Executive Director

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Executive Director

Appointment brief

July 2025

Welcome

Dear candidate,

Thank you for your interest in joining Humane World for Animals UK as our next Executive Director.

This is an exciting time for our organisation. Our recent rebrand has unified our global movement under a single identity which reflects our commitment to ending animal cruelty no matter where it happens. It has amplified our voice and increased our visibility with supporters and lawmakers alike.

We are proud to be in a strong financial position, thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the success of our fundraising efforts. This stability allows us to be bold in our ambitions and strategic in our growth.

Whether it’s challenging the fur trade, fighting to end trophy hunting imports, eliminating cruel farming practices or ending the brutal dog meat trade in Asia, our campaigns are making a real difference for animals. We’re influencing laws and changing public perceptions to improve the lives of animals here in the UK and around the globe.

We are now seeking a leader who can build on this momentum. Someone who will champion our values, inspire our team, and drive forward our strategic priorities. You will be joining a capable and passionate group of colleagues, both in the UK and internationally, who are dedicated to creating a more humane and compassionate world.

If you share our vision and are ready to lead our talented team, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About us

Humane World for Animals is a leader in the global animal protection movement, tackling the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to drive lasting change and create a better world for all animals around the world.

Our vision is to create a more humane world, where humans and animals live in harmony and no animal suffers from the actions of people.

Founded in 2003, Humane World for Animals United Kingdom has been dedicated to protecting animals, both here in the UK and around the world, ever since. As a growing and increasingly influential affiliate of the global organisation, we play a vital role in advancing the animal movement through advocacy, fundraising and strategic partnerships. Key UK campaigns include initiatives to ban cruel imports such as fur and hunting trophies, ending intensive confinement of farmed animals, increasing legal protections for wildlife, and encouraging plant-based diets.

Globally, Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, has worked for over 70 years to tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change.

Driving toward the greatest impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, we address the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering, by working on the biggest problems and creating long-term solutions for lasting change. We tackle the root causes of animal cruelty by shifting human behaviour and advocating for policy change, making change at scale. We work across borders, bringing diverse expertise to the most complex issues, and doing it all with a compassionate and welcoming approach. As a leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruellest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement.

Our Values

Impact

Resilience

Respect

Inclusion

One Team

We are advocates for system-wide and long-term impact, working strategically to improve the lives of animals.

We lead with passion, perseverance, and optimism, knowing that we are making meaningful change.

We believe in our mutual commitment to the mission, we act as each other’s allies, and we help each other reach our full potential.

We invite, welcome and amplify diverse voices within our family of organisations and in the communities with which we work.

We work together, raising each other up and combining our unique skills and perspectives to become stronger together than we are apart.

Our Global Strategy and UK Priorities

Our strategy is structured around five core areas: improving the welfare of farmed animals, protecting wildlife, supporting companion animals, responding to animals in crisis, and advancing science without animal testing. We operate in over 50 countries, using policy advocacy, corporate engagement, and public mobilisation to achieve systemic change.

We recently unified our global identity under the name Humane World for Animals. This rebrand has clarified our mission, strengthened international collaboration, and improved consistency in how we communicate our work and impact.

In the UK, our priorities reflect this global strategy while responding to national opportunities to improve the lives of animals.

These include:

Fur Free Britain

Advocating for a ban on the import and sale of animal fur.

Farrowing crates

Working to end the use of cruel, restrictive cages for mother pigs.

Plant-based diet

Supporting institutions to reduce animal product use through chef training and menu development.

Hunting trophies

Campaigning for legislation to end the import of hunting trophies into the UK.

Our UK fundraising strategy aims to grow support from trusts, corporate partners and individual donors. This includes a program of television, mail and digital fundraising, which is expanding our supporter base and improved long-term sustainability.

Staff in the UK work closely with international colleagues and contribute to global campaigns while delivering impact in the UK, primarily through influencing the Westminster, and more recently, the Scotland parliaments. The team includes specialists in policy, campaigns, communications and fundraising, as well as international program staff.

Finances 2024

Total income:

£3.98m

Unrestricted donations:

£3.66m

We are in the process of finalising our 2024 accounts which show total income for the year at £3.98m (2023: £3.45 m), with the majority of funding derived from donations and legacies.

Unrestricted donations totalled £3.66m, while restricted income amounted to £0.33m.

