Director

SANTANDER FOUNDATION UK; City Of London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A philanthropic organization in London seeks a Director to lead its renewed focus on supporting disadvantaged young people in Further Education. The successful candidate will drive strategic implementation, oversee grant-making, and build an expert team. Experience in the education or philanthropic sector and a passion for driving meaningful change are essential. The application deadline is 28 November 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience in education, philanthropic, charitable, or policy space.
• Ability to lead with vision and integrity.
• Alignment with the Foundation's mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation’s strategic implementation.
• Shape grant-making, operations, and partnerships.
• Build and manage a small expert team.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Entrepreneurial mindset

Values-led approach

Job description

We are an independent Foundation founded in 1990, closely connected to Santander UK. After a recent strategy review, we have a renewed focus and ambition. Our new mission is to support young people, primarily aged 16-19, in the Further Education system. This is an underfunded area, and there is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in creating change for some of the most disadvantaged young people in the UK.

The Director will lead the Foundation through a period of strategic implementation, translating our strategy and ambition into practice. This means you will further hone and deliver a strategy that seeks to achieve meaningful change for young people in FE facing significant disadvantage. Alongside the board, you will shape our grant‑making, operations, partnerships and external profile to deliver impact - and champion our commitment to achieving change for young people in FE, as well as becoming a best‑in‑class funder.

You will be the Foundation's first and leading senior executive in this new strategic era and you will be working closely with the board. We are in the process of establishing the operational model and are investigating the possibility of working with a host to cover back‑office services. Beyond that, the intention is to recruit a small, expert team, which will be managed by the Director. You will bring an entrepreneurial mindset, strategic leadership, deep expertise, operational excellence and a values‑led, inclusive approach to everything we do. You will also play a key role in maintaining and further shaping our close relationship with Santander UK.

We are open to hearing from candidates from a variety of professional backgrounds. You may come from the education sector, from the foundation or philanthropic sector, from charity leadership, or the policy space. What matters most is your alignment with our mission and the ability to lead with vision and integrity.

To apply please send the following by email via the button below.

Your CV

A covering letter (max 2 pages) or video/audio (max 5 minutes) telling us:

• Why this role interests you
• How your experience and skills relate to the new strategy of the Foundation
• What you would bring to the Foundation

Key dates

• Application deadline: 10am, 28 November 2025
• First round interviews: 15 December 2025
• Final interviews: 12 January 2026