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    KEY DETAILS

     

    Job title: Managing Director (Parental Cover)
    Employer: QUEERCIRCLE
    Reporting to: Director
    Line management: To be confirmed
    Contract: Fixed-term parental leave cover
    Duration: Anticipated 8–12 months; linked to the period for which parental leave cover is required (see below for more information)
    Start date: Tuesday 6th January 2027
    Hours: 3 days per week (0.75 FTE of QUEERCIRCLE's standard 4-day working week)
    Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10:00–18:00; occasional evening/weekend work may be required and will be compensated through time off in lieu.
    Location: In person at QUEERCIRCLE, London
    Salary: £30,000–£33,750 gross per annum for 3 days per week, equivalent to £40,000–£45,000 for a 4-day week, dependent on experience and agreed responsibilities

     

    PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

    The Managing Director (Parental Cover) will work in partnership with the Director and senior team to operationally lead QUEERCIRCLE during a significant period of transition.

    The role will lead QUEERCIRCLE's financial and operational management, governance and people, and oversee the implementation of agreed organisational plans for 2027. This includes supporting the organisation's transition from its current premises while ensuring QUEERCIRCLE remains financially resilient, well-governed and able to deliver its mission.

    Much of the planning for this period will be established before the parental leave period begins. We are looking for someone who can quickly understand an established organisational direction, take responsibility for its implementation and exercise sound judgement as circumstances change.

     

    AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

    Organisational Leadership, Finance and Governance, HR and People, Operations and Premises, Overseeing Fundraising and Stakeholder Management. 

    The exact balance of responsibilities may be shaped around the experience of the successful candidate, with specialist freelance support commissioned where appropriate.

     

    LEADERSHIP & STRATEGY

    • Provide organisational leadership alongside the Director and senior team, supporting QUEERCIRCLE to achieve its mission and strategic priorities.

    • Lead the implementation of QUEERCIRCLE's agreed organisational plans, maintaining oversight of priorities, resources and risks.

    • Be QUEERCIRCLE's finance, HR and operations lead, developing and maintaining flexible yet robust approaches across the organisation.

    • Lead on business-critical issues and business continuity.

    • Manage key staff and freelancers as required, providing clear direction, support and accountability.

    • Deputise for the Director as needed.

    • Work effectively within QUEERCIRCLE's distributed model of leadership, knowing when to take responsibility, when to make space for others and when decisions should be shared or escalated.

     

    FINANCE & GOVERNANCE

    • Have responsibility for overall financial management, including payroll, annual audit, management accounts, organisational budgets and cash-flow forecasting.

    • Work closely with the Board's finance representatives, accountants and Director to ensure financial viability and effective resource planning.

    • Maintain scenario budgets and forecasts that enable the organisation to respond to changing property, funding and programme circumstances.

    • Ensure the organisation fulfils its charitable, regulatory and legal obligations, including Data Protection, Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Employment Law.

    • Lead QUEERCIRCLE's approach to contracts and negotiate significant grant and partnership agreements.

    • Lead the preparation of Board agendas, reports and papers with the Director.

    • Support effective relationships and accountability between the team, Board of Trustees, Advisory Committee and other governance groups.

     

    FUNDRAISING & STAKEHOLDERS

    • Lead and maintain oversight of QUEERCIRCLE's fundraising activity and income-generation priorities, in line with agreed organisational plans.

    • Work with the Director and others as required to develop funding proposals and bids and maintain relationships with both existing and potential funders.

    • Develop and manage key strategic relationships with stakeholders including local authorities, national agencies, partners and funders, overseeing grant contracting, monitoring and reporting.

    • Convene and support the new Fundraising Committee, ensuring fundraising priorities, opportunities and progress are effectively coordinated.

    • Maintain oversight of the funding pipeline and ensure new commitments are compatible with organisational capacity and priorities.

     

    OPERATIONS, PREMISES & PEOPLE

    • Have operational oversight including risk management, IT, insurance, contracts, resources and organisational systems.

