Welcome from the CEO
Dear candidate,
Thank you for your interest in joining the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a charitable funder working for a peaceful and just future.
The Trust is one of three established in 1904 by Joseph Rowntree, using wealth made by the Rowntree confectionary company.
For 120 years, our work has been guided by our founder’s conviction that true progress requires addressing root causes, not merely treating symptoms. We continue to build on this legacy by supporting people and organisations doing charitable work for systemic change. This means tackling the root causes of conflict and injustice.
While the Rowntree company is remembered for its progressive practices in the UK, research has also shown ways in which it benefitted from colonial-era trade that have, until recently, been largely overlooked.
In 2021, our trustees acknowledged aspects of our historical legacy that require reflection. We joined with the other Rowntree trusts to respond to preliminary research showing that the company had bought cocoa and other goods produced by enslaved people, and had profited from systems of colonial exploitation.
As a Quaker organisation established to work for a more peaceful and just world, we believe it is important to address these histories and the harm they caused. Our trustees published a statement outlining our commitment to identifying meaningful forms of reparation which further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.
Since 2021 we have worked with experts in reparations and racial justice, and with historians and archivists, and taken time to understand these histories and how they relate to our continuing work to advance peace and justice. It is important to us that we remain true to our responsibilities to the past, present, and future by honouring our commitment to reparation and ensuring long-term support for changemakers through our grantmaking. You can read more about our continued response here.
Our next step is to develop a reparations programme that builds relationships with community partners and is rooted in public benefit.
As a member of the senior leadership team, you will work with the board and I, to design and lead a strategic programme that reflects our mission and Quaker values, within charity law.
Key responsibilities include leading the development of a strategic plan; developing and managing relationships with community partners, historians, and legal experts; overseeing budgets and reporting; and working in partnership with our leadership team to co-create a transparent and inclusive approach alongside our other strategic commitments.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape an important and evolving area of work. The successful candidate will combine strategic insight, project management, sensitivity, leadership and collaborative approach with a commitment to ethical practice and JRCT’s values. You will bring a balanced and pragmatic approach - comfortable working where ideal solutions may need adapting to real-world constraints - and be flexible and able to travel in the UK and internationally.
We warmly welcome applications from individuals who share our commitment to this work and who believe in the mission and values of our organisation. We look forward to hearing from you.
With warm wishes,
Nicola Purdy