Chief executive jobs for the Animal sector

Location note:please see location information below - we actively encourage applications from people across Europe, and a relocation package is available for candidates moving to either country if necessary.

Lead the strategy and team behind Europe’s push for protein diversification.

The Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) is a nonprofit think tank at the forefront of the movement to transform meat production in order to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, from climate change and global hunger to antibiotic resistance and animal suffering. Our vision is a thriving world, fed sustainably.

With a nonprofit entity in Belgium, a branch in the UK and colleagues working from seven other countries that make up GFI Europe, we are also part of an international network of affiliates. We advance the science, policies and investment needed to make plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-made meat delicious, affordable and accessible across Europe. Please check out the rest of our website, our 2025 Year in Review and our 2025 Europe highlights blog post to find out more about who we are and what we do.

We are looking for an Executive Director to lead GFI Europe’s strategy and team, play a key role in shaping and advancing GFI’s global strategy, and foster the relationships and organisational strength needed to accelerate the shift towards a resilient and sustainable food system.

How you will make a difference 

You will have high responsibility and high impact. Reporting to, and appointed by, the Board of GFI Europe, you will lead a ~50-person team working from nine European countries. 

You will:

• Enable strategic focus:

  • Align the team around a clear and compelling organisational direction that aligns with the GFI network’s mission and theory of change.

  • Translate organisational direction into high-level priorities in collaboration with GFI Europe’s Leadership Team.

  • Ensure Europe’s strategic decisions are made well – soliciting the right input from the right people, preserving autonomy in areas of specific expertise, and making decisions when organisation-wide trade-offs are required.

  • Take ultimate responsibility for maximising outcomes and impact in pursuit of our mission.

• Provide leadership to the team:

  • Empower, develop and inspire a high-performing, people-centric team. 

  • Lead GFI Europe’s Leadership Team, formed of six department heads, ensuring they continue to function on a ‘first-team’ basis to achieve organisational objectives. 

  • Champion and uphold a values-driven culture built upon transparency, autonomy, collaboration, accountability, and psychological safety. Champion the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion into the team’s day-to-day work.

• Represent GFI Europe in GFI’s international network:

  • Participate in international strategic and coordination workstreams as a member of GFI’s Regional Leadership Group, comprising GFI’s affiliate leads.

  • Act as the primary liaison between GFI’s affiliates and European teams on strategies, processes and goals. Ensure the Europe team can successfully connect with, influence, support and navigate a complex international network, including global workstreams such as fundraising and impact reporting.

  • Participate in discussions about global strategy and resource allocation so as to maximise GFI’s overall mission impact, including communicating GFI Europe’s strategy, resourcing needs and contributions as part of the international GFI network.

• Represent GFI Europe in front of donors and external stakeholders:

  • Work closely with global and Europe-based fundraising teams to help ensure GFI achieves its fundraising goals.

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, prospective supporters and key stakeholders.

  • Serve as a public representative of, and spokesperson for, the organisation by speaking at conferences, events, and with the media. 

• Oversee organisational health:

  • Ensure strong governance, legal compliance, financial sustainability and reporting in partnership with the Board and the Head of Operations. 

  • Be the main legal representative of the organisation, reviewing and signing all legally relevant agreements and organisational documents.

• Perform other duties as appropriate.

Core capabilities needed to succeed in this role:

• Mission alignment. A passion for GFI’s philosophy and mission.

• Strategic judgement. Strong analytical skills and sound judgement, being able to absorb and process a range of types of information, understand the activities that GFI undertakes, and provide leadership and guidance to team members. You have the experience and ability to make strategic trade-offs across projects, functions, teams, countries/regions, programmes, etc – weighing resource allocation, prioritising impact, and communicating those decisions clearly and inclusively to stakeholders. 

• Thoughtful leadership. You align teams behind a clear and impactful vision. You know when to persevere and when to change course, and have led people, both directly and indirectly, to deliver impact. You trust the people closest to the work to make decisions, and you address hard topics when they truly matter. You own mistakes and make a genuine effort to learn and grow from them. You are intentional about remote leadership.

• Understanding the wider context. You can make sense of the political, economic and cultural forces shaping Europe’s food system today and are adept at drawing on patterns and ideas from outside our field to identify possible implications for GFI Europe’s next move. 

• Excellent people skills. High emotional intelligence and an ability to diplomatically engage across perspectives, being able to build and maintain trust with colleagues and stakeholders across multiple cultures, viewpoints and needs within Europe and beyond. 

• Financial literacy. Skilled at overseeing substantial financial resources, including partnering with the operations team on resource allocation. You have held accountability for a significant organisational budget and can interpret financial data to make sound, well-informed decisions.

