Chief Operating Officer- Generation Ireland

Chief Operating Officer - Generation UK & Ireland

Location: Hybrid – the role can be based anywhere in the United Kingdom, with an expectation to attend the nearest regional office (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, or Glasgow) one day per week on the hub office's designated office day.
Salary: £75,000 to £90,000 p.a. (includes base salary and a performance element).
Contract: Full time, permanent; 40 hours per week; 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Friday.
Recruitment timetable: Last date for submission of applications:
Sunday, 18 January 2025.
Informal enquiries: Michael Houlihan, CEO – michaelh;
Yasmeen Seth, People Director – yasmeen.seth.

As Chief Operating Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Generation UK & Ireland at a time of ambition, scale, and opportunity. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Senior Management Team, you will lead the organisation’s funding acquisition and management team, oversee financial management of the charity, and lead on key strategic planning and operational elements, as well as the Impact and Data function.

Your work will ensure Generation UK & Ireland’s bold vision translates into sustainable impact for thousands of learners across the UK & Ireland.

This role sits at the heart of the charity’s growth. You will champion operational excellence while fostering an outcomes‑driven culture that enables teams to innovate, adapt, and perform at their best. As a senior leader and external ambassador, you will build trusted relationships with our funders, partners, and stakeholders across the public and private sectors, including bringing new funders and partnerships into the organisation.

You will represent Generation’s work nationally and help shape the future of inclusive employment across the UK and Ireland.

This is more than a leadership position. It’s a chance to shape the future of a charity, drive innovation in programme delivery, and inspire a dedicated team and wider community. If you are a strategic, visionary leader passionate about creating lasting social impact, with a track record of delivering results and bringing funders and partners together, this role provides a platform to turn bold ideas into meaningful change.

Generation’s vision is a world where everyone has access to a good job and income that helps them and their families have a better life. Our charitable mission is to support people facing significant barriers to employment into life‑changing careers. We create impact with a unique methodology: profession‑specific skills bootcamps focused on in‑demand careers, with ongoing pastoral support and matchmaking to employer partners.

Generation launched globally in 2015 and has become the world’s largest demand‑led employment initiative. We have placed over 100,000 people into roles, working with over 4,000 employer partners across 16 countries. Since launching in the UK in 2019, we have trained more than 3,500 people, achieving an industry‑leading ~70% placement rate with learners placed at 800+ employers.

We have secured transformative corporate funding from Microsoft, JP Morgan Charitable Foundation, Macquarie Group Foundation, Barclays, Black Rock, and many more. In recent years, we have also been one of the leading charities delivering contracts for the Department for Education and a number of Combined Authorities, driving our scale into new programmes, regions, and beneficiary groups.

Find out more at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). and hear more about our impact from our learners and beneficiaries at  Learn more about our culture at .

• Funding & Financial Leadership – Lead a team responsible for all funding activity, including acquisition, renewals, and grant management, and play a key role in funding acquisition yourself.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with high‑profile funders, serving as the primary point of contact.
• Partner with the CEO to oversee financial management, including P&L responsibility, forecasting, scenario modelling, and budgeting.
• Collaborate with the internal finance officer and…