As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring equal opportunity, we request that our diversity monitoring form is completed before we consider your application: https://forms.office.com/e/K7B3PPdPyP. Please reach out if you have any questions about this.

External Responsibilities

•  Act as a key representative of the Runnymede Trust in policy debates and public consciousness, acting as the lead public face and media spokesperson and setting the tone for Runnymede’s external communication and voice.

• Offer thought leadership on racial justice.

• Ensure that lived experience is at the heart of our research and policy advocacy and our approach to collaboration, co-production and convening remains central to our work.

• Provide strategic oversight and development of multiple income streams, directly leading fundraising activity and holding core funding relationships with partners.

• Build and maintain impactful relationships and partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, from community groups and activists to politicians, academics and business leaders.

 Internal Responsibilities

• Work with the Board and the senior leadership team to ensure Runnymede has a well-researched, evidence-based strategic vision and plan that enables us to remain innovative, relevant and impactful.

• Lead a passionate, knowledgeable and diverse team, ensuring staff and the communities we work with are aligned with and enthusiastic about our vision, strategy and impact.

• Directly line-manage and mentor the senior management team, ensuring they are aligned in the delivery of strategic objectives.

• Play a key role in setting a supportive and collaborative culture of inclusion and participation throughout the team, ensuring everyone’s contribution is valued and that we remain representative of the communities we work with and represent.

• Oversee the research direction and overall research and policy output of the organisation, ensuring our research portfolio remains relevant and responsive.

• Alongside the Board and senior leadership team, hold responsibility for Runnymede’s financial health and organisational sustainability.

• Ensure that Runnymede is compliant with charity governance and legislation and is effectively managing risk, particularly in respect of any campaigning activities.

Essential Experience, Abilities & Characteristics

• Significant experience within the third sector at senior leadership level or equivalent.

• Experience of developing and executing strategic plans at organisational or major programme level, with a track record of strong delivery, reporting and impact evaluation.

• A clear understanding of social justice organisations and their role in creating positive change in society.

• A comprehensive and robust understanding of research and evidence-based policy advocacy and influencing.

• Strong understanding of systemic racism and the race equity agenda with a demonstrable personal commitment to our mission.

• Significant people leadership experience grounded in collaboration, participation and care, with the ability to create the conditions for colleagues to excel and develop to their full potential.

• A demonstrable track record of placing anti-racist practice and lived experience at the heart of an organisation, and an appreciation for what this means for Runnymede, our people, and our programmes.

• Extensive experience of generating income and developing impactful fundraising and partnership relationships.

• A natural ability to cross institutional boundaries, with excellent stakeholder skills across audiences from community volunteers to high-level politicians.

• High levels of emotional intelligence with excellent relationship building skills, both internally and externally.

• Confident public speaking skills, with an ability to comfortably present to multiple audiences as a key spokesperson for the Runnymede Trust.

• Personal resilience with the ability to thrive under challenge and ambiguity and inspire those around to do so.

Valuable Experience, Abilities & Characteristics

• An equalities/social justice background and experience within a charity, voluntary or think-tank organisation.

• Experience of building an organisation’s profile, working with the media as a compelling spokesperson.

• Experience of working positively with a voluntary Board of Trustees.

• An extensive professional network of people at the highest level of government, politics, business, academia and the media.

• Strong understanding of charity finance, governance and the regulatory environment.

• Demonstrable expertise in one or more of Runnymede’s key thematic research areas.

• Strong academic credentials.

• Experience in strategic communications.