Women in Defence UK Business Manager (Part Time)

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

Women in Defence UK are looking for an organised, capable and adaptable Business Manager to lead the day-to-day running of the business. The role will involve overall responsibility for the whole of the annual programme of activity of Women in Defence UK.

Guided by Emmeline Pankhurst's principle of 'Deeds not Words', our purpose is to accelerate gender equity in the defence sector. Working as one of the three legs of the Women in Defence Charter, we strive to support the Charter ambition of 30% of all roles to be filled by women by 2030. By achieving this Critical Mass, we will speed-up the transition towards a more balanced, inclusive and equitable defence enterprise.

The key accountabilities of the role are:

• Oversight of all financial aspects of the business including developing the annual budget; forecasting; ensuring proper financial controls, checks and validations are in place; identifying any financial risks.
• Ensuring a coherent and fully costed and resourced programme of events that meets our strategic direction of travel.
• Overseeing the different strands of work within Women in Defence UK.
• Overseeing the annual Awards programme, working with relevant team members to manage and co-ordinate the category review; nominations approach; accurate processing of nominations; fair and equitable judging; timely announcements and engagement with nominees and nominators; a well-planned, produced and cost-effective Shortlisting event and Awards Dinner; ensuring all collateral is designed, shared and used in line with brand guidelines; liaison with suppliers and Partners.
• Working with the Account Manager, oversee reviews of Partnership benefits and offers, ensuring they are in line with our strategy; consider recommendations seeking agreement to any changes as required.
• Seeking opportunities at Conferences such as DSEI to further business development opportunities, improve the reach and enhance the reputation of Women in Defence UK.
• Line-managing staff and contractors.
• Identifying risks and issues, assessing their potential impact and making recommendations to the Founder on appropriate management and mitigation.
• Overseeing all proposals, invoices, contracts, ensuring that legal advice is sought where required.
• Ensuring that annual reports are drafted, reviewed, approved, printed and uploaded onto the website in a timely and accurate fashion.

Qualifications We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience of managing a small but busy business with multiple strands of work.
• Is numerically literate, being very comfortable with financial and other data.
• Is highly organised and can juggle multiple issues simultaneously, prioritising effectively and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Has excellent planning ability, with a real eye for detail.
• Has experience of business development, both from the perspective of how to develop new business and any subsequent proposal writing.
• Is able to identify clear, practical solutions by drawing on multiple sources of information.
• Must be highly motivated, reliable and conscientious.
• Has well-developed written and verbal communication skills and is confident using MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Is collaborative and able to work effectively with staff, contractors, secondees, partners and stakeholders.
• Is adaptable and able to flex their approach to suit the situation.

This is a rare chance to help steer a purpose-driven organisation, where your leadership, oversight and ability to work collaboratively, will directly help to shape impactful programmes, influence our strategic direction and growth, and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable defence sector.

We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.