Chief Operating Officer (Maternity Cover)

Contract:       Full-time (37.5 hours per week) or part-time (30 hours per week). This will be a fixed-term contract of 12-14 month’s duration

Reports to:    CEO

Salary:            £60,000 - £70,000 FTE depending on experience

Work base:    Home-based/Remote within the UK or Ireland

Start Date:     January 1st 2025

 

About Veganuary 

Be part of a small, but dynamic organisation that makes headlines in January and throughout the year!  

  

Veganuary is an international non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try vegan in January and beyond. Veganuary’s popular cultural appeal, along with our positive and non-judgemental approach to veganism, is making a measurable difference for animals and the planet as well as improving people’s health. We proactively support people and businesses alike to explore the diverse world of plant-based foods and the benefits they bring. 

  

Millions of people – from nearly every country in the world - have taken part In Veganuary since our launch in 2014, and thousands of new vegan products and dishes have been added to shop shelves and restaurant menus worldwide. This is a very exciting time to join our international team of talented, valued and committed people who enjoy their ability to collaboratively contribute to this amazing cause.   

 

Role Description 

The Interim COO will lead on financial management; oversee individual giving and corporate fundraising and supervise the organisation’s operations across our international team.

 

Playing a pivotal part in the Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for ensuring that Veganuary’s day-to-day operations - including governance, administration, HR, finance, fundraising, legal and IT and data protection remain compliant, responsive, and efficient.

 

Core Responsibilities

As Interim Chief Operating Officer you will oversee Veganuary’s operations, financial strategy, individual giving and corporate fundraising and administration while providing management, leadership and vision to ensure the organisation meets its short-term and long-term objectives. Your responsibilities span the following different areas:

 

1. Strategy and management: Work directly with the Board of Trustees, CEO and Senior Leadership Team to develop the organisation’s principles and strategy as it grows. Act as a strategic thought partner to the CEO, with a focus on maximising Veganuary’s impact while ensuring growth targets are met and sufficient monitoring, assessment and evaluation strategies are implemented. Work with the CEO and Fundraising Manager to identify funding priorities and develop compelling cases for support in line with Veganuary’s 5-year plan. Line-manage, develop and empower a small team of full-time and part-time staff.

 

2. Fundraising: Oversee individual giving, corporate sponsorship and corporate donations including fundraising campaigns, events and project management. You will work closely with our Content Strategist who oversees individual giving and manage the Fundraising Manager. The CEO holds responsibility for major donors. Please still apply if you have no experience in this field, as responsibilities could be redirected to the CEO in this area if needed.

 

3. Operations, Administration and IT: Develop, direct and oversee all operational activities of the charity with a focus on designing systems and processes to enable growth. This includes leading on the implementation of processes, protocols and policies to help optimise the organisation’s day-to-day operations as well as overseeing our approach to data protection, health and safety and risk management. Oversee all aspects of office and admin management, including day-to-day office systems for security, maintenance and housekeeping as well as the management of IT systems and security through our outsourced IT provider.       

                                                                                  

4. Financial strategy and management: Oversee all aspects of finance at Veganuary and Veganuary Trading Limited, including leading the development and delivery of our financial strategy as well as overseeing our processes for financial planning, control and reporting  including our audited annual accounts and Trustees Report).

 

5. Human Resources and Team Culture: Develop and oversee an effective HR function to ensure there are appropriate HR processes and procedures in place. Implement effective measures in recruiting, developing, managing and supervising staff including staff wellbeing initiatives. Ensure effective and positive team communications, and lead the development and implementation of our people and DEI strategy. Lead a culture of continuous efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness while supporting and motivating staff to achieve organisational objectives. Ensure the organisation continues its positive, inclusive culture.

 

6. Governance and Compliance: Coordinate the production of Board and Subcommittee papers, ensure that governance processes are effective, and maintain a watching brief on governance and legal requirements. Participate in Board meetings and Finance and Remuneration subcommittee meetings when required and provide secretariat to the Board in conjunction with the Operations Manager. Set up, implement and manage policies, processes and procedures to ensure compliance with charity law and efficient operational outputs.

