Head of Development, Operations and Impact

at  Caras

Job description

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

CARAS is a dynamic and exciting charity offering holistic support to refugees and people seeking asylum. We pride ourselves on coupling the expertise of our staff team with strong values that mean we always place the voices, needs and wants of our group members at the heart of all that we do. We know that this is a transformative way of working and. Our Strategy, Theory of Change, Monitoring Framework and Values were all written with full participation from our group members.
Our Values are:
Kindness. CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents and interests.
Justice. CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all of our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.
Empowerment. CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.
‘With’ not ‘for’. CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its community members at the heart of all that we do.
CARAS is a thriving organisation with a highly motivated, friendly and experienced staff team, bolstered by the generous support of equally skilled volunteers and trustees who come from many walks of life. We are impactful across a range of measures that demonstrate the life-changing work we do, and are proud to receive testimonials from our group members that bring our impact to life.
The Head of Development and Impact will be our lead fundraiser, drawing in support and expertise from across the team. They will take ownership of identifying funding sources, creating a strategy, forecasting our fundraising income, and building strong relationships with donors, bringing the experiences of our group members to life in fundraising communications. They will line management a full-time fundraiser who specialises in individual giving while the Head of Developent, Operations and Impact will lead on grant writing.
In the last 5 years, this role has achieved huge success in CARAS’ development, more than trebling our income and enabling us to expand our staff team and therefore our reach. We are a highly impactful organisation that is often looked to for our insight in the sector. We have an ambitious five-year strategy, co-produced with group members, staff, volunteers, trustees and partner organisations, that guides our current work.
This is an exciting role that comes with many varied commitments, expectations and timescales. We are seeking applicants who want to be at the forefront of change, striving to improve the rights, entitlements and day-to-day experiences of refugees and people seeking asylum. You will need to be able to show how your skills and experiences fit the role, as well as possessing a drive for social change in support of under-served people. Within this role, you will have scope to shape and secure the future of CARAS.
You will be supported in a variety of ways, including by an expert team of staff around you who will collaborate with you and work together as needed; a highly professional Board of Trustees who you will work with at key points throughout the year and who are available for consultation and advice as needed; robust and effective systems; and a network of organisations and funders who share CARAS’ goals. Additionally, you will have regular and detailed supervision with your line manager, and you can access our Employee Assistance Programme at any time.
This opportunity comes at a very exciting time. CARAS will be piloting a 4 day week from the 1st of January- 30th June 2025, meaning that all staff will be working 80% less time for 100% pay. Full time employees will reduce their hours to 4 days per week. We anticipate that this will be a huge boost to staff wellbeing and will become part of our commitment to care for staff as well as our community members.
We are also creating our next Strategic Plan, preparing for a future in which CARAS is a highly respected, impactful organisation with a £1million income.

THE ROLE:

The Head of Development, Operations and Impact is required to lead a wide range of activities. You will be expected to manage your own time, prioritising tasks and leading a small team of people who contribute to CARAS’ fundraising. You will inherit excellent systems and skilled, supportive and enthusiastic team players. You will work closely with the CEO, and the senior leadership team which draws together Heads of Service from each of our programme areas. You will collaborate with our Finance Manager to ensure smooth management of grants and donations, and will play a key role in budget setting with the Finance Manager and CEO.
The role demands cross-departmental working, and regular contact with community members to enhance your ability to advocate for them. You will be at the forefront of developing new ideas and approaches, and ensuring that teams have the money and resources to have an impact.