Personal Assistant to the Chair
Closing Date: 25th April
Interviews: 9th and 14th May
Contract: 14 hours per week (flexible hours spread across 4-5 days to be discussed at interview)
Application Process: Please ensure you apply with your most updated CV and a supporting statement on why you believe you would be the most suitable individual for this position.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Personal Assistant to the Chair of the Board. Reporting to the Governance Manager & Deputy Secretary, you will be part of the Finance and Assurance directorate.
In this role, you will be responsible for providing personal assistance to the Chair, including the coordination of a confidential calendar, managing requests for attendance, travel arrangements, meeting and event coordination, and ensuring the effective use of the Chair’s time. A high level of confidentiality and discretion will be essential in all aspects of your work. While the primary focus will be supporting the Chair, there may be occasional personal assistant support required for other Trustees.
You will bring extensive experience as a Personal Assistant, particularly in supporting senior staff and working within a large organisation. Experience working with C-Suite executives or Non-Executive Directors/Trustees is essential, along with an understanding of their priorities and the demands of their roles.
You will work closely with the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive, who manages the Chief Executive’s schedule and personal arrangements, and with our Governance Admin Co-ordinator, who books travel and accommodation for board and committee meetings. Together, you will ensure the Chair has a well-organised calendar and is fully briefed in advance of key events.
The role is home-based, though you will be required to attend meetings in person, so a current UK passport and residence in the UK are essential.
The Society is dedicated to improving the lives of those living with dementia and, as a learning organisation, has individuals living with dementia among its board and committee members. We are committed to upholding our values and are looking for someone with a positive attitude, who is passionate about good governance and making a meaningful difference to those living with dementia.
About You
- Experience in supporting C-Suite directors: Demonstrable experience providing high-level administrative support to senior executives, effectively managing their needs and priorities.
- Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities seamlessly.
- Complex diary management with the proven ability to manage intricate and demanding diaries, coordinating meetings, travel, and events efficiently.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Meticulous in managing itineraries and all related logistics, ensuring everything is in order.
- Collaborative and flexible, always ready to support colleagues and contribute to team success.
Person Specification
- Proactive and able to take initiative, with a strong ability to work independently while also thriving in a team environment.
- Tact and diplomacy - Diplomatic and professional, with the ability to navigate sensitive situations with care and discretion.
- in managing complex workloads, consistently delivering quality results within tight deadlines.
- Anticipates needs and plans ahead to ensure smooth operations and the successful delivery of tasks.
About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the biggest health and social challenge of our time.
There are currently estimated to be 900,000 people in the UK with dementia. Many are undiagnosed and facing the realities of their condition alone.
At Alzheimer’s Society we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today and providing hope for the future. We’re here for everyone living with dementia.
As a Society, we are made up of people with dementia, carers, trusted experts, campaigners, researchers and clinicians. We are the UK’s largest collective force of people with unparalleled knowledge and over 40 years of experience addressing the biggest challenges facing people living with dementia.
Our Values
We are Determined to make a difference when and where it matters most, by being passionate, focussed and making a lasting impact for people affected by dementia.
Every one of us is a Trusted expert, listening, learning and using evidence and experience. We are Better together by being open, combining our strengths, helping us to achieve more together. We are Compassionate, we are kind and honest, and we don’t shy away from challenges.
Through our values we will make the greatest difference for people affected by dementia.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About Free to Run
Free to Run’s mission is to advance gender equity globally through running. We are a registered nonprofit/nongovernmental organization that has been operating community-led programs for adolescent girls and young women since 2014. We are known for delivering long-term, youth-led, progressive running, leadership, rights, and health programs directly to girls and young women living in protracted conflict zones. However, the longer-term impact of our work is building enduring social change - decreasing barriers to public participation, increasing women in leadership, and making power structures more equitable and inclusive. Free to Run identifies as an organization working at the intersections of feminism, human rights, development, and humanitarian interventions.
The organization is in a position of significant growth, in terms of our strategy, reach, impact, and operating budget. In 2024, we embarked on a new three-year strategic plan that positions us to reach 50,000 people by 2026. We will meet this goal through our work across three strategic pillars: direct service (EMPOWER), capacity building for local, women-led NGOs (EQUIP), and building a global movement of activists who are passionate about gender equity and running (MOVE).
Position Overview
A new role within the organization, the Philanthropy Officer, Trusts and Foundations is responsible for identifying, building, and managing a (new) portfolio of trust, foundation, and grant funders from identification to stewardship, developing high-quality proposals, budgets, and reports. Alongside ownership of this portfolio, the Philanthropy Officer, Trusts and Foundations will support the broader Free to Run team with prospect research and assist with applications and reports for institutional/transformational funders.
