Head of policy, advocacy and research volunteer roles

Key details

Application closing date: Sunday 26 April 2026 (2359 UK time)
Start date: To be co-opted at the May Board meeting
Hours: Attendance at Board meetings once a quarter, finance subcommittee meetings that take place before Board meetings and other ad-hoc meetings and internal events as required
Salary: Unpaid (with reimbursement for expenses incurred in line with our policy)
Location: Board and finance subcommittee meetings are generally held virtually with some in -person meetings. For administrative purposes, the treasurer should be based in the UK.
Hours: Attendance at Board meetings once a quarter plus regular meetings with Head of Finance ahead of each Board meeting, meeting with auditors during audit process and other ad-hoc meetings and internal events as required. TJN is also considering setting up Finance Sub-Committee with the Treasurer expected to be involved with the Sub-Committee. Estimated hours commitment 60 hours per year/ 5h per month.

About the Tax Justice Network

The Tax Justice Network believes our tax and financial systems are powerful tools for creating a just society that gives equal weight to the needs of everyone. Launched in 2003 we are dedicated to high-level research, analysis, campaigning and advocacy in the area of international tax and financial regulation and work to inspire and equip people and governments everywhere to reprogramme their tax systems to work for everyone. We are clear that we must take a rights-based approach in all our work and one that challenges inequalities head-on.

Our approach combines a range of interventions that are designed to be mutually reinforcing, by acting in alignment through different channels and targeting different but overlapping audiences. We contribute t building the movement; the evidence base; the set of policy tools and options available; and the public narratives that support concrete changes. The Tax Justice Network is not a narrowly technical body. While we conduct high-level research, including publication in internationally peer-reviewed journals, our work is rooted in the political realities we face and consistently aimed at achieving political change. Our role in the global tax justice movement is based on the recognition that ultimately. Progress depends on the global movement, in which we are only one actor.

We are a virtual organisation, with staff working remotely across multiple countries and continents. With a cooperative ethos, out board is elected by the members of our company, who are formed of members of staff that have worked at the Tax Justice Network for at least one year. We are supporting by grants and donations from a range of donors including NORAD and the Open Society Foundation.

Role description

The directors of the Tax Justice Network are responsible for the oversight and governance of its work, with executive and management action delegated to a chief executive (and a senior management team).

We are seeking to recruit a Treasurer to bring their skills and expertise and offer strategic guidance, constructive and supportive challenge, specialist advice and their independent thinking.

The Treasurer provides financial oversight, guidance and strategic advice to ensure our organisation’s financial stability and integrity. The Treasurer will be responsible for monitoring financial performance and supporting long term-term financial planning in line with our organisations mission.

Key responsibilities

• Act as a Director ensuring the organisation meet its statutory duties under Companies Act 2006 and the Articles of Association
• Provide strategic financial oversight and constructive challenge at Board level and as part of the relevant Committees established to support the Board
• Reviews budget, management accounts and annual statutory accounts
• Ensure the organisation’s financial management, controls and reporting are robust and transparent
• Support the Board in maintaining financial sustainability and advising Board and Senior Management Team on financial risks and opportunities
• Assist with statutory reporting and regulatory compliance
• Liaise with external auditors as required
• Work collaboratively with fellow non-executive directors contributing to Board effectiveness and continuous improvement
• Work closely with the Head of Finance as requested

Person Specification

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in finance and accounting or related fields
• Experience of the workings of a finance department of charities or not for profit organisations
• Acts with integrity, honesty, and accountability at all times
• Provides constructive challenge and sound financial judgement
• Takes a strategic, long-term view of financial sustainability and risk
• Works collaboratively and respectfully with fellow Non-Executive Directors
• A strong commitment to good governance, transparency, and best practice

Desirable

• Professional accounting qualifications CCAB or CIMA
• Prior experience as a Trustee or non-executive Director

Do you want to take part in vegan volunteering around your local area?

You can do that – right here at The Vegan Society. 

We have an ever-growing Community Network of vegans just like you, who have a passion to volunteer and promote veganism where they live. 

Every month, our Network choose from a range of outreach tasks. These could include town centre stalls, writing to a councillor or MP, sharing our campaigns on social media or contacting local businesses. You're in control of how much or how little you do. 

As an Advocate, you will have a network of other Advocates and an Organiser in your area. Your Organiser will be your main point of contact. They will send you tasks every month and ask you to feed back on what you've completed and any positive outcomes. 

Why do we need you to volunteer?

As the vegan community grows, veganism itself becomes better understood. We're finding that more people are looking to The Vegan Society to find out what being vegan is all about.

Local communities are starting to see the vegan movement as something real and something that’s happening in their area. More people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome. From new businesses, to families, to councillors, many people need support. This could be with a range of topics: going vegan, finding correct information around a vegan diet, providing vegan options in their business, MPs listening to vegan constituents, and learning about our work.

Local issues are often unique and more varied than national issues. Our volunteers from local areas are vital! They enable us to share our messages and campaigns in an effective way. Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer rather than an outside expert, so community volunteering vastly increases the impact of our campaigns.

Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers.

Advocates are a crucial voice in their own community. They ensure that our campaign messages are spread far and wide. They provide a strong vegan presence in local communities.

What does the Advocate role involve?

Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. You'll share the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You will form part of a local group, headed up by a local Organiser. The Organiser will feed back your collective efforts to staff. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group, for vegan socialising and ideas sharing.

You’ll stay in touch with the Organiser and bring your passion to tasks. Activities can range from staffing a stall to giving a talk at an employee event. It could also mean writing to a local newspaper or lobbying an MP.

Messaging can differ every month. Part of our mission statement is to ensure people can remain vegan, so you might focus on getting more vegan options available in local businesses. Or within our Live Vegan for Less campaign, you may share cheap vegan recipes to help people with the cost of living.

When acting as an Advocate, you will use The Vegan Society’s branding and messaging guidelines. Your local Organiser will guide you in doing this, as they hold physical resources and handbooks. You can report any issues and feedback you have to your Organiser. You can also contact staff if your Organiser isn't available or you have any problems.

What training and support is available?

You will be provided with a big welcome and full induction from your local Organiser. They will introduce you to the group and any actions that are ongoing. Any training and development will be provided via your Organiser, and you can also ask for specific training on any areas that you need some development in.

What skills would be useful in doing this role?

• The ability to stay motivated in order to achieve the best possible outcomes
• Good email etiquette, responding in a timely manner
• Committed to veganism and the mission of The Vegan Society
• Ability to stay calm if confronted with differing opinions or challenges
• A good communicator, with the ability to be persuasive
• Confident in communicating with people from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of campaigning
• Any experience in talking with members of the public through customer/public service would be helpful
• Awareness of current affairs, especially those that relate to veganism
• Regular availability and a willingness to stay committed to actions
• Good team player

How much time do I need to invest? 

For Advocates, we ask for people to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall. But the more you can do, the better! On occasion, there may also be online meetings to plan for actions or provide training.