.

• Work closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator to identify opportunities to expand and strengthen River Action’s network of stakeholder and community groups, campaigners and partners.

• Ensure insights, evidence and priorities emerging from stakeholders and local communities to inform River Action’s public affairs, policy, legal and campaigning work.

• Monitor the effectiveness and impact of community engagement activities and ensure learning is shared across the organisation.

• Support the development of engagement frameworks, systems and processes that enable effective community mobilisation at scale.

Public Affairs and External Influence

• Support the delivery of River Action’s Public Affairs strategy.

• Build relationships with parliamentarians, political advisers, local authority leaders and relevant government officials.

• Support engagement with regulators including the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Ofwat and other relevant bodies.

• Represent River Action in external forums, roundtables, conferences and stakeholder meetings.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement around key campaigns, policy initiatives and legal actions.

Strategic Partnerships

• Develop partnerships with environmental NGOs, think tanks, academic institutions, financiers and businesses.

• Identify opportunities for joint initiatives, campaigns and advocacy activity.

• Strengthen River Action’s position within the wider environmental and public policy landscape.

• Convene strategic partnerships to support policy and campaigning objectives.

Organisational Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of Public Affairs to support delivery of organisational objectives.

• Provide strategic direction, support and oversight to the Senior Engagement Coordinator, ensuring community engagement activity aligns with organisational priorities and objectives.

• Provide stakeholder intelligence and strategic advice to senior leadership.

• Contribute to organisational planning and public affairs priorities.

• Support cross-team working between Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Fundraising.

• Ensure strong integration between River Action’s community engagement, public affairs, campaigns, communications and legal work.

Communications and Representation

• Act as an ambassador for River Action externally.

• Support media opportunities through stakeholder engagement and relationship building.

• Prepare briefings, stakeholder reports and engagement plans.

• Help identify influential voices and advocates who can amplify River Action’s work.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and CRM records.

• Monitor engagement outcomes and report against agreed KPIs.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement activity and recommend improvements.

What you’ll bring

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, public affairs, external affairs, partnerships or advocacy.

• Experience managing relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Experience developing and implementing engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Experience overseeing or managing community engagement, organising or grassroots campaigning programmes.

• Experience translating community priorities and local evidence into policy, advocacy or campaigning objectives.

• Experience working across complex stakeholder environments.

• Experience representing an organisation externally.

Essential Knowledge

• Understanding of UK water-related political, regulatory and policy-making processes.

• Understanding of stakeholder engagement and influence strategies.

• Understanding of community engagement, organising and mobilisation approaches.

• Knowledge of environmental, sustainability or public policy issues.

Essential Skills

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.

• Strong influencing and negotiation abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong strategic thinking and political awareness.

• Ability to balance strategic stakeholder engagement with community-led campaigning and mobilisation.

• Strong understanding of how grassroots engagement can support policy, legal and public affairs objectives.

• Ability to develop engagement strategies that connect local action with national influence and impact.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex stakeholder relationships.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of water policy, environmental regulation or agricultural policy.

• Experience engaging with Westminster, Whitehall or devolved administrations.

• Experience developing partnerships with businesses and financiers.

• Experience supporting policy or advocacy campaigns.

• Experience working with community-led environmental campaigns or citizen science initiatives.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation working to restore and protect the UK’s rivers.

• Work at the heart of political and environmental change, influencing decision-makers at the highest levels.

• Work in an agile, supportive and happy work environment where your ideas and expertise will have real impact.

• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organisation.

Diversity and inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we’d still love to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this role.

How to apply

To apply, please submit to jobs at riveractionuk dot com with the subject ‘Engagement Manager’:

• your CV (2 pages), 

• a cover letter (2 pages) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, and 

• a written submission (2 pages) as described below. 

Only applications including all three documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format. 

Written submission

The Government is expected to bring forward a Clean Water Bill in Parliament. River Action wants to influence the Bill to secure stronger protections for rivers, hold polluters to account, and deliver measurable improvements in river health.