 

7. Legal: Oversee and support the organisation across a broad range of legal and compliance matters both in the UK and abroad and overseeing Veganuary’s Legal Counsel. Ensure that charity, company and employment laws are followed and all required reports and returns are filed in a timely manner.

 

Person Specification

An ideal candidate will have:

• Minimum of ten years’ working experience in operations, finance or business development with a minimum of five years’ relevant experience in a similar role with demonstrable management and strategic experience at a senior level

• Experience of working in fundraising, and managing fundraising teams
• In-depth experience and insights into the workings of different departments of a UK charity, including finance, operations, governance, charity law and human resources

• Proven experience in scaling up operations in a business or charity comparable to Veganuary’s current size

• Share Veganuary’s vision, mission and values and have a thorough understanding of the plant based movement and environment Veganuary operates within
• Excellent leadership and organisational skills
• A strategic and proactive approach to solving problems
• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, financial analysis and data analysis
• Proven experience in strategic planning and impact analysis
• A strong desire to build efficient structures and processes that limit bureaucracy and drive growth
• Commitment to Veganuary’s values (see below)

 

Our Vision

Our vision is simple; we want a vegan world. A world without animal farms and slaughterhouses. A world where food production does not decimate forests, pollute rivers and oceans, exacerbate climate change, and drive wild animal populations to extinction.

 

Our Values

Impact: we are committed to a vegan world; we will utilise research to evaluate how the highest number of lives can be spared and direct resources to that end.

 

Empowerment: we will optimise our outreach to support and encourage people on their vegan journey in a non-judgemental, positive, constructive and easily accessible way.

 

Collaboration: by partnering with other mission-driven organisations and working closely with corporates, we will make a bigger difference.

 

Diversity and inclusion: we know that it takes people with different ideas, strengths, interests and backgrounds to achieve our vision; we appreciate the value of this and how it brings us closer to achieving our mission.

 

Respect and integrity: in all internal and external relationships, we will strive for genuine, honest, and transparent communication.

 

Resilience: we will continue to create a professional and sustainable (human, social, economic and environmental) organisation.

 

Application Process

If you’d like to be part of our amazing team and organisation, please tell us why in the form of a cover letter of no more than 1000 words that answers the following:

• Why do you want to work for Veganuary?
• What this role particularly?
• What will you bring to our charity?

 

This job advert will close at 8am on Tuesday 3rd September 2024. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the vacancy early. Therefore, early application is advised.

 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are high on the agenda for Veganuary. We recognise that certain groups in our industry are under-represented and are working hard to combat the lack of representation.

 

Therefore, reasonable adjustments can be made to allow any who require additional assistance to apply for this role. Please email our friendly HR team if you require such assistance.

 

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of their ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marriage and civil partnership status, or age.

 

Recruitment Process

Our recruitment process normally takes around 3 weeks and usually consists of 4 stages as follows:

 

1. A job specific pre interview task

We’re lucky enough to receive many amazing applications for our roles and it’s sometimes difficult to select a small number of people to interview. By having a pre interview task, it allows us to learn more about our shortlisted candidates than a CV and cover letter can tell us.

 

2. A first interview with the Hiring Manager and one other team member

This is always competency based and job aligned so there isn’t anything for you to prepare.

 

3. A Timed trial task

You will be given a job specific task to be completed with a short window of time at a time agreed with our HR team

 

4. A follow up second interview with the Hiring Manager and one other team member

This final stage is normally with more senior team members and allows them to ask any follow up questions or explore areas that they have reflected on since the first interview. There isn’t anything to prepare.

 

If you have any questions on this role, please do contact the HR team. We look forward to receiving your application.

 

Thank you for your interest in Veganuary!

 

Veganuary is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating an inclusive work culture that reflects and celebrates our diverse world. We therefore welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of their ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marriage and civil partnership status, or age. We recognise our duty as an employer to foster an environment that embraces diversity and are constantly reviewing our practices to become even more inclusive as an organisation. We also recognise that certain groups in our industry are under-represented – we welcome applications from all who meet the role’s requirements and are making efforts to attract a diverse pool of candidates to combat the lack of representation. 

 

A copy of our recruitment privacy notice can be found here: Veganuary Recruitment Privacy Notice.pdf