Director of People and Finance – SignHealth

£77k
Home-based

When we describe SignHealth as ‘the Deaf health charity’, we mean exactly that.

We are a unique Deaf-led organisation, here to improve Deaf people’s health and wellbeing. We work in partnership with other deaf organisations, the NHS, the government and, most importantly, with Deaf people. Our focus is on people like us who use British Sign Language (BSL). This is where our expertise lies and where we can make a real difference. We provide psychological therapy, domestic abuse support and social care services, all delivered by Deaf people to Deaf people directly in BSL, and we also campaign for change. We are one of the UK’s largest voluntary sector employers of Deaf people, and many of our hearing colleagues are also fluent sign language users.

This career-shaping role oversees our people and finance teams, developing our organisational strength and ensuring that we are an exemplar of great leadership, culture and resource management in our sector. We want everyone who works for us to be able to say that it was the best job they’ve ever had, and we’ve got the same level of ambition for the quality of our operations and financial management. You’ll make sure that our systems and processes are professional, resilient and focused on our overall goal of delivering the highest quality campaigning and services for Deaf people.

So who are we looking for? Well, you’ll be passionate about Deaf people’s right to access health and wellbeing services, and able to use BSL in the workplace. You may be a qualified accountant with extensive experience at a senior level (including wider responsibility for people and resources), or an experienced HR leader who is ready to take on strategic leadership for finance. You will understand how to work with committees and Trustees as well as leading a small, enthusiastic team to deliver consistently high outcomes. You’ll also be a significant contributor to our new 3-year strategy, launching in March 2023. But this role is about doing just as much as it is about planning and leading, so you’ll welcome the chance to get involved in the detail of your remit, as well as the big picture.

We recognise the urgent need to address the health inequality Deaf people who are Black, Asian or from a minoritised ethnic community face. Outdated vocabulary and structural assumptions about Black people and people of colour still persist in sign language, in our Deaf community, as well as across much of the health system. SignHealth is determined to play a leading role in tackling these issues once and for all. So we are particularly interested in expressions of interest from Black people and people of colour. And we positively welcome applications from Deaf people (or those with Deaf people in their close networks) who use BSL.

To find out more, visit www.signhealth-director.co.uk where you will find further information in BSL and English. If you’re Deaf and want to have an informal discussion about the role in BSL, please email signhealth@cadencepartners.co.uk and we will put you in touch with Joanna Wootten, Deaf Associate with Cadence Partners.

Closing date: Wednesday 19 October 2022.