Head of reparations 

Salary: £92,000 plus benefits

Contract: Three-year fixed term role, 35 hours per week  

Location: Hybrid/York

Main purpose and scope of the job: To develop and implement a comprehensive reparations programme which furthers JRCT’s charitable purposes for the public benefit and to act as a member of the senior leadership team

Reports to: Chief executive 

Responsible for: External advisory group, intermediaries, community partners, legal advisors and other consultancy roles as required. 

 The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – a grant-making organisation working for a more peaceful and just society - is recruiting a head of reparations to develop and lead the next phase of our work responding to the histories connected to our endowment.

As a member of the senior leadership team, and working with our chief executive and board, the postholder will design and lead a reparations programme that advances our charitable purposes for the public benefit and is aligned with our Quaker values.

Key responsibilities include the development of a strategic plan; the development and management of relationships with community partners, historians, and legal experts; oversight of budgets and reporting; and partnership work with our leadership team to co-create a transparent and inclusive approach alongside our other strategic commitments.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape an important and evolving area of work. The successful candidate will combine experience of leadership and strategic decision making, programme management, and a proven track record of managing complex projects and leading teams, with a commitment to ethical practice and JRCT’s values.

They will bring a balanced and pragmatic approach - comfortable working where ideal solutions may need adapting to real-world constraints - and be flexible and able to travel in the UK and internationally.

Duties and key responsibilities 

General management responsibilities 

 As part of the senior leadership team:  

-  Work with the chief executive, trustees and the senior leadership team to develop the strategic and planned work programme for JRCT. 

-  Carry out management, supervision, appraisal and development of staff to ensure the delivery of organisational aims. 

-  Manage contractors or consultants to ensure high quality service delivery to identified outcomes. 

-  Ensure the proper management of any delegated budgets, participating in budgeting and financial management at team manager level as required, and approving and authorising payments in line with internal financial procedures. 

-  Work with the head of communications to respond to occasional regulatory or media inquiries. 

-  Ensure effective collaborative working with other teams across JRCT. 

-  With other members of the SLT, provide cover for the CEO when necessary.

  Programme management 

-  Under the direction of the CEO, oversee the programme’s budget, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to meet objectives.

-  Design a co-creational process with the SLT for developing the reparations strategy as part of the decennial review. 

-  Under the supervision of the board, develop and lead a strategic plan for the reparations programme. 

-  Manage the day-to-day operations of the programme, including coordinating activities, managing timelines, and ensuring deliverables are met. 

-  Develop systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of the programme. 

-  Prepare and present regular reports on the programme’s progress to internal and external stakeholders 

 Stakeholder engagement 

-  Build and maintain strong relationships with affected communities.  

- Collaborate with local, national, and international organisations, government agencies, and academic institutions to support the programme’s efforts. 

-  Establish and work closely with historians, legal experts, community leaders, and other stakeholders. 
With the chief executive and SLT, develop a training plan for the staff and board to ensure literacy in anti-racism, colonialism, reparations and relevant charity law considerations across the organisation. 

-  Establish relationships with organisations with similar historical backgrounds to deepen understanding of reparations and share knowledge, experiences and best-practice. 

-  Work with the head of communications to engage with the media, attend and present at relevant events as a spokesperson for JRCT. 

-  Represent the Trust in relevant networks. 
 

General responsibilities

-  Work at all times within the values, mission and charitable purposes of JRCT. 

-  Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting your work and maintaining and improving personal competence through continuous professional development. 

-  Take direction on projects and priorities from your line manager and trustees, which may vary from time to time. 

-  Develop, fostering and maintaining effective relationships with relevant external stakeholders and organisations. 

-  Work to administration and communication protocols efficiently to ensure that organisational systems and procedures are implemented. 

-  Abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice. 

-  Contribute to team meetings and organisational priorities.  

-  Support diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.

-  Carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned.