Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

The opportunity:

Oxfam GB is seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our Strategic Leadership Team and play a central role in shaping the next chapter of Oxfam’s impact in the UK and globally. 

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will ensure the effective and efficient delivery of Oxfam GB’s operations, leading both business-as-usual excellence and transformative change. You’ll oversee core operational areas including Property & Facilities, Technology & Digital Innovation, Legal & Governance, and International Operations. This is a pivotal leadership role for a strategic, values-driven leader who can unite diverse teams around a shared mission, deliver operational efficiency, and embed digital and organisational transformation across a complex, global environment.

What you will be doing:

• Partner with our CEO, Strategic Leadership Team, and Board of Trustees to deliver Oxfam GB’s strategic priorities.
• Lead operational excellence across estates, property, and core business systems, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and compliance.
• Drive digital and technology innovation to strengthen Oxfam GB retail operations, online platforms, and hybrid trading models.
• Provide strategic leadership to Legal & Governance, ensuring effective risk management and regulatory compliance in line with Oxfam’s ethical standards.
• Lead transformation and business improvement initiatives across Oxfam GB, including systems upgrades and operational redesign.
• Represent Oxfam GB in international forums and confederation meetings, strengthening shared business systems and operational alignment.
• Provide overall leadership for international operations, supporting country-level systems and processes for programme delivery.
• Inspire and empower large, diverse teams across multiple locations, fostering inclusion, collaboration, and accountability.
• Contribute to the evolution of Oxfam’s feminist leadership and decolonial approach across all areas of operation.

About you: 

We’re looking for an inspiring and collaborative leader with experience of delivering complex transformation in large, purpose-driven organisations.

You’ll bring:

• A proven record of improving organisational efficiency and embedding sustainable change.
• Strong strategic thinking, financial insight, and the ability to align operational models with long-term goals.
• Demonstrated success in leading digital transformation to enhance performance, enable commercial growth, and drive engagement.
• A deep understanding of operational processes, risk, governance, and compliance.
• Experience leading diverse teams and influencing at Board or Trustee level.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence across multiple stakeholder groups.
• A commitment to feminist, inclusive leadership and Oxfam’s values of Inclusion, Accountability, and Empowerment.

Desirable:

• Experience working in international or confederation-style organisations.
• Experience addressing anti-racism and equity issues in an organisational context.

How to apply:

We are partnering with Strategic Dimensions for this recruitment. As part of your online application, please email your up-to-date CV to our recruitment partner, Natalie Hannabuss, at Strategic Dimensions: natalie@strategic-dimensions.com.

We want to ensure that you are comfortable and can demonstrate you full potential for this role, across all stages of the recruitment process. If you would like to talk to us about the role or feel there are adjustments that would help you succeed in the process, we would encourage you to get in touch for an informal chat. All offers of employment are subject to the successful completion of a 5-year history reference check and appropriate screening, including DBS and Right To Work checks.

Closing date for applications is 17^th November 2025

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

Flexfam:

Flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. However, our expectation is that you will spend at least 2 days a week working from the office.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.