Global COO

This is a role for a dynamic problem solver, someone with a hands-on, “builder” mindset. Someone who can jump from big-picture systems thinking and strategy to relentlessly optimising and innovating. You’ll have some solid technical skills, perhaps spreadsheets, tech or finance. But your real skill will be in applying those skills strategically and in an agile way to get stuff done. You’ll also be incredibly curious, keen to constantly learn and get on top of technical subject matter like data protection and employment law.

As the Global COO, you’ll be leading all of our finance and operations work. This will include running our tech, people and HR functions while being responsible for legal and compliance. You will play a leading role in strategic development, from analysis through to working across divisions and teams to execute.

We have big ambitions and your scope to grow, learn and achieve matches that. If you want to benefit from working with an inspiring team, with huge potential for learning, growth and achievement, we want to hear from you.

Welcome to Skills Builder Partnership. There are eight skills that are essential for success in all areas of life, which resonate across the world. Research shows that they underpin academic progress, support wellbeing and lead to higher skilled, higher paid careers. Unfortunately, those from less privileged backgrounds have fewer opportunities to build these skills. We exist to change the systems that allow this to happen.

Joining Skills Builder is not like working anywhere else. Our team consistently say they have never worked anywhere as collaborative, supportive or mission oriented. We combine the fun and dynamism of a start-up, the professional development opportunities of a corporate, the innovation of a digital native and the social impact focus of a charity. We are serious about delivering social mobility through our vision that one day everyone builds the essential skills to succeed. That means we are ambitious and set high standards for ourselves. We are reflective, inclusive and supportive.

In practice this means that everyone makes time for others in the team, we get stuck in to solve problems together, we have regular employee surveys where leadership talk through every single suggestion and the whole team is involved in developing our strategy.

In the last year, there were more than 1,100 education institutions, NGOs, social enterprises and businesses in the Partnership, delivering Skills Builder programmes in more than 40 countries. But we’re just getting started on our mission to ensure that one day, everyone builds the essential skills to thrive.

• Term: Permanent
• Start Date: As soon as possible
• Working hours: Flexible (full-time or part-time)
• Team days: We get together in person in Oxford or London 6 times a year for strategy, fun and food
• Holidays: 25 days per year, increasing each year, plus bank holidays & potential to buy back up to 5 days
• Location: UK remote OR London hybrid (with 1+ days in the office per week, free fruit, tea and coffee, ‘pastry socials’ and £600 London weighting)

Application Process: Applications should be made via our online form - on completion of the online application please also send your CV by email to jobs+COO@skillsbuilder.org. The application deadline is 0900 on 23 February, with first round interviews weeks commencing 2 & 9 March.