Blog | Made In Hackney

We are hiring!

Posted Thursday 26th September 2024...

We are hiring an Executive Director! Join our amazing team. Made In Hackney (MIH) opened its doors in 2012 as the UK’s first fully vegan community cookery school. Today, we are a thriving charity that exists to empower community resilience through the power of plants. Bringing communities together, providing diverse culinary education, inspiration and the support networks needed to ensure no one is left behind in the transition to a plant-centred, planet friendly diet.

The impact of our work is varied, far reaching and very real, having already changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives for the better. Now, following a period of significant growth and as our Founder, Sarah Bentley, steps down into an ambassadorial role for the Charity, we are seeking an inspiring, inclusive and dynamic leader to take MIH into the next exciting phase of our journey; one who shares our values and is committed to making a real difference in continuing to grow the organisation and its impact.

Our new ED will seize the opportunity to build on strong foundations and work with a passionate and ambitious team in helping achieve our mission, whilst embracing MIH’s progressive, collaborative and inclusive culture.

MIH is humbled to collaborate with hundreds of partners from community chefs and grassroots collectives to charities, public health bodies and global brands. We are looking for a leader who is energised to get out and promote MIH far and wide, attracting the fundraisers and supporters who can join us on our journey and help us to grow our impact.

Are you excited by the challenge and the opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact in the world around you?

Are you ready for the responsibility and reward of a broad-reaching leadership role working with a passionate and committed team?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

Download the full job description and person specification

Role Description:

Leadership & Vision

Provide inspirational leadership, galvanising support for a compelling strategic direction, agreeing clear milestones for delivery and ensuring consistent measurement and evaluation of our impact
Work with the Board of Trustees to ensure organisational structure and accountabilities are aligned with strategic and operational requirements. Ensuring MIH’s ethos, vision and values drive and underpin all decision making
Act as a passionate advocate for plant-centred eating and living, environmental sustainability, health, food justice and community cohesion
Be a positive role model for colleagues, volunteers and beneficiaries, actively promoting a representative, inclusive and forward-looking approach

Strategy & Organisational Development

Provide strategic leadership with the support of the Trustees, taking responsibility for the implementation and delivery of a 5-year strategic plan, identifying and implementing best practices from across the sector
Build on our current position of strength to expand MIH’s reach, impact and profile.
Identify, assess, and communicate strategic risks, issues and opportunities to the Board and take responsibility for initiating and leading associated changes

Fundraising, Business Development & Partnerships

Responsible for strategic oversight of fundraising at MIH, providing support and guidance to the Head of Fundraising and Community Partnerships Manager to build a sustainable portfolio of individual, corporate and grants trusts and donations, as well as owned income streams, to ensure long-term sustainable funding of activities.
Develop income generating strategies and set, agree and track against clear targets with the Board
Generate fundraising leads and cultivate fundraising opportunities with high-value donors
Actively build MIH’s profile whilst maintaining and cultivating strategic relationships with supporters, donors, businesses and corporate bodies aligned with MIH’s values and mission
Proactively seek out entrepreneurial opportunities to capitalise on the rise of veganism and growth of the plant-based food market; developing an innovative strategy to ensure MIH becomes a leading voice within the plant-based food sector

Financial and Governance

Accountable to the MIH Board of Trustees for the overall financial health of the charity, you will ensure that the charity’s financial resources are managed effectively, risks identified proactively and mitigating actions taken appropriately.
To support the Trustees in all areas of their governance and legal responsibilities in line with Charity Commission requirements and other relevant regulatory bodies.

People and Culture

Develop, align and empower the team to communicate and excel together as a cohesive unit and within their individual roles
Support the Director of Operations to fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion ensuring it’s embedded into all aspects of the charity’s work,
Continue and further develop MIH’s culture as a progressive employer.

Person Specification:

Will have experience of and be able to evidence:

Leadership or senior position in a medium to large size charity or organisation with charitable objectives, working with a Board of Trustees or Directors
Leading through a period of change
Developing and implementing organisational strategy
Storytelling ability – being able to articulate a vision to engage others and galvanise support behind it
Successful bid writing and securing high-value tenders and contracts
Securing funding in the region of £500K plus a year and developing and maintaining high net worth partnerships
Working with, recruiting, supporting and maintaining a diverse, inclusive workforce with proactive approaches to inclusion, anti-racism and allyship
Alignment with the plant centred ethos
The development and selling of services, products or a business proposition (desirable)

Will have the following qualities and competencies:

Exemplary communication and people skills, including active, empathetic listening and the ability to derive insights that may lead to opportunities
Equally comfortable presenting to a group of community members or a 500 company boardroom with the same level of conviction, warmth and attention
A nimble, agile and dynamic approach to work

Salary & Benefits:

The salary is £50k - 52k pa. The role is full-time (35 hours per week). Requests for 0.8 will be considered and MIH offers flexibility around working arrangements and location.

MIH also offers a 4% employer pension contribution and an Employee Assistance Programme including access to physiotherapy, counselling and a virtual GP.

How to Apply:

If you don’t meet all the requirements but are passionate about the role, we would love to hear from you.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 9am 23rd October 2024

Please send your application to: georgia@madeinhackney.org

Your application should comprise:

1. CV outlining your career history and relevant experience for the role and;

2. a cover letter telling us: