COO - The Foundation for Liver Research

The Foundation for Liver Research (FLR) primarily delivers its charitable objectives through support of research work in the Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology (IoH). The Institute is operated by the FLR in partnership with King’s College London (KCL) but functions administratively as an independent institution in terms of finance (including procurement and grant management), HR, Health & Safety etc.

The remit of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be to oversee and develop the administrative structures of both the FLR and the IoH, and to work closely both with the Director of the IoH, the FLR Board of Trustees, and with administrative departments of the university (KCL). The Foundation has a substantial annual income from a commercial property portfolio and a passively managed investment fund; it also benefits from unsolicited donations from the general public and from legacies. The FLR undertakes limited public facing activities but supports its sister charity, the British Liver Trust, with an annual grant to help fund their patient-facing and advocacy activities. For more details on the role, see below.

Reporting Line:

The COO will report to the Director of the Institute and to the Board of Trustees.

Experience and skills required:

This full-time role will suit a self-starting individual with good communication skills and an ability to get on with people from many different backgrounds. As in small organisations, a flexible attitude to tasks is required. Prior experience of working at a charity is essential and an MBA would be advantageous. The successful applicant will be expected to work for at least 80% of their time at the Institute’s own premises in Coldharbour Lane (adjacent to Kings College Hospital).

Applications:

The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applicants from all sections of the community. To apply, you must have documented proof of your legal right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Applications should consist of a CV accompanied by a covering letter explaining why you believe that you are a suitable candidate, including details of two referees, and should be submitted by email via the button below.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 12.00 noon on Monday 17 January 2024. We may not be able to respond personally to all applications, and if you have not heard from us before 31st January 2024 you should assume that you have not been short-listed for the role.

Overarching responsibilities of the COO

For the Foundation for Liver Research

To work with the Trustee with responsibility for oversight of the property portfolio

To oversee the FLR’s existing assets and to grow income through donor management, legacy fundraising and other fundraising opportunities

To ensure the organisation fulfils legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities

To act as Secretary to the Trustees and report on specific activities to the Board To act as Responsible Officer for Data Protection and other governance requirements.

For the Institute of Hepatology

The COO will work with other team members as follows:

The Director of the IoH:

Preparation of annual budget for the IoH in conjunction

To establish and monitor key indicators of the organisation’s impact

Review and renewal of annual core funding to individual team leads

The FLR annual Small Grants Scheme (advertised nationally. IoH research staff ineligible)

Annual PhD studentships (in conjunction with KCL)

Biennial Clinical Research Fellowship (in conjunction with KCH)

Annual Roger Williams Science Communications Prize

Adjunct staff contracts with KCL

The Finance Manager:

Oversight of procurement system

Oversight of annual Research & Development claim Annual audit

Purchase of IT equipment and oversight of annual IT support contract with KCL Liaison with Trustee with responsibility for property portfolio, and property related matters such as insurances, and rental invoicing

The Research Grants & Contracts Manager:

Oversight of the grant management system, from pre-application to post-award administration, monthly fund reporting to principal investigators, compliance with funder terms & conditions, post-award administration

Oversight of system of Material Transfer Agreements, Non-disclosure Agreements, Collaboration Agreements etc

Oversight of intellectual property arising from research, and appropriate actions

The Communications Manager, and Team Assistant:

The Annual Report Website development and updates including Twitter feed, on camera 5-minute film updates/podcasts from staff and students

Advertising in key publications such as Solicitors Journal, Funeral Service Times etc.

To establish an Alumni Association with a view to fundraising for any or all of the following: an annual travelling fellowship, a visiting fellowship, a PhD studentship Donor management in terms of thanking, banking and follow-up through regular contact e.g. anniversary of donation contact, Christmas cards, quarterly newsletter, with particular focus on regular givers and the potential for legacies

With external HR support:

Monthly payroll changes – with Charity Payroll Services

HR support – with Citrus HR (including employee handbook, finance regulations, maternity leave, statutory sick pay etc)

HMRC – direct management of FLR’s status as a visa sponsor and allocation of Certificates of Sponsorship

With Institute Building and Facilities Manager:

Oversight of annual service level agreement and delivery of facilities support by KCL

Liaison with IoH health & safety team and IoH Technical Staff Team