In no more than 750 words, set out how you would approach this challenge. Your response should explain:

• Which stakeholders you would prioritise engaging with, and why.

• How you would use partnerships, community groups and grassroots evidence to support your objectives.

• How you would measure the success of your approach.

• One significant challenge or risk, and how you would address it.

We are interested in your ability to think strategically, prioritise effectively, and demonstrate how engagement can help deliver policy and environmental change.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 5pm on Wednesday 15th July.

Should your application be selected during sift, the next stage will involve an initial 15-minute interview. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel. 

Interviews will be held in the weeks commencing 19th July and 26th July via video conference. 

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs at riveractionuk dot com.

Head of Finance

Location: Fully remote with flexible working arrangements. You must be able to travel 1-2 times per month for a team day in Bristol, Reading, or London, for which expenses will be covered.

Salary: £46,350 - £49,440 depending on experience

Contract: Part-time (0.8 FTE, 4 days per week), Permanent. We are flexible with how these hours are worked - working pattern to be discussed with the successful candidate.

Closing date: Monday 13 July

Interview date: Week commencing 27 July 

Start Date: ASAP - this is a new role

Reporting to: Operations Director
Direct Reports: Finance Officer
 

Role Purpose

The Head of Finance plays a key role in supporting Good Faith's financial health, sustainability and growth. Working closely with the Operations Director and colleagues across the organisation, they provide the financial insight, systems and support that help teams make informed decisions, deliver impactful work and plan confidently for the future.

The role combines hands-on financial management with the ongoing development of financial systems, tools and processes to support Good Faith's growth and evolving needs.

Working in partnership with the Operations Director, Senior Leadership Team, thematic project delivery ("track") leadership teams and project leads, the Head of Finance helps promote sound financial stewardship, clear reporting and responsible use of resources.

The role also provides financial management support to Good Faith Foundation, working alongside its trustees and Charity Development Lead.

The Head of Finance line manages the Finance Officer, supporting their development and helping to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the finance function.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management and Reporting

• Support the effective management of Good Faith's finances, helping to ensure accurate reporting, strong financial stewardship and long-term sustainability.

• Prepare monthly management accounts, including profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow reporting.

• Provide clear, timely financial reporting and insight to support decision-making by the Operations Director, Senior Leadership Team and Board.

• Help colleagues understand organisational financial performance, identifying trends, opportunities and areas requiring attention.

• Work closely with the Operations Director to develop and improve financial systems, controls, policies and processes that support effective decision-making and organisational growth.

• Coordinate month-end and year-end reporting processes.

• Build positive working relationships with external accountants, banks and other professional advisers.

• Maintain compliance with relevant accounting standards, tax regulations and statutory requirements.

Budgeting, Forecasting and Planning

• Coordinate the annual budgeting process, working collaboratively with SLT and Directors across the organisation.

• Maintain GF’s financial forecast and support scenario planning to inform decision-making and future priorities.

• Monitor organisational, track and project budgets against performance and support teams to understand and respond to variances.

• Provide financial insight and recommendations that help colleagues balance ambition with sustainability.

• Support business planning and provide analysis to inform significant organisational investment and spending decisions.

Project Finance

• Work alongside track leadership teams and project leads to develop, manage and monitor project and track budgets.

• Produce project and track-level financial reporting and analysis, including profitability reporting.

• Help project teams understand financial information and use it confidently in decision-making.

• Provide practical financial support and guidance to help achieve GF’s organisational objectives while making the best use of available resources.

Warm Welcome Campaign

• Work closely with the Warm Welcome Head of Operations and Leadership Team, providing financial support on budgeting, reporting and forecasting.

• Ensure expenditure is accurately recorded, appropriately authorised and aligned with financial policies.

• Produce regular financial dashboards and reporting, highlighting budget variances, emerging risks and opportunities for improved efficiency.

