Salary: £45,000-£50,000 / year
Location: Our offices are in Toynbee Hall, East London, but we welcome applicants from across the UK who do not wish to relocate. You should be willing to travel to our London office for team and project meetings up to six times per year. Project related travel costs will be reimbursed
Hours: Four to five days a week (flexible – minimum 28 hours/ week). The Young Foundation supports a 4.5 day working week and staff work this, wherever possible (pro rata for those working less than a 35-hour week)
Contract: Up to one year fixed term contract. Start date March 2026
Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus three office closure days between Christmas and New Year. We also provide two wellbeing days per year. Staff are signed up to one of two pension schemes and access a personalised well-being budget through Better Space. All employees also have access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
About The Young Foundation
The Young Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation driving community research and social innovation. We bring communities, organisations and policymakers together to understand the issues people care about and support collective action to improve lives. We involve communities in research and innovate together to inspire positive change. We deliver distinctive initiatives and programmes to shape a fairer future. Read our ambitious, five-year strategy: The Power of Participation.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced HR professional to lead and run the HR function at both a strategic and operational level, providing expert guidance and leadership across the organisation. You will provide high-level support to the Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer, ensuring the timely and effective delivery of HR services, both internally and with external partners.
This role is particularly suited to a confident, adaptable HR leader who can support and guide the organisation through a period of significant change, including the transition to a new CEO. You will play a key role in shaping organisational culture, embedding change initiatives, and ensuring HR strategies align with business objectives and values.
The successful candidate will combine strong operational HR expertise with strategic insight, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders while maintaining high standards of governance, compliance, and employee experience.
About you
We are recruiting an experienced Human Resources Manager with a strong track record of providing strategic HR leadership at a senior level, ideally within the charity or social impact sectors. You should have extensive experience in employee relations, performance management, and organisational development, with the ability to advise senior leaders and resolve complex HR issues with discretion and professionalism.
This role would suit a motivated self-starter with a passion for the work we do, someone who can work independently while also influencing and collaborating with senior teams and trustees. You will have a deep understanding of inclusive recruitment, employment law, payroll, pensions, and HR systems.
You should be a proactive, CIPD Level 7-qualified professional (or equivalent senior-level experience) with the ability to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion into all aspects of HR practice. Strong stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and the ability to turn people insights into actionable organisational improvements are essential.
More information can be found in the job pack here.
How to apply
With reference to the job description (found in the job pack), please fill out our online application form, and send your CV to applications@youngfoundation.org. Please also complete our online Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form. This information will not be seen by the hiring manager or impact on your application.
The closing date for applications is 9am on 26 January 2026.
This is a two-stage application process. The first stage will involve an interview, and the second stage will consist of an interview and a potential task.
First stage interviews will take place w/c 2 February 2026 (online via MS Teams)
Second stage interviews will take place w/c 9 February 2026 (In-person at our office). There might be an opportunity for final candidates to meet the incoming CEO.
The Young Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and as part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our team we actively encourage people from Black and Ethnic Minority or other under-represented groups to apply for this role. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
You must have the right to live and work in the UK. Applicants who require a work permit in order to take up employment will not be considered.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an automated response to say we have received your application. Please note that we review applications after the closing date and we regret that we will only be able to reply, and give feedback, to short-listed applicants.
If you have any queries about the role or your application, please email applications@youngfoundation.org.
Posted on: 6 January 2026