Total expenditure for the year was £4.34m (2023: £3.47m), reflecting our continued investment in programme delivery and fundraising. Of this, £1.5m was spent on raising funds, and £2.84m on charitable activities.

At the end of 2024, total reserves stood at £1.93 million (2023: £2.29 million), comprising £1.46 million in unrestricted funds and £0.47m in restricted funds. Cash at bank and in hand totalled £2.14 million (2023: £2.47 million), providing a strong liquidity position.

More details on our financial history can be viewed on the Charity Commission website.

Equity, diversity and inclusion statement

Humane World for Animals UK is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion across all aspects of our work and at all levels of our organisation. We strive to cultivate a culture of belonging and a work environment that welcomes individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, cultures, abilities, skills and disciplines.

We recognise that equity is not achieved by chance but through deliberate evaluation and dismantling of systemic barriers that hinder access and opportunity. Our DEI strategy examines every aspect of how we work—from recruitment and career development to policymaking and program design— seeking to remove barriers to ensure a more inclusive animal protection movement. We incorporate DEI considerations into each of our key areas of work in the UK during our annual strategic planning process.

We host quarterly DEI sessions led by external expert speakers, providing our whole team with ongoing education and insight into key topics that support our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Organisation chart

Senior Director, Fundraising (UK & EU)

Senior Manager, Major Gifts

Senior Manager, Individual Giving

Principal, Legacy (UK & EU)

Manager, Major Gifts x 2 Specialist, Individual Giving

Program Manager, Individual Giving

Senior Program Manager, Fur Free Campaign

*UK-based staff working on international programs:

Adviser, biomedical science (US)

Campaign director, trophy hunting (EU)

Director, campaigns (EU)

Director, chemicals (US)

Director, digital advertising (US)

Director, ending dog meat

Director, medicines (US)

Senior graphic designer, brand and visuals

Executive Director, UK

Principal, Finance & Operations (UK & EU)

Senior Managing Director, Campaigns & Public Affairs

Senior manager, principal wildlife program content

Senior principal strategist, media relations (US)

Senior strategist, science communications

Specialist, companion animals and engagement (US)

Specialist, global emerging markets (US)

Vice President, wildlife

Senior Specialist, Finance & Operations (UK & EU)

Senior Program Manager, Wildlife

Senior Program Manager, Farm Animals

Specialist, Plant-Based Advocacy

UK-based international staff (14)*

Program Manager, Media & Communications Specialist, Communications

Senior Program Manager, Public Affairs Specialist, Public Affairs

Role description

Job title:

Executive Director, United Kingdom

Salary: circa £120,000

Location: London, with hybrid working

Reporting to:

Chief International Officer

Direct reports:

Senior Managing Director, Campaigns & Public Affairs; Principal, Finance & Operations (UK and EU); Program Manager, Media & Communications

Job family:

General Management

Department: Humane World for Animals United Kingdom

Purpose:

Lead Humane World for Animals United Kingdom’s overall operations and budget; management of staff, consultants, interns, and volunteers; direction of Humane World for Animals United Kingdom campaigns and fundraising programs; promotion of Humane World for Animals United Kingdom and its programs to media and the public; representation of Humane World for Animals United Kingdom to high-value donors, and the UK animal protection community.

Key responsibilities

Leadership of Humane World for Animals United Kingdom:

• Develop the vision for Humane World for Animals United Kingdom in conjunction with Humane World for Animals global executive staff and Humane World for Animals United Kingdom’s Trustees.

• Lead the development of organisational strategy in line with Humane World for Animals’s international priorities and strategies, reflecting Humane World for Animals’s global mandate and vision, positioning Humane World for Animals United Kingdom to respond effectively to critical animal welfare needs and opportunities within the context of the UK’s legal landscape and animal protection movement.

• Lead and oversee the development of effective campaigns and fundraising strategies and budgets to facilitate effective delivery and monitoring and evaluation of program and fundraising goals for Humane World for Animals United Kingdom.

• Oversee the development of media and communications strategies which support programmatic and fundraising goals and increase UK public awareness of and affinity for Humane World for Animals new global brand.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of positive relations with animal protection groups and other stakeholders in UK, to support the effective delivery of programmatic goals.

Direction of overall Humane World for Animals United Kingdom operations and budget:

• Oversee the annual operating budget.