• Provide insight and recommendations that support effective decision-making and responsible resource management.

Cashflow, Reserves and Financial Sustainability

• Monitor and report on cashflow, reserves and wider financial performance, helping SLT plan for the future.

• Manage and process supplier and payroll payments, ensuring appropriate controls and approvals are in place and payments are made accurately and on time.

• Work with the Finance Officer to monitor debtor and creditor performance, supporting the timely collection of income and effective management of liabilities.

• Provide financial insight and scenario planning that supports sustainable growth, informed decision-making and long-term resilience.

Support to Good Faith Foundation

• Provide financial management support to the Good Faith Foundation.

• Oversee the preparation of quarterly management accounts by external accountants, alongside budgets and financial reports as required.

• Support trustees and the Charity Development Lead with financial information, insight and analysis.

• Help maintain appropriate financial controls, governance and compliance arrangements.

Team Management

• Line manage, support and develop the Finance Officer, creating opportunities for learning and professional growth.

• Review and oversee bookkeeping, reconciliations and transactional finance processes.

• Help foster a collaborative, supportive and efficient finance function that supports colleagues across GF.

• Contribute to a positive team culture that reflects Good Faith's values.

Governance and Compliance

• Help ensure GF maintains high standards of governance, accountability and financial compliance.

• Support statutory record-keeping and coordinate company secretarial filings and documentation.

• Coordinate the preparation and submission of VAT returns, annual accounts, corporation tax returns and other regulatory filings, working with external accountants as required.

• Act as a trusted point of contact for external accountants, auditors, legal advisers and other professional advisers.

• Coordinate annual insurance renewals and maintain records of key organisational licences, registrations and financial policies.

• As needed, support audits, compliance reviews and risk management activities, helping to ensure appropriate documentation, controls and procedures are maintained.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with at least 2-3 years' working experience

• Experience managing finance functions within an SME, consultancy, social enterprise, charity or purpose-led organisation.

• Experience preparing management accounts, budgets and forecasts.

• Good understanding of UK financial reporting, tax and compliance requirements.

• Experience managing cashflow and financial planning.

• Proficiency in accounting software (Xero) and Microsoft Excel/Google Workspace.

Essential Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and confidently to non-finance colleagues.

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people.

• The ability to balance financial sustainability with organisational ambition and social impact.

Desirable

• Experience in consultancy, professional services, social enterprise or charitable sectors.

• Experience managing the finances of grant-funded projects

• Experience supporting boards, trustees or senior leadership teams.

• Knowledge of charity finance and governance requirements.

• Experience supporting and developing colleagues through line management.

Personal Attributes

• Collaborative and relationship-focused, with a genuine desire to support others.

• Inclusive in approach and committed to building positive working relationships

• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with the confidence to improve systems and ways of working.

• Trustworthy, accountable and able to exercise sound judgement.

• Comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving organisation.

• Able to balance ambition with pragmatism, helping the organisation make the most of its resources.

• Committed to Good Faith's mission, values and the positive impact of our work.

Key Relationships

• Operations Director

• Senior Leadership Team

• Project Leads

• Thematic project delivery leadership teams

• Finance Officer

• Good Faith Foundation Charity Development Lead and Trustees

• External accountants and professional advisers

• Clients, funders and other partners as required

Please review the attached JD for full information on how to apply. 

The Advocacy Director holds primary responsibility for delivering ECC’s advocacy strategy internationally and within the UK. This strategy aims to ensure states’ legal obligations on casualty recording are recognised and upheld globally, and that casualty data is used effectively to shape policy responses to conflict.

ECC’s advocacy work is focused primarily within the human rights and humanitarian multilateral fora in Geneva, but also incorporates work with New York-based UN targets within the security field. In parallel, as a UK-based organisation, we seek to influence domestic decision-makers including those within the FCDO, MoD, and parliament.

