Role summary
Tax Justice UK (TJ-UK) has built momentum for progressive tax reform. Tax is high on the political agenda and the new government opens up space for a fairer tax system. Your role will be to use key political moments to win significant policy reform. You don’t need to be an expert in tax policy, but you do need to be hungry for change, and able to convince people in positions of power to listen to our messages and make changes.
Tax Justice UK has a track record of securing campaign wins, putting wealth taxes onto the political agenda and securing a number of manifesto commitments for our policy ideas. We have built strong relationships with politicians, advisors, policy makers and a network of influential think tanks and organisations. We also have excellent relationships with many influential media outlets, regularly securing extensive media coverage on tax justice issues.
We’re looking for a progressive and inclusive leader with a track record to achieve political change and a commitment to tax justice. You will be confident in shaping policy, building good working relationships across networks and political spaces.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Job Description
The purpose of this role is to lead TJ-UK to deliver tax reform ensuring that everyone in the UK benefits from a sustainable, fair and effective tax system. The Executive Director (ED) will build on our long-term strategy for the organisation, demonstrate our organisational values and lead our supportive and inclusive culture, be a thought leader and key spokesperson, ensure good governance and financial management and provide strategic leadership for the organisation.
The ED line manages the Deputy Director: Communications, Deputy Director: External Affairs, Development Manager and Senior Finance and Operations Officer. The Board Chair and the ED have a standing monthly call with regular communication and the ED calls on other board members expertise as required.
Values and behaviours
The Executive Director leads by example in demonstrating behaviours in line with our three core values: courage, equity and integrity.
Courage:
- We are bold, principled and persistent, whilst holding faith in our values and mission.
- We don’t get disheartened for long and step up when it feels difficult.
- We welcome vulnerability, constructive challenge, and new ways of working.
- We are honest with each other and open to learning and reflecting.
- We are generous and honest with the wider tax justice movement.
- We show care for each other and ourselves, respecting our personal integrity and boundaries.
Equity:
- We champion a more equitable and more just world and economy.
- We challenge structural oppressions through our strategy and how we work as an organisation, taking our responsibilities as an employer seriously.
- We welcome, celebrate, respect and defend difference within the team.
- We listen actively, recognise our own privilege, and assume good intentions in the first instance.
Integrity:
- We pursue truth and are rigorous with our standards.
- We are agile and align our campaigns with what will make the most difference over the long term.
- Our interactions with partners, supporters and funders are deeply rooted in respect and our values.
- We aim for clarity in our processes and decision making, and consistency in how people are treated.
Role Responsibilities
Strategic leadership of the organisation and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
- Lead the organisation to deliver on TJ-UK’s values by promoting equity, inclusion and diversity.
- Build and support the SLT to lead the organisation, developing and delivering a strategy which achieves sustainable growth of the organisation and external impact.
- Oversee the planning and implementation of TJ-UK’s external campaigns in response to strategic opportunities.
- Lead the SLT to build an organisational culture that attracts, develops and motivates staff whilst promoting effective collaboration in line with organisational values.
- Oversee the evaluation and improvement of the organisation’s activities.
- Oversee the development and delivery of a fundraising strategy which involves building and cultivating long term relationships with a range of funders including from major donors, individual donors and grants.
- Lead the development of organisational policies, HR and staff development.
Develop and implement organisational strategies:
- Develop the organisation-wide strategy with the team and board
- Oversee the development and implementation of specific strategies with the team including:
- Building a collaborative tax justice movement
- Communicating a consistent and powerful message.
- Mobilising members of the public
- Engaging politicians and external influencing
TJ-UK thought leader and key spokesperson
- Be the lead ambassador for TJ-UK, building the organisation’s reputation, presence and impact, including with the media, the public and politicians
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including parliamentarians, press and media, influencers, organisations, funders and think tanks
- Oversee TJ-UK’s policy development including building relationships with leading tax thinkers
- Produce written content for publication sharing TJ-UK policy positions and campaign messages
- Contribute and steer the wider tax justice movement where appropriate
Governance and financial management
- Ensure effective governance, including through managing board meetings, statutory reporting, and the development of corporate policies and procedures as required (including managing organisational risks)
- Oversee the organisational budget, ensuring income targets are hit and expenditure is managed
- Report to the board on progress against strategy and plans as well as the financial health of the organisation
- Ensure appropriate accounting systems, financial policies, processes and controls are in place to meet all relevant legislative, regulatory and accounting requirements.
- Ensure proper project governance, including oversight of funding agreements and other contractual documents.
General responsibilities and duties
- Undertake the duties of the job description in accordance with the operational policies of TJ-UK, including but not limited to the equality and diversity statement.
- Maintain good working relations with the board, staff and other stakeholders.
- Present the organisation in an appropriate and professional manner to its stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development and growth of the organisation through working in accordance with its wider objectives, organisational culture and values.
- Work out of usual hours if necessary.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required.
Person specification
If your skills and experience do not match this list but you feel that you have transferable experience, a desire to learn, and a commitment to TJ-UK’s vision, we still welcome your application.
A savvy progressive leader:
- A deep commitment to progressive values
- A track record of achieving political change and motivating others to take action
- A sound strategist, who understands how to make an organisation and a movement ready for success and harness political opportunities in support of campaigns
- A deep understanding of how UK politics works, including Parliament and relevant government departments
- Ability to build strong relationships with figures from across the political spectrum and wider tax justice movement
- Generosity, sensitivity and humility to work with a range of people with different perspectives
- Experience of being a media spokesperson
A confident collaborator:
- Experience of navigating complicated policy issues to reach credible policy positions
- Ability to work with funders, politicians, policy experts, to shape the wider narrative around tax
- Ability to convey complex policy ideas to non-expert audiences in a simple and compelling way – adapting style, language and content to deliver maximum clarity and gain support
- Experience of acting as a media spokesperson
- Understanding of economic and tax justice.
- A team leader who listens and lets others take the lead where appropriate.
An innovative culture shaper:
- Experience as a senior leader and manager in the not-for-profit space
- Experience of developing and implementing strategy
- Ability to motivate staff and maintain a positive and inclusive organisational culture
- Experience of hands-on day to day working alongside ability to delegate effectively
- Commitment to flexible working practices