• Oversee effective and efficient delivery of a high performing revenue generation strategy to meet agreed revenue generation targets.

• Report regularly to Humane World for Animals United Kingdom Trustees on organisational performance, and liaise with Trustees and staff to ensure:

• that Humane World for Animals United Kingdom effectively discharges its legal, governance and statutory reporting responsibilities as a UK charity;

• compliance with charity best practice codes (e.g. Fundraising Regulator);

• implementation of board policies and directives;

• regular review of Humane World for Animals United Kingdom’s risk register and application mitigation actions where necessary.

• Ensure adoption and implementation of organisation-wide culture of costeffectiveness and efficiency in all expenditures.

Management of staff, consultants, interns, and volunteers:

• Maintain a diverse, inclusive, valuesdriven team culture, where staff are equipped and supported to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.

• Determine staffing requirements for organisational management and program delivery.

• Oversee the implementation of human resources policies and procedures, including job descriptions for all staff and clear terms of reference for all consultants, with support from the HR Head Office team.

• Ensure effective procedures in place to provide, for all staff: effective orientation; clarity of organisational policies; and provision of appropriate training and professional development opportunities.

• Routine evaluation of staff performance and related recommendations of salary increases/promotion or termination/disciplinary action.

Promotion of Humane World for Animals United Kingdom:

• Serve as chief spokesperson for Humane World for Animals United Kingdom, effectively and credibly representing the organisation to UK media and the public.

• Actively pursue opportunities to present and promote Humane World for Animals United Kingdom’s policies and campaigns to potential high-value donors (including individuals, trusts and corporations) in consultation with fundraising staff, and hold and develop relationships with key high-value donors.

• Maintain contact with other UK animal protection CEOs and represent Humane World for Animals United Kingdom’s interests and priorities in strategic planning conversations within the sector.

Peripheral duties:

• Other duties as assigned.

Person specification

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience

• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams at a senior level.

• Senior leadership experience of operational oversight at an organisational-wide level.

• Proven track record of team leadership and of fostering an inclusive and supportive team culture.

• Experience of working with multiple internal stakeholders, and ideally of matrix management.

• Experience of reporting to Boards, including developing governance structures.

• Experience of assessing and managing organisational risk.

• Proven track record of managing organisational-wide finances.

• Experience or interest in acting as an ambassador, representing an organisation to a range of stakeholders.

• Experience or interest in presenting to and building relationships with major donors.

Employment disclaimer

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong written and communication skills in English.

• Well developed interpersonal skills.

• Robust analytical and strategic planning skills.

• Strong organisational skills, including ability to prioritise responsibilities and meet deadlines.

• Ability to travel, both domestically and internationally (typically one international trip and two UK trips per year).

• Robust IT skills.

• Robust financial skills.

• Ability to multi-task and work under pressure.

Supervision exercised

• Supervise all Humane World for Animals United Kingdom staff, consultants, interns, and volunteers.

This job description is not a contract - management reserves the right to change its contents at any time. Humane World for Animals United Kingdom is an equal opportunities employer. We have a policy of equality of opportunity for all staff. Applications are welcome regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, gender identity or expression, religious beliefs or age. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive team and particularly encourage applications from individuals from groups who are currently under-represented in the animal protection sector.

Benefits

We pay competitive salaries Our compensation strategy is guided by regular benchmarking against similar mission-driven organisations, and external economic conditions such as inflation. Pay awards and role-based remuneration are determined with these factors in mind.

We offer 25 days annual leave Plus bank holidays and 15 days paid sick leave.

We have a contributory pension Scheme with Royal London, paying in 5% as the employer contribution (with a 5% employee contribution) after your first 3 months.

We offer flexible working And are willing to consider any reasonable request.

Other benefits include Leave for pet adoption and pet bereavement.

How to apply

To apply for the role, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link.

For guidance on formulating your Supporting Statement, please review our guide here.

Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.

If you wish to apply using an alternative format, please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk

Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/job/192216

At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.

Recruitment timetable

Deadline for applications: Monday 25th August 2025

Interviews with Prospectus: 29th August – 5th September 2025

Interviews with Humane World for Animals - United Kingdom: 18th September (afternoon) and 19th September (afternoon) 2025

Queries

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained partners

Anna Gardet or Erica Ritchie at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or email: Anna.gardet@prospect-us.co.uk

Erica.ritchie@prospect-us.co.uk

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