The Advocacy Director will be ECC's most senior external face after the Executive Director. As a key figure within a small organisation, the Advocacy Director will lead advocacy activity directly, building and stewarding relationships with state delegations, UK parliamentarians, UN officials, and civil society partners. The role requires exceptional political judgment, fluency across both multilateral and Westminster environments, and the credibility to represent ECC at the most senior national and international levels.

Note: This role is being advertised at the same time as the Executive Director role, as both functions were previously filled by the same person. Candidates can apply for the Advocacy Director role alone, or apply for both roles to combine as a full-time position. Please see full details in the Executive Director job description and advert.

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.

Lead the operations, governance and compliance that enable Solving Kids' Cancer UK to deliver its mission and impact for children and families affected by neuroblastoma. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will play a critical role in ensuring the charity operates effectively, compliantly and sustainably.

This broad and varied leadership role spans governance, risk, HR, IT, data protection and organisational operations, supporting delivery of the charity's strategy through robust systems, policies and processes. Acting as Company Secretary, you will work closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees, providing advice on governance, regulatory requirements and best practice. As a member of the Leadership Team, you will oversee key operational functions, lead cross-organisational projects and deputise for the CEO where required.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a strategic, highly organised and values-driven leader with strong experience in charity operations, governance and compliance. You will have a track record of ensuring organisations are well run, compliant and effectively managed, with the ability to oversee multiple operational areas and support strong governance and decision-making at Board level.

You will be comfortable working across a broad remit, including governance, risk, HR, IT and data protection, and confident providing clear, practical advice to senior leaders and trustees.

Person specification

Key requirements include:

• Significant senior-level experience in operations, governance or compliance within a charity or similar environment. 
• Strong understanding of charity governance and regulation, with experience supporting boards and senior leadership. 
• Experience overseeing organisational functions such as HR, IT, data protection or risk. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead cross-organisational work effectively. 
• Strong judgement, integrity and the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion. 

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for information about Solving Kids' Cancer UK. 

This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution at the heart of a small, ambitious charity where strong operations are a vital enabler of impact for children and families.

Location: Home-based, within easy reach of London, with regular travel to the London office and occasional UK-wide travel.

First-stage interview: Thursday 6 August 

Second-stage interview: Thursday 13 August

About Us

Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit delivering real transparency and accountability for market impacts on nature and people. Our special focus is on ending deforestation – an essential step in achieving urgent global goals on climate, nature and human rights. We deliver our work by building and maintaining open-data platforms, creating stronger voluntary and compliance frameworks, and accelerating accountability and action in the finance sector with nature-positive guidance to help achieve deforestation-free portfolios.

We work globally, with a focus on both forested regions (particularly across Latin America and South East Asia), and major consumer and financial markets (with a focus on Europe, the US, Singapore and China). We have a distributed team of around 70 people worldwide, with a main office in Oxford (UK). We work via close and deep partnerships, including with institutions like the Stockholm Environment Institute, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, UNEP Finance Initiative, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the Zoological Society of London, and many many others.

About the Role

As People and Culture Lead, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will be responsible for the delivery and development of the People function at Global Canopy. Providing advice and support to the Leadership Team and colleagues across the organisation, you will lead on people and culture initiatives that enable our team to maximise their potential, resulting in greater impact as an organisation.

You will bring excellent relationship-building and influencing skills as well as strong technical expertise to ensure that we can recruit, retain, develop, support and engage the people we rely on to deliver our vital work for forests, nature and human rights. You will manage all aspects of team members’ journey with the organisation, including recruitment, performance and development, employee relations and pay and benefits.

This is a great role for an experienced People professional who believes in the power of a people-centred organisation, has had previous success in delivering people and culture change projects and working in a business-partnering role. You will be comfortable managing upwards, acting as a trusted advisor, and confident being the face of People and Culture at an organisational level. You will thrive in a dynamic non-profit environment, delivering on complex and impactful projects around the world. We are looking for someone who leads with empathy and wisdom, putting individuals at the heart of their work.

