Interim Head of Governance (0816) At Oxfam GB

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

Are you an experienced Governance Professional wanting to make a positive social impact on the world?

Do you want to join a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty?

We are looking for an Interim Head of Governance who will embody the values and aspirations of Oxfam at a pivotal time of transformation for the organisation.

Please note this is a fixed-term opportunity for 12 weeks only.

The Role

You will be joining the Finance, Legal and Governance Division to ensure Oxfam GB is accountable to poor communities, supporters and regulators through effective, efficient, transparent governance.

You will work support Oxfam GB’s Chair, Board of Trustees, governance committees and Leadership Team. It involves working closely with our General Counsel, Head of Regulatory Compliance and others to ensure legal and regulatory obligations are met, supporting the Chair, Board and Chief Executive to ensure best practice governance in Oxfam GB that complements and enables OI governance and accountability.

What we are looking for

Most of all, we’re looking for a candidate with integrity and resilience who can build mutual two-way relationships with the wider divisions and the Oxfam confederation. You will care about Oxfam’s mission to end poverty and are personally aligned to the values of empowerment, accountability and inclusion in all you do.

Our ideal candidate for the role will also be:

• Substantive experience and expertise in charity, public sector or similar governance and interface between trustees and management in complex, preferably multi-national organisations.
• Knowledge of /keen interest in charity governance, trends, regulation and best practise.
• Confident to give sound practical advice to a range of stakeholders internally and externally on running an effective transparent organisation.
• Proactive self starter who has flexible, solutions focused approach.

We offer

This role will give you an opportunity to make a real contribution to the future direction of Oxfam GB. The role is pivotal to ensuring we have all the mechanisms in place to support a high quality, accountable and inclusive process.

At Oxfam, we see that a positive and supportive place to work is key, so you will join a group of passionate people who are aiming to put our values and ethos into all we do. We also see everyone’s growth and development as key, so will work with you to shape relevant opportunities to support your career journey. More about our benefits and commitment to staff can be found in a downloadable document titled Oxfam’s Promise.

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. This could be a full time role or could be 3 to 4 days a week, depending on the candidate. You can discuss this at your interview, or we can arrange for you to speak to us in advance by contacting us on the details below.

If you want to talk to us about this role before you apply, please contact our Recruitment Advisor, Ash Pumma at apumma1@oxfam.org.uk.

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 committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. 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.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

How to apply

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries.

In response to Covid-19 if you are offered a role where you are required to travel between countries please ensure you have been briefed by the Hiring Manager about any changes to working or precautions you should take as part of your role.