Chief Operating Officer

Location: Head office in Victoria typically 1-2 days per week, remaining working from home

Flexible working: this role is based in Victoria with typical working hours of 9-5pm. Hybrid working is available in this position. Flexible working requests are available from day one. We would also consider applications from part time applicants working 4-4.5 days per week.

Role & Responsibilities

Our COO is a pivotal role – a similar role has not existed within our organisation for five years, during which time our income has increased from £4.5 million to over £6 million and rising. This role provides a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys making a role their own, finds great fulfilment in supporting others to achieve their best, and enjoys seeing positive changes in action.

As our COO, you’ll be a member of the Trust’s Senior Leadership Team with day-to-day overall leadership responsibility for finance, people, organisational development, impact measurement and governance.

• Support the CEO in ensuring the Trust’s good governance, including planning and preparation for Board and subcommittee meetings, and broader Trustee engagement including recruitment and away days
• Working closely with the CEO and SLT, take ownership of the development and implementation of the Trust’s 5yr strategic business plan ensuring regular review of financial progress and high-quality reporting to the Board
• Lead on risk management, business continuity and crisis management including resilience planning and developing contingency procedures
• Lead, develop and manage the Central Services team including two direct reports: Head of Finance and Head of People & Organisational Development
• Act as the Trust’s Health and Safety lead by taking a proactive approach to oversight and monitoring of the Trust’s H&S management systems and processes

Our ideal Chief Operating Officer

• Senior level experience in an organisation with responsibility for developing, implementing and reviewing financial and strategic business plans
• Strong strategic finance and financial forecasting experience including working knowledge of charity SORP accounting, VAT, Gift Aid and balance of restricted and unrestricted income
• Proven skill and confidence in building, working with and interpreting complex financial spreadsheets and data; including the ability to model different financial scenarios and communicate effectively both with qualified finance professionals and non-finance colleagues
• Experience of working collaboratively to set and monitor organisational budgets and income targets, ensuring that accountability is embedded throughout the organisation and supporting organisational growth
• Commercial acumen, including a track record in identifying, developing and supporting successful and sustainable commercial operations within an organisation
• Demonstrable experience of overseeing the collation, analysis and communication of data to produce internal and external evaluations and reports

Closing Date: 28th April at 10am

Interviews: Are scheduled to take place on 5th May (first stage) and 9th May (second stage) and reasonable adjustments will be offered to all candidates including the choice to meet online or in-person.

Does this sound like you? We’d love to hear from you!

Our vision is a London alive with wildlife, with nature in everyone’s neighbourhood. To achieve our goal of inspiring everyone to help restore London’s wildlife, we recognise that our team must better reflect and represent all of London’s diverse communities. Find out more about London Wildlife Trust’s commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion here: https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/jobs.

We are also committed to ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk is at the heart of our engagement with people. Read about our commitment to safeguarding here: https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/safeguarding.