Responsibilities

Employee life cycle management

• Be responsible for the creation, maintenance, evolution and operation of all HR policies, processes and systems 
• Work closely with the leadership team and internal boards on areas such as recruitment, performance, learning and development, absence, salaries/benefits, job grading and employee engagement
• Ensure the ongoing development of our P&C offering is aligned with our culture

Support & advice to leaders and managers

• Build strong working relationships with senior team leaders in order to support them directly
• Provide coaching, guidance and support to people managers ensuring that our people are supported to thrive and develop
• Advise on people issues and managing cases, to ensure that processes are followed in line with Global Canopy’s  policy, best practice and employment legislation

Support delivery of Global Canopy’s People plan

• Alongside the COO, drive the implementation of people initiatives and be responsible for the successful embedding of changes
• Lead on connection and collaboration initiatives to build a cohesive, highly motivated team in line with Global Canopy’s culture and in the context of hybrid working
• Provide and present reports and maintain KPIs related to our people.

Management

• Line management of People and Recruitment Advisor, supporting them in their management of recruitment for Global Canopy, and providing coaching and mentoring to support their ongoing development
• Manage the relationship with our EOR providers
• Alongside the COO and IT & Operations Manager, provide leadership on data protection across the organisation

About You

To be successful in this role, these are the things that will matter the most: 

• People-first and positive approach to HR management 
• Broad experience of managing human resources work across organisations, with a good understanding of HR procedures and legislation in the UK
• Alignment with our values and our mission and a commitment to collaboration and a passion for developing an organisational culture in which people thrive

Essential behavioural competencies: 

• Leading with warmth 
• Demonstrates credibility and emotional intelligence
• Structured and effective in communications
• Able to handle difficult situations sensitively and confidentially
• Initiative and ability to manage and prioritise own workload, working to deadlines
• Creativity

Skills and experience:

Required:

• CIPD level 5 or equivalent experience
• Experience managing all aspects of employee lifecycle 
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and best practice
• Experience and expertise to support in the areas of diversity and inclusion, learning and development, and employee wellbeing and engagement in a hybrid context
• Experience of working in an advisory capacity and regularly reporting to senior leaders
• Experience of working across different departments/functions in a matrixed and int’l organisation
• Line management experience

Desirable:

• Ability to take a leadership role in change projects
• Experience of working internationally with employees based outside the UK – and covered by non-UK law
• Experience or understanding of the context for a charity / not for profit organisation

Salary & Benefits

Salary: £55,000- £60,000 full time equivalent. This role sits within Band C on Global Canopy’s remuneration framework.

Nature of contract: Full time or 0.8 FTE. Permanent. This is a hybrid role working from home and our office in Oxford. There is a requirement to attend the office once a week and for other meetings/work as required.

Holidays: 36 days (including bank/public holidays) for discretionary use across the annual leave year. Option to purchase up to an additional 5 days or equivalent of one week’s leave.

Pension: Employer pension contribution of 8%.

Healthcare cashback plan: Covering dental fees, eye-care, wellbeing, physiotherapy, chiropody and much more – for you and any children.

Employee Assistance Programme: Which provides free, confidential advice on personal and legal matters.

Other: Huge range of discounts and cashback deals at gyms, restaurants, holidays, and much more.

How to Apply

To apply for the position, please follow the instructions and submit an up-to date CV and covering letter. The covering letter should explain your motivation for the role, and how your skills and experience fit the person specification. (Please no more than 1 side of A4).

Right-to-work in the UK is required for this role.

All candidates are asked to complete an anonymous diversity monitoring form when they apply.

This is an open-ended recruitment. Early application is encouraged, as we will close the position once enough suitable candidates for interview are identified. 

The first stage will be an introductory call with our third-party HR consultant. Those progressed to the second stage will be invited to complete a written assessment and join a virtual interview (with a brief presentation element). Finalists will be invited to interview in Oxford (we will reimburse reasonable travel costs) with the Executive Director and key colleagues.