• Fundraising acumen. You understand how GFI’s strategy, culture, and mission impact shape the organisation’s ability to raise funds and steward donors, and you’re enthusiastic about partnering with the fundraising team to make this happen. You bring an understanding of the philanthropic sector and donor relationships, or of fundraising in other sectors (eg, the private sector or government), while deferring to the fundraising team’s expertise on how donor relationships are best managed.

• Strong communication skills. An ability to convincingly articulate and explain our mission and work and to represent the organisation in the media, with programmatic stakeholders, and with donors. Comfort adapting your tone and message for different audiences across diverse cultures, and excellent verbal and written English skills.

• Flexible approach to work. We estimate that travel will account for approximately six weeks of the year. This will likely consist of two GFI Europe team-wide retreats (3-5 days each), one leadership retreat (2-3 days), other sporadic trips generally lasting 1-3 days, and occasional longer trips of approximately 5-7 days (for conferences and donor or partner meetings across Europe and internationally). In addition, you will need occasional flexibility in your working hours to accommodate coordination with other affiliates around the world.

• Integrity. You do what you say you’ll do, and are discreet when handling confidential information.

It would be an advantage to have the following, though none are prerequisites:

• Sector familiarity. Familiarity with or experience working in the food system, alternative proteins or an adjacent sector in Europe.

• Impact leadership. Strong knowledge and/or experience of being part of the leadership team of a nonprofit, think tank or other social impact-focused organisation.

• Governance and compliance experience. Experience with legal representation and board reporting, and/or experience working on nonprofit compliance, especially in Belgium.

• Fundraising partnership experience. You’ve contributed to fundraising in a supportive capacity – whether managing a fundraising function, advising on donor and prospect strategy, joining donor conversations alongside a development team, or shaping fundraising strategy at an executive level.

• Network experience. Experience working in one or more network models (eg, affiliate or franchise-style, federation, confederation, etc).

• Languages. The ability to work in European languages in addition to English.

The Fine Print:

• Terms of employment: Full-time (flexible hours), permanent. 

• Location: This role can be based in either Belgium or the United Kingdom, where GFI Europe has established entities and where you must have the right to work. We actively encourage applications from people across Europe, and a relocation package is available for candidates moving to either country if necessary.

  • Relocation support will be provided with a budget of up to £8,000 in the UK or €8,700 in Belgium, which can be used for transport, temporary housing, and other relocation expenses deemed necessary.

• Salary and benefits: The salary and benefits packages for all of our roles are researched and benchmarked based on similar nonprofit roles in the country/location of hire. 

  • Belgium: €7,900-€8,900 gross monthly salary (€109,925-€123,907 annually including 13th month and holiday pay).

    • Plus benefits including home-working allowance (if applicable), meal vouchers, eco vouchers, and professional development allocation.

  • United Kingdom: £90,500-£104,000 gross annual salary.

• You can read more about our wider benefits offering on our website. 

• Right to work requirements: The successful candidate must, by the start of the employment, have permission to work in the country where they are based for the role, and be able to travel within the EU and internationally.

• Application Deadline: 13 September 2026, 11.59pm CEST. We will get back to all candidates after that date, no matter the outcome of their application.

• Right to work requirements: The successful candidate must, by the start of the employment, have permission to work in the country where they are based for the role, and be able to travel within the EU and internationally.

About us

Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW) is Wales’ leading charity dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming greyhounds and lurchers. Founded in 1993, we have spent more than three decades championing the welfare of sighthounds and working towards our vision: a Wales without greyhound racing, where every greyhound and lurcher has a home and receives the best possible care.

In April 2026, after 25 years of determined campaigning to improve welfare and regulation within the racing industry, legislation to ban greyhound racing in Wales was finally passed. This landmark achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter for GRW as we expand our reach and capacity across the UK to ensure every greyhound leaving the racing industry has a rescue space, medical support and rehabilitation on the journey towards their forever home.

To help us grow sustainably and strengthen our long‑term impact, we are now seeking to develop our fundraising team with the creation of a Head of Fundraising role. You will lead and work closely with the Trusts & Foundations Officer, Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer and Community & Events Fundraiser to deliver an annual income target of £400K+.

Role

The Head of Fundraising is a senior leadership role with overall accountability for the strategic development, operational effectiveness and performance of all fundraising activity at Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW).

The role will drive, lead and grow our fundraising strategy and has responsibility for developing diverse, sustainable income streams and building strong relationships with supporters, partners, and funders.

The role holds end‑to‑end accountability for income delivery across trusts and foundations, community and event fundraising, and sponsorship and individual giving.

