Managing Director

The Andrew Brownsword Foundation is at a pivotal moment in its history. With over 30 years of thoughtful quiet philanthropy behind them and a bold new strategic vision for the future, this is a unique opportunity to shape the next era of charitable impact in the UK. We’re looking for a visionary and operationally brilliant Managing Director to help transform the Foundation into a national force for change in literacy, the arts and the wellbeing of young people. This is a senior leadership role with the freedom and responsibility to build a modern agile grant‑making organisation from the ground up.

Founded by the Brownsword family whose values of creativity, community and generosity run deep, the Foundation builds on a rich philanthropic legacy. Now with significant new investment, the Andrew Brownsword Foundation (TABF) is moving from modest regional grant‑giving to a major player on the national stage with an ambition to give £5 million annually to projects that remove barriers to literacy, broaden access to arts and culture and influence national policy through original research. This is a historic start‑up, an organisation with deep roots and a brand‑new mandate. It’s time for the Foundation to find its voice, amplify its reach and deliver transformational change.

The Role

• Lead the design and delivery of an ambitious fully integrated grant‑making programme ensuring it is transparent, inclusive and effective.
• Drive external communications and sector influence, creating a confident and values‑driven voice for the Foundation.
• Manage strategic partnerships and research initiatives that turn knowledge into action and evidence into policy influence.
• Build a small high‑functioning team and develop digital infrastructure to support everything from funding applications to impact reporting.

Who We Are Looking For

We’re looking for an entrepreneurial leader who is as hands‑on as they are strategic. You’ll come with:

• Experience (ideally) in charity leadership, ideally within grant‑making, philanthropy, education or youth sectors.
• Proven skill in building and managing funding programmes.
• Emotional intelligence, diplomacy and relationship‑building skills, comfortable engaging with grantees, researchers, trustees and the wider community.

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds but are especially interested to hear from:

• Senior charity sector leaders;
• Grant‑makers or philanthropic programme leads;
• Fundraisers with strategic leadership and grants experience;
• Cross‑sector candidates with relevant governance and impact experience.

We love to hear from leaders who are excited by the opportunity to build something meaningful and who believe philanthropy can be a catalyst for bold systemic change.

Please send a copy of your profile or CV to Ellen Drummond at Charity People as the first step if you’d like to find out more.

Deadline: 9am on Friday the 17th of October

First stage interview: w/c 10th of November

Second stage interviews: w/c 17th of November

Charity People – Inclusivity Statement

Charity People is a forward‑thinking inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background (e.g., age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation). We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Required Experience: Director-level experience in a relevant sector.

Key Skills: Business Development, Expense Management, Financial Acumen, Management Experience, Profit.