Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About Migrateful

Migrateful is a multi-award-winning charity supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants on their journey to employment and integration, while building a more welcoming, better-informed public understanding of migration. We train and support our chefs to lead cookery classes for public and corporate audiences from our cookery schools in London and Bristol and at pop-up venues.

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for ensuring Migrateful runs effectively, efficiently and sustainably. Working closely with the CEO as second-in-command, the COO will lead the day-to-day running of Migrateful’s operations, with oversight of programme delivery, finance, people, culture, systems and governance, enabling the CEO to focus on strategy, fundraising, external partnerships and growth.

With 17 staff, an annual turnover of around £1.4 million and plans to deliver around 1,100 cookery classes in the coming year, this is a broad and influential leadership role at an exciting stage in Migrateful’s development. After more than nine years of growth, we have strong foundations and a highly capable and experienced team, with significant opportunities for the new COO to shape and strengthen our operations, systems and ways of working as we enter our next phase of development. Along the way, there will also be plenty of delicious food to enjoy, prepared by our chefs, who represent 48 nationalities!

Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership: Work alongside the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to translate Migrateful’s organisational strategy into effective plans and delivery.
2. Operational Leadership: Oversee the effective planning and delivery of Migrateful’s cookery classes, chef training and other operational programmes.
3. Systems, Digital Development & Continuous Improvement: Lead improvements to organisational systems, processes and ways of working to increase efficiency and support Migrateful’s continued growth.
4. People & Organisational Culture: Oversee people management and HR, while developing a positive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture.
5. Governance, Risk & Compliance: Oversee organisational risk, governance and compliance, ensuring Migrateful operates safely and responsibly.
6. Finance & Financial Sustainability: Oversee Migrateful’s finances and, working closely with the CEO and Finance Manager, support strong financial management and long-term sustainability.

Person Specification

We are looking for an experienced senior operational leader with a strong track record of leading and developing teams, managing organisational change and improving how organisations work. You will be financially confident, an excellent problem solver, and able to balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You will be a collaborative and supportive leader who is comfortable making decisions, establishing accountability and navigating difficult issues. Experience in the charity, social enterprise or another operationally complex environment would be valuable. You will share Migrateful’s values and be committed to building an inclusive organisation.

Application Deadline and Interview Process

Midday Monday 26 October 2026

First-stage online interviews: Thursday 29 October 2026

Second-stage in-person interviews: Wednesday 4 November 2026, at our Farringdon office

Start date: ASAP

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