The Head of Fundraising provides clear leadership to the fundraising team and has line management responsibility for:

• Trusts and Foundations Officer
• Community and Events Fundraising Officer
• Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer

Please see attached the full job description and person specification

The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust is seeking an experienced finance professional to lead its financial management and oversee the organisation's operational functions. This is a senior leadership role supporting the Trust's continued growth, financial resilience, and conservation mission. The position can be based remotely, with travel to the Isles of Scilly as needed.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Opportunity to join the senior leadership team of a respected conservation charity. 
• Flexible full-time or part-time arrangement. 
• Remote working (with some travel to the Isles of Scilly as required) will be considered.
• Broad influence across finance, operations, governance and organisational development. 
• Chance to contribute to nationally significant conservation projects, including the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project. 

Our Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be:

• A qualified (or nearly qualified) accountant. 
• Collaborative and approachable. 
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail. 
• Comfortable working strategically while also managing day-to-day financial 
• operations. 
• Passionate about conservation and supporting the Trust's mission. 
• Motivated to help a growing charity strengthen its systems and long-term 
• sustainability. 

Overall, this is a senior finance leadership role with significant operational responsibilities, suited to someone who enjoys combining strong financial stewardship with organisational improvement in a mission-driven charity.

For the full list of key responsibilities please see the job description.

CVs will not be accepted, please visit IoSWT website to download the application form

About Us

Our mission is to keep Scilly special – to protect the islands’ unique heritage, particularly its native wildlife, ensuring that this heritage can be enjoyed by all.

We look after around half of the Isles of Scilly, making sure that Scilly stays special. We help wildlife thrive and provide opportunities for us all to enjoy nature.

If you have any questions, or would like to talk about this role, please find our contact details in the job description.

For almost 50 years, Animal Aid has been one of the UK's leading animal rights organisations. As we embark on an ambitious strategy to 2030, we're looking for an exceptional Head of People and Operations to help us build the organisation that will deliver our next stage of growth. 

This is a new and critical senior leadership role. While our mission is to create lasting change for animals, it is our people who make that possible every day. You'll help ensure Animal Aid is a supportive, high-performing and values-led organisation where staff can do their very best work for animals. 

Reporting to the General Manager and working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you'll lead our people function, oversee HR strategy and operations, support organisational development, and play a key role in finance, governance and organisational effectiveness. 

We're looking for someone who combines strong HR leadership with excellent operational skills, strategic thinking and a genuine commitment to building positive workplace cultures. 

You'll bring: 

• Significant senior-level HR and people management experience 

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice 

• Experience developing policies, processes and organisational systems 

• Excellent relationship-building, communication and leadership skills 

• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery 

• CIPD Level 5+ (or equivalent experience) 

• Commitment to Animal Aid's aims and values, and sympathy with our ethical vegan position. 

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected and influential not-for-profit at a pivotal moment in its development. 

Join us and help build the organisation that will power the next generation of progress for animals. 

Please note: Animal Aid cannot provide visa sponsorship, so applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK to be considered for this role. You must live in the UK and we are unable to pay any relocation costs.

First-round interviews will be held online the week commencing 14th September, with the second round held in person on 21st and 23rd September.

Who We Are

Animal Equality is an international animal protection organisation working with society, governments and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Animal Equality has offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and India.

Animal Equality releases investigative materials captured from inside factory farms and slaughterhouses, exposing the conditions that farmed animals face around the world. We publish our findings on television, in newspapers and online. We routinely secure mainstream media coverage, including on the BBC, ITV, Sky news, The Times, the Guardian, New York Times and many more.

Animal Equality also advocates for political change. Our current campaigns include a UK ban on foie gras imports, increased enforcement of existing animal protection laws, legal protections for farmed fish, and Government subsidies for transitioning towards a plant-based food system.

We focus on farmed animals because of the scale and severity of the issue. More than a billion animals are confined and killed for human consumption every year in the UK. Farmed animals also often suffer in some of the worst ways: pigs typically endure painful mutilations, many chickens die of heart attacks, fish are confined in underwater cages, and some farmed animals are victims of deliberate abuse and neglect. But the problem is solvable! By utilising effective campaigning strategies, Animal Equality is having an impact for animals around the world and building a future where all animals are respected and protected, and are no longer exploited for human consumption.

Animal Equality UK’s current key campaigns include:

• Strengthening enforcement of animal protection laws
• Halting the expansion of Scotland’s salmon farming industry
• Achieving a ban on foie gras imports
• Securing species-specific slaughter legislation for fish
• Inspiring the public to eat plants, not animals

About The Role

The Communications & Digital Marketing Coordinator will play a key role in shaping Animal Equality UK’s public voice. They will ensure all outgoing content, both digital and print, aligns with our brand, values, and mission.

This role will lead on paid digital marketing and lead-generation activities to grow our supporter and donor base; oversee video production; manage website content; optimise organic and paid reach; support SEO strategy; and ensure consistent day-to-day engagement across our social media channels.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively across all UK departments, particularly Marketing and Campaigns, as well as with international colleagues, to maximise our impact for farmed animals.