    • Line manage staff (roles to be confirmed), providing support, regular supervision and continuity of organisational and programme activity throughout the transition.

    • Lead the operational implementation of QUEERCIRCLE's premises transition, including its departure from the Design District and mobilisation of its next operating model.

    • Oversee HR and support a positive, equitable and sustainable working culture across staff, freelancers and volunteers.

    • Ensure roles, responsibilities and workloads remain clear and support managers to develop their teams.

    • Implement agreed organisational and staff-development plans.

    • Support the organisational approach to programme evaluation and social impact.

     

    KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

    • Demonstrable leadership experience (5 years+) in finance, operations and organisational management within a cultural, charitable, community or other mission-led organisation.

    • Strong financial management experience, including organisational budgeting, cash-flow forecasting and financial reporting.

    • Experience translating strategic objectives and plans into effective organisational delivery.

    • Experience of people management and supporting healthy organisational cultures.

    • Experience of risk management, governance and working with a Board of Trustees or equivalent.

    • Experience managing organisational change and working effectively in periods of uncertainty.

    • Strong experience managing relationships with funders, partners and other stakeholders.

     

    DESIRABLE

    • Experience managing or transitioning premises for cultural, community or public use.

    • Knowledge of managing a registered charity.

    • Experience of strategic fundraising and managing diverse income streams.

    • Experience working with local authorities or public bodies.

    • Experience of working in transition processes, short-term contracts or freelance roles.

     

    SKILLS & ABILITIES

    • Ability to translate strategic objectives into effective delivery and operational management.

    • Excellent financial and organisational judgement.

    • Excellent people and interpersonal skills and an ability to build positive relationships with a wide variety of people and organisations.

    • Ability to manage a complex mix of teams, programmes and priorities.

    • Highly organised with strong attention to detail.

    • Excellent communication skills.

     

    APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP

    • An ambitious and inspiring leader committed to radically different approaches to accepted ways of working.

    • A strong team builder who values diverse experiences and is committed to developing staff.

    • Comfortable exercising authority without unnecessarily centralising power.

    • Able to enter an established organisation, listen and learn quickly and work within an agreed strategic direction.

    • Resilient and responsive to changing cultural and financial circumstances.

    • Strong commitment to equality, anti-racism and accessibility, with an understanding of how organisational infrastructure and culture shape people's experiences.

    • An advocate for hospitality, generosity, access and care for staff, artists, communities and the wider public.

    • Knows when to maintain a strategic overview, make space for others and when to be in the detail.

     

    ABOUT THE FIXED-TERM ROLE

     

    This role is specifically to provide cover during the parental leave of QUEERCIRCLE's existing Managing Director. It is not a permanent appointment and does not have a fixed calendar end date. The appointment is expected to last approximately 8–12 months, depending on the period for which cover is required.

    QUEERCIRCLE will provide three months' notice throughout, including where the requirement for parental leave cover ends earlier than anticipated. 

     

    DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

    We value different perspectives and experiences and welcome diversity in all its forms. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Global Majority people, working-class people and disabled people.

    If you would like to discuss the role informally ahead of applying, we can arrange a short call with a senior member of the team or a trustee. Please get in touch via recruitment@queercircle.org.

     

    ACCESS

    QUEERCIRCLE will make every reasonable adjustment to the recruitment process, workplace or working arrangements to accommodate access requirements. If you have any questions please get in touch via recruitment@queercircle.org. 

     

    HOW TO APPLY

    Please click on 'Apply Here' below and fill out our online form. You’ll need your CV and a cover letter (max 2 A4 sides) ready to upload as PDF or Word files.

     

    APPLY HERE

     

    Deadline: Midnight on Sunday 1st November 

    We appreciate that some people may use AI to write applications, however, we’d much rather get to know you in your own words. 

     

    FOLLOW UP

    We plan for interviews to take place on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th November.