Director

About Planet Patrol

Our vision is a world where all beings can enjoy our waterways, free from pollution. We are a global community dedicated to placing people-powered environmental data at the heart of decision-making. Through our unique anywhere, anytime, anybody approach to citizen science, we gather critical evidence of water and litter pollution to drive solutions that protect both environmental and human health. Our data and citizen science methods have been featured in academic journals (Stanton, et al., 2022) and media investigations (Channel 4 and ITV), enhancing public and scientific knowledge of litter pollution.

About the role

As Director, you will oversee daily operations, including forecasting and budgeting for the entire organisation (currently c£300K per annum). As such, you will lead on developing a sustainable funding stream for our mission-driven work, ensuring we maintain a 6-month runway at all times. You will build and maintain strong external relationships to help grow and develop the organisation. The Director will provide leadership to a small, remote team (4 x PAYE) and create a happy, sustainable and productive work environment. Most importantly, the Director will ensure objectives are being met - both personal and organisational - to deliver impactful, positive change for our waterways in the UK, and abroad.

About you

The successful candidate will be a strong leader who excels at strategic thinking, with the natural ability to analyse situations and relationships to maximise impact and return on investment. They will have experience in line management, fundraising and financial management. We are seeking candidates who have experience in senior management in a non-profit setting, ideally within the environmental sector but not essential. Critically, you must thrive in a start-up environment and have a can-do attitude to problem solving. You ll be one of only a handful of employees and a team of excellent freelancers, so being a team player is a must! This is a great opportunity to really shape the organisation and our impact, so if you like having agency and being innovative, Planet Patrol would be a great fit.

Your top qualities as a leader

• Ambitious
• Collaborative
• Agile
• Resilient
• Resourceful

Key Responsibilities

Funding Development + Stakeholder Relationships (40%):

• Significant responsibility for successful contractual negotiations and maintaining a healthy new funding pipeline. Secure six-to-seven figure funding opportunities to provide a sustainable revenue stream for 3+ years.
• Strategic understanding and experience of competitive and fast changing charitable financial landscape.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with funders and other voluntary sector organisations.
• Ensure we are suitably represented at appropriate meetings, events, conferences, management groups etc. and that issues that impact our work are raised appropriately.

Operational Leadership including Compliance + Budgetary Control (30%):

• Effective leadership driving business operations and strategic targets. Inspire teams to deliver high-quality programmes and foster a culture of creativity and innovation.
• Draw up and monitor budgets, with support from the Founder and Team Leaders, and ensure effective management and use of all resources. Ensure maximum operational efficiency and maintain a six-month runway at all times.
• Work collaboratively with the Founder and Team Leaders to build annual Business Plans and long term strategies for the organisation.
• Ensure compliance across product / project delivery, finance, human resources, IT, legal, health and safety, customer services and facilities management. Ensure that all data is collated and managed in line with data protection requirements.
• Maintain and develop effective human resource systems for the recruitment, management, support, training, and appraisal of staff and volunteers. Ensure systems are in place to monitor and evaluate the work.

Team + Performance Management (30%):

• Build high-performing, committed teams. This includes line managing, coaching, and supporting team members to create a positive, productive work environment.
• Oversee the team to deliver comprehensive planning and reporting.
• Set benchmarks, monitor performance, and develop a culture of continuous improvement.
• Proactively manage the performance of Team Leaders by carrying out inductions, regular accountability meetings, supervisions, and probation reviews, while also setting clear work and development objectives.

Person Specification

If you think you could do the role but do not meet all of the specification points below, we would still like to hear from you.

Essential Experience and Ability

• Senior management experience working within a small charity or Community Interest Company (CIC).
• Track record of driving operational excellence, including organisational finances and resources.
• Experience of line management, team development and performance management.
• Experience of securing sustainable and diverse revenue streams; including multi-year, strategic deals worth six-and-seven figures.
• Proactive approach to risk management and maintaining compliance.
• Experience in a strategic role, including developing organisational strategy and/or developing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to effectively prioritise, manage and oversee programmes of work across the organisation and lead through change.
• Ability to work under own initiative, delegate where appropriate, prioritise work and meet strict deadlines.
• Good general IT skills and appreciation of new platforms that can increase efficiency and effectiveness (Slack, Trello, Canva, Dext, Xero, HubSpot, SenseHR).
• Broad understanding of GDPR and other essential legislation and organisational policies, including use of AI.
• Passionate about the environment and the importance of citizen science.
• A commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
• Legal right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship.

What we offer

Planet Patrol values collaboration, innovation, and agility. That s why we re proud to be a 4-day week employer. We offer a flexible, remote working environment, paired with regular opportunities to connect as a team. We re a vibrant, mission-driven non-profit that supports professional growth, alongside wellbeing. We offer a generous annual leave package, your birthdays off and encourage you to get out into nature whenever possible.

Application details

If you believe in the work we re doing and think you could add something to it then we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV, LinkedIn profile and answers to the four questions listed. We are unable to process applications which are not complete.

Applications close midnight Sunday 23 November.

First stage interviews will be held virtually on Wednesday 26 November.

Second stage interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 3 December.