This position offers a high degree of flexibility and would suit a proactive self-starter with a strong ability to self-manage to achieve goals and a demonstrated passion for the work of Free to Run. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced trusts and foundations fundraiser to build and grow a new, high-potential portfolio from the ground up, with strong support from program and leadership teams.
While some support for larger institutional grants is part of the role, we are particularly seeking applicants with experience managing and growing portfolios of charitable trusts, private foundations, or family foundations, rather than institutional grant management alone.
This role reports to the Director of Development and Communications and is a part-time (20 hours per week), fully remote position. While Free to Run is registered in the U.S., our team is based around the world.
Core Accountabilities
1. Create and manage a portfolio of trust and foundation donors at the four- to five-figure level (60%)
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Take primary responsibility for developing, growing, and building strong relationships with a portfolio of trust/foundation/grant funders through the full donor cycle.
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Take an active role in meeting and exceeding annual income targets by developing strategies to maximize foundation and grant funding, regularly assessing progress, and reporting to senior management.
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Develop a formal pipeline of foundation funding opportunities for Free to Run
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Develop compelling, high-quality funding applications tailored to donor requirements, leveraging program data and impact narratives.
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Work with the Programs team to oversee budget tracking and reporting requirements for grants, ensuring accurate fund allocation, compliance with donor requirements, and timely submission of financial and impact reports.
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Collaborate with the global Free to Run team to identify and develop new funding opportunities and projects
2. Support the process of donor qualification and prospect research (15%)
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Use research tools to support the ED and Development Team with in-depth prospect research profiles for individual major donor prospects, family foundations, and other prospective funders
3. Provide support to the Free to Run team with institutional grant applications (20%)
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Monitor grant tracking tools to identify and qualify new opportunities for institutional or transformational grants
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Keep up to date with the funder landscape and giving trends across multiple geographies
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Support the ED and Programs with the development of grant applications, project budgets, or other related materials where needed
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Work with internal stakeholders to lead organizational grant tracking within the donor database (EveryAction), ensuring accurate documentation of all interactions, proposals, and gifts.
4. Engage with the Free to Run Team (5%)
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Participate in weekly 1 on 1 meetings with manager
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Participate in performance planning, goal setting, and evaluation activities
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Liaise with key staff across functions of this position
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Attend team meetings and participate in strategic planning and evaluation meetings
Location
- This is a fully remote position that can be carried out from anywhere in the world. Travel may be required occasionally to attend fundraising events or organizational/donor meetings.
- For candidates outside the U.S., this role will be offered as an independent contractor position, allowing for flexible working hours and location.
Working Hours
- This position is a part-time role at 20 hours/week. The role offers a high degree of flexibility, although working hours may occasionally fluctuate outside regular core hours to attend meetings across time zones.
Compensation
- The full-time equivalent (FTE) salary for this role is $45,000–$50,000 USD per year (approximately £35,500–£39,500 GBP based on current exchange rates). The actual salary will be pro rata based on 50% FTE, i.e., $22,500–$25,000 per year, and will be paid in USD.
Experience and Competencies
Below is what we are looking for as we evaluate applications. Candidates don’t need to have all these experiences and competencies but should be able to display strengths across multiple areas.
Language:
- English (full fluency required, written and spoken)
Experience
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3+ years of experience successfully managing a portfolio of charitable trusts, private or family foundations, or similar funders, with a proven track record of securing and stewarding gifts in the $5,000–$100,000 range
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Direct experience crafting tailored funding applications, budgets, and impact reports for US, UK, or international philanthropic funders, in collaboration with Programs teams
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Confidence in independently managing the full donor lifecycle — from prospecting and cultivation to application, reporting, and stewardship
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A demonstrable track record of developing long-term relationships with grantmakers or major donors
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Experience in prospect identification and research using relevant tools and databases
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Familiarity with the funding and donor landscape in the UK, EU, North America, and/or MENA region
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Experience using a CRM system for fundraising (EveryAction or similar) to manage donor records, track proposals, and support donor stewardship
Skills and Competencies
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Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to write compelling and persuasive cases for support
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Ability to effectively convey the impact of social justice, gender equity, and the power of running, hiking, and outdoor sport in driving positive change
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Ability to think creatively and spot opportunities for new or increased funding
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A results-oriented mindset with the ability to self-organize, meet deadlines, and deliver on goals
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Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, gender, and generational backgrounds
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Interest in international girls’, women’s, and human rights or running/outdoor sports
Free to Run is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We don’t just accept differences — we celebrate, support and thrive on them for the benefit of our team, our programs, and our organizational strength. We are proud to be an affirmative action employer, committed to diversity, equity and inclusion of ALL people in our hiring and employment practices. We encourage applications from people who have non-dominant identities based on race, ethnicity, migration status, ability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, etc.
Free to Run's mission is to advance gender equity globally through running.

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