Chief Operating Officer

The Churchill Fellowship is a unique community of changemakers, united by a mission to learn from the world and transform lives across the UK. Since 1965, we have awarded over 6,000 Fellowships to individuals tackling society s most pressing challenges, from protecting the environment to preventing domestic abuse, from increasing youth employment to enriching urban spaces. Each year, we award around 100 new Fellowships to individuals who bring their lived or learned experience to issues they care passionately about. We support them to travel overseas, discover new solutions, and bring that learning back to benefit communities across the UK. Collectively, they create impact that reaches across sectors, generations and regions.

As we celebrate our 60th anniversary and look ahead to the next chapter of our work, we are seeking a talented and values-driven Chief Operating Officer to help shape and strengthen our organisation for the future.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team, the COO will provide strategic and operational leadership across finance, governance, compliance, risk, digital infrastructure, facilities and data management. You will ensure our systems are robust, future-focused and aligned with our mission, enabling us to deliver with confidence and ambition. You will also lead the organisation s approach to sustainability, embedding practical systems and policies to reduce our environmental impact.

We are looking for an experienced leader who combines strong financial acumen with broad expertise in governance, risk and compliance. You will be able to translate strategy into effective systems and processes, while also driving digital innovation and operational improvements. Just as importantly, you will bring a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to develop a positive culture and inspire high performance across your teams. Strong influencing, communication and relationship-building skills will be essential, alongside a passion for our mission and values.

At the Churchill Fellowship, we are guided by the values of inclusivity, investment in people, appreciation, collaboration and creativity. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our mission to support individuals dedicated to transforming society.