About us
Oxfam GB is a member of an international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities across more than 90 countries.
These organisations act together as partners with these communities, to fight inequality and poverty through tackling extreme vulnerability in crises, calling for climate justice and valuing all women's work.
Oxfam believes that when people come together, they can create real change. Whether it’s through signing a petition, volunteering in one of their shops, or donating what they can, when we act together, we can create a more equal world in which there is no them, just us.
Open for business since 1948, Oxfam shops raise vital funds to support Oxfam’s work with partner organisations. Over 20,000 volunteers work in over 500 shops at the heart of their communities to raise as much money as possible to support our work on poverty and inequality.
Oxfam GB is on a transformative journey, and they are now seeking an exceptional leader to join them as their Chief Operating Officer (COO). This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of the UK’s most respected and mission-driven organisations.
The Role
As COO, you will report directly to the Chief Executive and will be a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT). This role is about far more than operational management. It is about ensuring Oxfam GB remains a force for good in an increasingly complex world while seizing opportunities to grow and diversify revenue streams that support their mission.
The successful candidate will be a transformative, forward-thinking leader, tasked with ensuring that Oxfam GB’s operations are not only efficient and aligned with their strategic goals, but also innovative and agile. A key focus of this role will be developing and expanding commercial revenue streams, particularly through ethical and sustainable trading initiatives.
Your ability to balance commercial acumen with the organisation’s core values of equality, integrity, and ethics will be essential.
You will also lead on Oxfam’s commitment to shift power and decolonise, fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and global operational structure. This means embedding feminist values throughout the organisation and ensuring that operational plans are effectively translated into action, aligning with Oxfam’s wider goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Work closely with the CEO, SLT, and the Board of Trustees, to implement Oxfam GB’s strategic objectives, focusing on achieving long-term sustainability and impact.
- Revenue Growth and Innovation: Drive the diversification of revenue streams, including expanding digital initiatives and sustainable trading opportunities. You will identify and leverage commercial opportunities to ensure Oxfam maximises its income while maintaining the highest ethical standards.
- Operational Excellence: Lead the design and implementation of agile, effective organisational structures that empower teams and enhance Oxfam’s operational impact within a global confederation model.
- Ethical Leadership: Oversee critical areas including Operational Effectiveness, Equalities, Integrity & Ethics, and Property & Facilities, ensuring that all aspects of Oxfam’s operations reflect their mission-driven approach.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Represent Oxfam GB at the highest levels of leadership, influencing and engaging with key stakeholders including Board members, trustees, and international partners.
About you
We are looking for an inspiring and visionary leader with a proven track record of driving complex organisational transformations, particularly in mission-led environments. Your expertise in fostering business growth, combined with a deep understanding of ethical leadership, will enable you to lead Oxfam GB into its next phase of development.
Key skills and experiences Oxfam are looking for include:
- A successful track record of leading large-scale transformations and aligning operations with strategic goals.
- Proven ability to develop and diversify revenue streams, including a strong understanding of digital opportunities and sustainable business models.
- Exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to inspire teams, manage large-scale projects, and influence at board and trustee levels.
- A deep commitment to social justice, equity, and ethical leadership, with experience working in or alongside international organisations.
- Experience of working in international / global organisations with matrix management.
- Experience of complex transformation, taking entities from GB to international platforms.
- Strong experience of designing and implementing strategy at an organisational level (preferably global organisational level).
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills and excellent grasp of financial reporting to support planning across teams, country and international platforms.
- Strong understanding of organisational processes, operational efficiency and operating models.
- Proficiency in digital technologies and demonstrable experience of driving business growth through digital initiatives.
- Demonstrable experience of leading and inspiring high performing teams.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
If you are a strategic leader with a passion for social justice and the expertise to drive Oxfam’s operational excellence, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. This is not just a job, but a chance to be part of a global movement committed to making the world a fairer and more just place.
What we offer
We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits.
From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more.
You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.
Flexfam
We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you.
Our Values and commitment to safeguarding
Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our Code of Conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
A thriving and diverse Oxfam
It is people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity, and inclusion across our community of staff, partners, and volunteers. Together, we are committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.
To do that:
- We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this includes Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
- We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
- We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.
How to apply
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
As part of your online application, please email your up-to-date CV to our recruitment partner at Strategic Dimensions; [email protected]
We want to ensure that you are comfortable and can demonstrate you full potential for this role, across all stages of the recruitment process. If you would like to talk to us about the role or feel there are adjustments that would help you succeed in the process, we would encourage you to get in touch for an informal chat.
Closing date for applications is 4th October 2024.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.