Vacancies

Join us

We believe that people are our most valuable asset. We are focussed on staff development; it is important to us to nurture expertise, talent and passion within the staff team.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people who share our commitment to fair and just trade; people who can help us to achieve our vision and mission.

Work life balance

The work life balance of staff is of upmost importance to us. We operate a hybrid policy which aims to provide employees the flexibility to effectively manage their work and personal commitments. We also offer benefits packages such as a Life Assurance scheme and an attractive 9% pension contribution, which is applied regardless of staff contributions.

Equality and diversity

We believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to the development of policies and procedures to promote equal opportunities in employment, personnel practices and any services for which we are responsible.

Please find below a list of our current vacancies.

Non Executive Director: Chair Designate

Shared Interest Mission

Our mission is to provide financial services and business support to make livelihoods and living standards better for disadvantaged communities in some of the world's poorest countries.

We work with people who share our commitment to fair and just trade. Together we take and share risk, because we value the difference that fair and sustainable trade makes.

We seek to satisfy the needs of producers as they work their way out of poverty and to meet the aspirations of our investors and donors to support them in achieving this aim.

Position Overview

The Board will support the work of Shared Interest and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Whilst day-to-day operations are led by Shared Interest's Management Team, appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected.

We are seeking a Chair Designate who will work closely with the current Chair before assuming full Chair responsibilities in March 2027. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in our mission, proven leadership experience, and the strategic vision to guide Shared Interest through its next phase of development.

Chair Designate Responsibilities

Commitment to the work of the organisation and its co-operative values
Leading the Board in providing clear strategic direction and governance
Representing Shared Interest to stakeholders and acting as an ambassador for the organisation
Supporting, advising, and holding to account the management team as they develop and implement Shared Interest's strategic plan
Chairing Board meetings effectively, ensuring balanced participation and thorough discussion
Lead the Board in approving Shared Interest’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions
Overseeing the review of outcomes and metrics for evaluating impact and performance
Ensuring the Board fulfills its legal and fiduciary responsibilities
Building and maintaining strong relationships with members, staff, and partners
Leading succession planning for the Board
Attendance at Board meetings, Annual General Meeting, Nominations and Remuneration Committees
Participation in member engagement events

Board Term / Participation

Shared Interest's Board Members serve 2 x 3-year terms. There are five Board Meetings per year in addition to the AGM and any sub-committee meetings. Sub-committees include Remuneration, Audit, and Nominations. The Chair is expected to attend a member event each year. This role requires a time commitment of approximately 12 days per year as a Non-Executive increasing to 18 days as Chair.

Remuneration

Remuneration levels are set by the members at the AGM and are normally reviewed every 3 years. Non-Executives currently receive £3,600 p.a., with the Chair receiving additional compensation commensurate with responsibilities. Reasonable travel and other incidental expenses are reimbursed.

Essential Criteria

Extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments
Strategic planning capability and vision development experience
Previous Board Chair or Non-Executive Director experience
Values-driven approach aligned with Shared Interest's mission
Experience in complex organisational environments
Confidence in member engagement and public speaking abilities
Strong collaboration and networking skills
Capacity for difficult decision-making
Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and passion for improving the lives of Shared Interest's customers and project beneficiaries
Understanding of and commitment to co-operative values
Ability to express balanced opinions, listen to others, and lead constructive debate
Excellent communication and influencing skills across diverse audiences

Desirable Attributes

Treasury management, commercial lending, or banking knowledge
Stakeholder engagement experience
Environmental interest and sustainability knowledge
Financial services or social finance background
Value chain experience/understanding
International development experience
Understanding of Fair Trade Principles
Experience in leading organisational change

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter outlining their interest in the position and how their skills and experience align with our requirements.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview with the Nominations Committee and will be asked to complete a personality assessment as part of our selection process.

Shared Interest is committed to diversity and encourages applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

Please email applications to: recruitment@shared-interest.com

Closing date for applications: 31st July 2025

Grants and Trusts Fundraiser

Are you a seasoned fundraising professional with a passion for making a meaningful impact? We are on the lookout for an experienced and well-networked individual to join our team and drive our growth by identifying and securing significant grants from a diverse array of trusts, foundations, and grant-making bodies.

Shared Interest Foundation is a dynamic and mission-driven charity dedicated to the development of sustainable enterprises, empowering women and youth, and building climate resilience in remote communities within Africa and Latin America. As we continue to expand our reach and enhance our impact, we are seeking a skilled fundraising professional to help us achieve our goals.

Key responsibilities:

Develop our fundraising strategy to maximise income from trusts and grants
Build a diverse funding portfolio including major donors and foundations
Research opportunities and craft compelling funding applications
Maintain relationships with existing funders whilst securing new partnerships
Collaborate with our team to develop innovative projects
Monitor and report on fundraising targets

Essential experience:

Five years' proven success in securing corporate and trust funding
Strong track record in developing fundraising strategies
Excellent grant-writing abilities with keen attention to detail
Outstanding communication and negotiation skills
Experience in budget management and financial reporting
Self-motivated with strong organisational abilities

Desirable qualities:

Spanish or French language skills
International development experience
Fundraising qualifications
Relevant degree or equivalent practical experience

How to Apply

Click here to see full job description

If you possess the skills, experience, and dedication we are looking for, we would love to hear from you. Applications must be submitted to recruitment@shared-interest.com and should consist of:

Full CV detailing professional qualifications and experience (up to 3 sides of A4)
Cover letter describing how you meet the person specification, why the role is of interest and what you believe you can bring to the role

Application deadline: 5:00 PM GMT, 28 February 2025.

Volunteer Ambassador

Flexible location within the UK

About our Ambassadors

Our network of Ambassadors represent Shared Interest in their local area. They inspire others to support us and invest by seeking opportunities to increase awareness of Shared Interest such as delivering talks and running information stalls. Supporting, and supported by, our Member Engagement Team, Ambassadors contribute their knowledge and passion to enable us to reach potential investors.

About the role

This volunteer home-based role is for UK residents only and carried out within your local area. You will receive remote support from a dedicated staff member. Email, phone and online video communication will be required. The role is ongoing and the time commitment depends on your capacity to generate opportunities. We are looking for volunteers who would aim to fulfil four or more activities per year.

You will have the opportunity to utilise and develop your networking and communication skills and you will be helping us raise even more investment so we can enable disadvantaged communities to trade their way out of poverty.

‘Being an Ambassador is rewarding in that not only is the cause worthy but the message is almost always received with courtesy and intrigue’

~ Feedback from one of our Ambassadors

We would love to hear from you if you:

Are pro-active and self-motivated
Have existing networks locally and strong research skills to build on these
Are an effective and confident communicator with a variety of audiences
Feel confident at public speaking and are comfortable presenting to audience
Can inspire others and have good people skills
Have empathy with the mission and values of Shared Interest
Can confidently use email and are computer literate (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, online video tools i.e. Zoom)

We will support you with the following:

Orientation and Induction training
Ongoing support with a staff contact
Volunteer e-newsletter and other communications
Opportunity to network with other volunteers including occasional meet up events
Materials and resources to support you in your role including out of pocket expenses

For more information, visit: www.shared-interest.com/get-involved
Apply now by emailing: volunteers@shared-interest.com