At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team to enhance food education and community engagement.
- Company: Join the award-winning Hackney School of Food, a leader in food education.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 25 days' leave, free lunches, and a pension scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on communities while driving growth and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and a passion for food education.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Contract
- Full-time, permanent
- Hours
- : Full-time
- Reports to
- : Chair; Board of Directors
- Location
- : Hackney
- Salary
: £50,000-60,000 depending on experience.
Pension
HSo F participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits
25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, free onsite lunches .
Probation period
Six months.
About Hackney School of Food
Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub based in the grounds of Mandeville Primary School in Clapton, East London.
Through our teaching kitchen and educational garden, we help children, families and communities build the skills, confidence and knowledge to grow, cook and eat good food.
Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 visits to our kitchen and garden, delivering curriculum programmes for schools alongside community cooking courses, gardening projects, holiday clubs, corporate volunteering and public events.
Since becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2023, we have expanded our facilities, strengthened our governance and built a strong reputation as a leader in food education.
We're now looking for an exceptional Managing Director to build on these strong foundations and lead Hackney School of Food through its next phase of growth and impact.
About the role
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director (MD) will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation delivers its mission while remaining financially resilient, well-governed and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.
The Managing Director is responsible for all aspects of the organisation, including strategy, income generation, finance, governance, partnerships, programme delivery and people leadership.
Working closely with a small, committed team and an engaged Board, they will build on strong foundations to grow Hackney School of Food's impact, reach and long-term sustainability.
This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery.
One day you may be developing a new partnership, meeting a prospective funder or working with the Board on future strategy; the next you could be supporting the team, welcoming visitors to the garden or solving day-to-day operational challenges.
Key priorities
In your first 12 months you will
- Build on Hackney School of Food's strong foundations to deliver the next phase of our strategy and growth.
- Increase and diversify income through fundraising, partnerships and commercial opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.
- Lead, support and develop a small, ambitious team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive.
- Strengthen relationships with funders, partners and local businesses, helping Hackney School of Food deepen its impact.
- Work closely with the Board to embed strong governance, organisational systems and long-term planning for the future.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Hackney School of Food, ensuring delivery of its mission, vision and long-term objectives.
- Lead the development and implementation of Hackney School of Food's annual business plan and organisational priorities.
- Work with the Board to evolve organisational strategy, identify opportunities, manage risks and support sustainable growth.
- Monitor, report on and respond to organisational performance against agreed objectives and impact measures.
- Champion Hackney School of Food externally, strengthening its profile and influence.
- Financial sustainability and income generation
- Oversee organisational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and cashflow management, working closely with the Treasurer and accountant.
- Lead income generation across the organisation, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorship and earned income.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, sponsors and strategic partners.
- Ensure all funding commitments are met, including grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.
- Identify new opportunities to diversify income and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
- Partnerships & External Relations
- Act as the main point of contact for HSo F's key partners, LEAP Federation and Chefs in Schools to ensure the partnerships are effective and positive.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders, including local authorities, funders and sponsors.
- Represent Hackney School of Food at meetings, events, and public forums.
- Champion the value of food education and contribute to wider local and national conversations.
- Ensure programmes remain responsive to community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation.
- Governance and public benefit
- Ensure the organisation operates in line with its CIC objectives and delivers clear public benefit.
- Support the Board of Directors to fulfil its governance responsibilities through high-quality reporting, planning and decision-making.
- Prepare Board papers, reports and agendas, ensuring timely and accurate information is available to support effective governance.
- Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Directors quarterly.
- Act as the primary link between the Board and the operational team.
- Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks.
- Support the Board in meeting all statutory and regulatory obligations relating to the CIC.
- People, Culture and safeguarding
- Provide leadership to a small core team (currently c.4 employees), directly managing staff and fostering a positive, inclusive culture.
- Provide oversight and support for a wider network of approx. 15 freelance contractors to ensure consistently high-quality delivery.
- Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development in line with safer recruitment and equality principles.
- Ensure effective organisational structures, clear roles, and performance accountability.
- Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding safeguarding throughout the organisation maintaining compliance with all relevant requirements.
- Develop organisational systems, policies and practices that support an inclusive, high-performing workplace.
- Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.
- Oversee organisational policies, procedures and continuous improvement, ensuring policies and legal requirements are up to date, clearly communicated and embedded across the organisation.
- Ensure compliance with employment law, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and other relevant legislation.
- Personal specification
- Senior leadership experience with responsibility for organisational performance and accountability.
- Experience securing income through fundraising, partnerships and/or commercial activity.
- Experience of financial leadership, including budget setting, forecasting and cashflow oversight.
- Experience working closely with a Board, Trustees or governing body to translate strategic vision into operational delivery.
- Experience building and managing successful partnerships with funders, businesses and community stakeholders.
- Experience in managing and motivating a team, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
- Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.
- Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth or community context.
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, make sound decisions and remain resilient in a resource-constrained environment.
Essential skills and attributes
- Passion for Hackney School of Food's mission and the role of food education in improving health, wellbeing and community connection.
- Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable with hands-on operational leadership.
- Entrepreneurial, resourceful and committed to building long-term financial sustainability and identifying growth opportunities.
- Ability to lead a team through change with sensitivity, clarity and kindness.
- Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills.
- Confident decision-maker with a high level of personal accountability.
- Committed to equity, inclusion and community-led practice.
- Experience working within a Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or charity.
- Knowledge of Hackney, its communities and local stakeholder landscape.
- Experience of working in food education, community food, gardening, environmental education or a related field.
- Experience reviewing and managing contracts, service agreements or other legal documentation.
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Job: Managing Director, Hackney School of Food, London, UK employer: Table
As a leading educational institution in London, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration among our staff. Our commitment to professional development ensures that lecturers have ample opportunities for growth through research funding and academic partnerships, making this an ideal environment for those passionate about advancing food policy education. Join us to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to shaping the future of food policy while enjoying the rich cultural offerings of London.
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We think this is how you could land Job: Managing Director, Hackney School of Food, London, UK
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We think you need these skills to ace Job: Managing Director, Hackney School of Food, London, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Table. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Table
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Table. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
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