Chief Operating Officer

Change the world with us, one conversation at a time. We're recruiting for a Chief Operating Officer to join our education charity and social enterprise.

We’re a unique institution with a fascinating history, a beautiful location, and a critical mission: to grow the next generation of ethical youth leaders. As well as delivering our own educational programme, we are a social enterprise running a thriving commercial conference business in a former royal residence in Windsor Great Park.

As COO, you will be a key leader in the Executive and Senior Management Teams overseeing our finance, hospitality, infrastructure, marketing, and HR functions. At a time of growing populism and polarisation, it is imperative that our activities are expertly managed as we focus on increasing the impact of our programme work ahead of our 80th anniversary.

By its very nature the COO role is wide ranging and can vary, however the COO’s core responsibilities are:

• Support the CEO in enhancing and delivering the strategy, managing risk and ensuring that we remain sustainable and competitive as we deliver our charitable mission.
• Provide strategic financial oversight preparing budgets and periodic forecasts and analysis, and monitoring KPIs. This will include monitoring results against budget and working with non-financial managers to understand and act on variances.
• Working with the team to ensure the income generating activities of the Lodge are performing as required.
• Providing insightful reporting to the trustees on financial / non-financial performance (including budgets and KPIs) and risk.
• Provide operational oversight for the Lodge’s key activities and events, working with the CEO and key teams to deliver them.
• Supported by external advisors where appropriate, ensure regulatory compliance in key areas (Charity Commission and company secretarial; financial (including external reporting obligations and tax (we are registered for VAT and have partially exempt status); Health & Safety; Food Safety; Data Protection; etc).
• Review monthly payroll (outsourced), ensuring efficient and compliant payroll management.
• Monitor investment performance (managed funds with CCLA).
• Lead the operation of an efficient, sustainable and ethical organisation, which includes monitoring the organisation’s suppliers and supply chain, reviewing periodically for value, risk, ethics and independence. This may include tendering for larger projects.
• Supported by the HR Officer, oversee recruitment, development, training and retention of a suitable and competent workforce. To include appraisal, pay review, staff development and volunteer management.
• Oversee Information and Communications Technology needs for the staff and guests, including ensuring data is secure, services represent best value, and that the Lodge remains abreast of current best practice, including provision of AV equipment and facilities for virtual/ hybrid events.
• Oversee processes and data use around the organisation, maximising efficiency, data security and communication, minimising duplication and maintaining compliant and efficient data storage
• Maintain an agreed Business Continuity Plan (Disaster Recovery), the Risk Register and Duty Officer rota, including acting as Duty Officer as required.
• Supported by the Buildings Manager, ensure that the Lodge and other buildings and areas entrusted to the organisation by the Crown Estate are well maintained.
• Supported by the Buildings Manager and HR and Operations, co-ordinate the Charity’s Sustainability project
• Manage staff tenancies and rental agreements.
• Oversee the management of our archive and library.
• Manage external relationships with key advisors – including bank, auditors, lawyers, insurance, and investment managers.
• Perform such other duties as will from time to time be reasonably required by the Chief Executive Officer or the Trustees.

Person specification

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following key skills and attributes:

1. ACA qualified, commercially minded accountant with experience in leading the finance operation of an organisation of a similar or larger size (income under £5 million, 60-80 permanent and regular casual staff).
2. Able to support the Chief Executive in strategy development; proven ability to translate a strategy into a workable plan and ensure its delivery.
3. Highly organised, adaptable and effective manager, able to manage a team with a complex and varied workload and a willingness to play a hands-on role as required.
4. Excellent communicator, able to vary tone and style for different audiences and produce clear, concise, and relevant reports.
5. Track record of building effective relationships across wide ranging institutions.
6. Resourceful, resilient, and adaptable.
7. Able to assess IT needs and efficiency, and lead IT development across the organisation, including in our event delivery.
8. Ability to develop efficient systems and processes, particularly across different areas of the organisation.
9. Strategic level HR skills, including the ability to contribute positively to staff development and retention, as well as manage any performance issues.
10. Knowledgeable and passionate about the theory and practice of ethical thought leadership and social progress.
11. Commitment to the values and ethos of Cumberland Lodge, including its overall model.
12. Warm and egalitarian-minded person who will connect with and respect colleagues at all levels.
13. Commitment to actively promote EDI and create an inclusive culture for staff and participants.
14. Ability to work onsite full time at Cumberland Lodge.
15. Ability to work flexibly, including evening and weekend work, where required.

Additional knowledge/experience that would be beneficial:

• Experience of working in a hospitality venue or heritage building, or an educational establishment.
• Experience of charity finance, in a work or voluntary setting, ideally including understanding of charity (partially exempt) VAT.
• Project management qualifications / experience.
• Empathy with, and an interest in, the charity’s work is a pre-requisite.

Terms of appointment

Due to the residential and 24/7 nature of the organisation, this role will require some evening and weekend working, and some overnight residency.

Location: Based at Cumberland Lodge. You will need access to a vehicle, as Cumberland Lodge is located remotely in Windsor Great Park without easy access by public transport.

Pension: Standard Life contributory pension (currently 10% organisational contributions to support 5% personal contributions, with the option to increase personal contributions above 5%).

Additional benefits: 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, lunch provided, annualised hours contract, and health insurance and death in service benefit after successful completion of a probation period.