Head of Operations, Funding & Partnerships

Organisation: Kyniska Advocacy Ltd
Salary: Salary: £40,000 FTE (£20,000 pro rata)
Location: Remote
Contract type: Fixed Term (Part time)
Closing date: 31 October 2026
Job Description: Key Information:

- Hours: Part time 0.5 FTE (20 hours per week)
- Salary: £40,000 FTE (£20,000 pro rata)
- Location: Remote (with occasional travel for events of meetings)
- Contract: 12 months, renewable subject to funding and performance
- Closing date: 31st October 2026 (Interviews: First two weeks of November, target start date January 2027)

Job Description

The Head of Operations, Funding and Partnerships plays a central role in ensuring Kyniska has the funding, partnerships and organisational foundations needed to deliver its strategy.

Working closely with the CEO and wider team, the role will lead Kyniska’s approach to funding development, build and maintain strategic partnerships, support the costing of new opportunities and help strengthen the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability.

Through this role, we are looking for someone who can think beyond a traditional charity fundraising model. Kyniska’s strategy is to operate a diverse funding model and this role will help the organisation combine aligned grant funding with strategic partnerships, commissioned work and earned income.

As the organisation has just become a recognised Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), the postholder will also support effective organisational governance, working alongside the CEO and new Board of Trustees to ensure good oversight, planning and accountability as the organisation grows.

Role Responsibilities

1. Funding and Financial Sustainability
- Develop and deliver Kyniska’s funding strategy, ensuring funding opportunities are aligned with the strategic priorities, values and capacities of the 2026 - 2031 strategy.
- Research and identify relevant trusts, foundations and funding opportunities
- Lead the development and submission of high-quality funding applications, working with team members to translate projects, evidence and impact into proposals.
- Develop realistic and robust budgets for funding applications.
- Maintain and manage the organisation’s CRM, Beacon.
- Coordinate grant reporting and monitoring requirements, working with colleagues to gather relevant information.
- Work the CEO and Chief Policy Office to develop a diverse and sustainable income model that reduces Kyniska’s long-term reliance on grant funding.

2. Partnerships and Proposals

- Work with the CEO and Education Manager to develop proposals for commissioned work, partnerships and opportunities.
- Lead on the development of proposal budgets and costings, ensuring that Kyniska upholds its costing model.
- Help assess new opportunities against Kyniska’s strategy, organisational capacity, impact and financial sustainability.
- Support negotiations and contracting for new partnerships when appropriate.
- Represent Kyniska at relevant meetings, events and sector forums where appropriate and practical.

3. Governance and Organisational Planning

- Work closely with the CEO and the Board to support strong and proportionate organisational governance.
- Coordinate the Board meeting cycle and support the preparation of papers, reports and information required for effective decision-making.
- Maintain oversight of key governance actions, organisational records and reporting requirements.
- Maintain oversight of key requirements and commitments arising from funding agreements and organisational contracts.
- Provide clear information to the CEO and Board on the funding pipeline, financial sustainability and emerging risks.
- Contribute to annual organisational planning and monitoring against Kyniska’s strategy.
- Support the senior leadership team to make informed decisions about where organisational resources are best invested, considering strategic priorities, impact, capacity and financial sustainability.

4. Financial Planning and Oversight

- Work with the CEO to develop and monitor organisational budgets and financial forecasts.
- Maintain a clear organisation-wide view of income, expenditure, funding and commitments and restricted funds.
- Work with Kyniska’s external bookkeeping, payroll and accountancy provider to ensure the CEO and Board have access to accurate and timely financial information.
- Develop financial models and scenarios to inform decisions about new projects, partnerships, recruitment and organisational growth.
- Help ensure financial decisions support Kyniska’s longer-term organisational sustainability.

Person Specification
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of developing successful funding applications, partnership proposals or other significant income opportunities.
- Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to turn complex and sensitive ideas/topics into empathic and clear proposals.
- Experience of developing project budgets, proposal costings or financial models.
- Strong financial literacy and confidence working with budgets, forecasts and financial information.
- An understanding of different organisational income models and the importance of developing diverse and sustainable sources of income.
- Experience of building and managing relationships with funders, partners or other external stakeholders.
- Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Good judgement and the ability to assess opportunities against organisational strategy, capacity, values and financial sustainability.
- A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach
- Commitment to Kyniska’s mission and to athlete- and lived experience-led change.

Desirable
- Experience securing funding from trusts, foundations or other funders.
- Experience developing strategic partnerships.
- Understanding of costing models and approaches to pricing structures/services.
- Experience supporting organisational governance or working with a Board of Trustees.
- Experience of financial or organisational planning within a small or growing organisation.
- Experience within a charity, social enterprise or a not for profit environment.
- Knowledge of sport, safeguarding or violence against women and girls sector.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are curious about how organisations can build sustainable models for impact.

We are proudly athlete-led. Former and current athletes are encouraged to apply.
How to apply: Apply using the form on our website with your CV and response to the application questions Note: You are not required to submit a cover letter for this role. https://www.kyniskaadvocacy.com/open-vacancies

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Head of Operations, Funding & Partnerships