Position Location: Remote, in the UK. Candidates should be prepared to travel to London once a month for in-person team meet-ups. Please note that travel for these routine office visits is self-funded. Occasional travel to Animal Equality events may be required, with all associated expenses fully covered.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website.

Application deadline: 5.00pm on Friday, 11th September 2026.

The Membership & Community Coordinator is a new role, created to support the membership functions at Science for Animal Welfare (SciFAW) and the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA). 

Initially, the role holder will focus on delivering and growing SciFAW’s relaunched membership. They will play a central role in shaping the member experience, ensuring that our membership delivers genuine value and builds a thriving community. 

They will lead the day-to-day delivery of our membership offer across member, supporter and student pathways, creating engaging journeys that attract, retain and inspire people to connect with our work. From onboarding and renewals to member only events, communications and community engagement, they will be the person our members come to know. 

This role sits at the heart of the organisation rather than within a single team. They will work closely with colleagues across science, communications, income generation and operations. This role will work closely with the charities CRM and Office Manager who oversees the administration of memberships, our customer relationship management (CRM) software and data. They will also play an important role in gathering member insight and feeding it back into the ongoing development of our membership proposition. 

This is a highly autonomous and collaborative role. Reporting to the Head of Income Generation and working with colleagues across the organisation, you will translate membership strategy into action, taking ownership of implementation, continuous improvement, member engagement and retention. 

Our charities are small, and our work is often fast paced; as such we are looking for candidates who can work with limited supervision day-to-day and can work on multiple concurrent workstreams. 

Please note, you must have the right to work and reside in the UK to apply.

Key Responsibilities 

Membership 

• Implement and promote the new SciFAW membership offering to current, lapsed and prospective members, helping to grow and strengthen the membership community. 
• Develop the member, supporter and student membership journeys, ensuring a positive and seamless experience at every stage. 
• Manage the membership application approval process, including documenting Trustee decisions and administering confirmations and welcome communications. 
• Liaise with colleagues responsible for the membership operations and data to ensure the charities retain accurate records and use effective processes. 
• Administer and analyse the post-join questionnaire and use its insights on members' interests, affiliations and areas of work to inform future engagement, events and activities. 
• Lead a retention-focused approach across all membership, community, communications and event activities, ensuring members consistently experience value, connection and engagement throughout their relationship with SciFAW, while acting as their primary point of contact. 
• Analyse data and report on member acquisition, retention, trends and engagement. 
• Working with scientific staff, input into the development of the LINKS scheme, supporting its growth and strengthening its role as a membership activity. 

Events 

• Work with scientific colleagues to develop the charities’ programme of member-exclusive events. 
• Organise a programme of member-exclusive events throughout the year, aligned with plans agreed with the Head of Income Generation. 
• Co-ordinate the programme of member-only events alongside our annual conference, working with science staff and conference organisers to design, plan and deliver them. 
• Work with the wider team and external collaborators to develop events and engagement opportunities for students and early-career researchers, including careers-focused content at the annual conference. 
• Contribute to event planning to ensure events are engaging and responsive to member interests and feedback. 
• Work with administrative support colleagues to organise and deliver events, allowing you to focus on member engagement. 
• Provide occasional administrative support for corporate membership and sponsorship activities as required. 

Community and Communications 

• Act as the primary point of contact for members, providing a welcoming, responsive and professional experience. 
• Build strong relationships with members, ensuring they feel valued, connected and engaged with charities missions. 
• Craft the communications to members at each stage of their membership journey to optimise engagement and retention. 
• Produce a quarterly membership newsletter that showcases member stories, highlights opportunities and strengthens community connections. 
• Work with the Communications team to develop engaging membership marketing and retention materials across all SciFAW membership routes and for HSA individual members. 
• Collaborate with scientific staff to deliver member-only roundtables. 
• Collaborate with scientific staff to increase opportunities for members to engage effectively with the charity's grants, awards and scientific activities. 

Essential skills and experience required

• Experience coordinating a membership function, with hands-on delivery of member engagement, recruitment and retention activities and community building. 
• Proven ability to work independently and within scope, managing priorities and collaborating confidently with senior colleagues, scientists and external stakeholders. 
• Experience planning and delivering both online and in-person events. 
• Experience using CRM or membership databases for record management, reporting and analysis (both charities use Beacon CRM). 
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience producing audience-focused content such as newsletters, event communications and membership materials. 
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. 
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and priorities simultaneously. 
• Reliable and accurate in reporting progress, with a clear view of what's completed, what's outstanding and what's at risk 
• Strong presentation skills, confidence in communicating and presenting to external stakeholders and groups, including being comfortable making phone calls where necessary 
• A genuine commitment to animal welfare and enthusiasm for the mission and values of the charities. 

Click apply to download the full application pack before completing your application.