Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Contract type: Full-time, permanent (subject to probationary review)
Location: In-person (only), London
About the Avicenna Foundation
The Avicenna Foundation is a scholarship and leadership development organisation committed to advancing the potential of young British Muslims. Through a comprehensive four-year programme combining financial support, coaching, mentoring, Tarbiyyah, and career development, we invest in scholars who have the drive and values to become the next generation of leaders across public life, policy, and civic society. We are a small, ambitious team working at the intersection of faith, education, and social change, and we take seriously the responsibility that comes with that.
We are not interested in maintaining the status quo. The Avicenna Foundation exists to develop principled, ambitious leaders who will shape institutions, influence public life, and redefine what leadership looks like for the next generation of British Muslims. We look for team members who are proactive, intellectually curious, willing to challenge assumptions, and motivated by building something exceptional rather than simply maintaining existing systems.
The Role and Opportunity
The Partnerships, Selection and Impact Coordinator is the role that ensures the Avicenna Foundation's work reaches the right people, is understood by the right audiences, and is evidenced with the rigour it deserves. From identifying and selecting scholars who embody the Foundation's values, to telling the story of their progress to funders and partners, to building the alumni network that will sustain the Foundation's legacy, this role has breadth and genuine strategic importance. We are looking for someone who is entrepreneurial, strategic, and motivated by building long-term influence. The successful candidate will understand that this role is not simply about administration or communications, but about helping shape a national pipeline of future leaders and expanding the Foundation's reach, credibility, and impact. If you are passionate about equity and representation, energised by building partnerships that open doors, and committed to demonstrating that this work changes lives, we want to hear from you.
Role Overview
The Partnerships, Selection and Impact Coordinator manages the external facing dimensions of the Avicenna Foundation's work. This includes scholar recruitment and selection, alumni relations, stakeholder and funder communications, social media, and impact measurement. The postholder is responsible for ensuring the Foundation can demonstrate its effectiveness clearly and credibly to trustees, funders, and the wider public, and that the scholar pipeline remains strong year on year. The postholder will play an important role in identifying high-potential scholars, building influential partnerships, and helping position the Foundation as a leading voice in Muslim leadership development.
Key Responsibilities
Scholar Selection
- Manage the end-to-end scholar recruitment and selection process, from application management through to psychometric assessment, interview coordination, and onboarding.
- Ensure the selection process consistently applies the Foundation's five eligibility criteria: Zakat eligibility, non-STEM subject focus, attitude and aptitude, drive and motivation, and alignment with the Foundation's values.
- Administer Scholar Agreements and supporting documentation at the point of offer and at each annual renewal.
Alumni Relations
- Manage the Avicenna Alumni Network, maintaining engagement, facilitating alumni-led mentoring connections, and developing the network as a long-term asset for the Foundation.
- Coordinate alumni contribution to active programme delivery, including as speakers, mentors, and sibling network participants.
Stakeholder Communications and Partnerships
- Manage relationships with funders, partner organisations, and key external stakeholders, providing regular updates on programme activity and outcomes.
- Prepare briefings, proposals, and reports for trustee meetings and funder reporting cycles.
- Identify and develop new partnerships that extend the Foundation's reach, particularly in career access, employer engagement, and policy influence.
Social Media and Communications
- Own the Foundation's social media presence, producing content that reflects the programme's values, scholar achievements, and organisational developments.
- Ensure all external communications are consistent with the Foundation's tone and values, and do not compromise scholar confidentiality or the integrity of the selection process.
- Support the production of programme publications, including the annual impact report.
Impact Measurement and Reporting
- Develop and maintain the Foundation's impact measurement framework, tracking outputs and outcomes against the theory of change across short, medium, and long-term timeframes.
- Coordinate annual scholar surveys, alumni tracking, and other data collection activity to build the evidence base.
- Produce the annual impact report, ensuring findings are communicated clearly to trustees, funders, and the public.
Strategic Growth and Influence
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the Foundation's visibility, partnerships, and long-term influence.
- Contribute proactively to improving scholar recruitment quality, stakeholder engagement, and organisational positioning.
- Build relationships with individuals and institutions aligned with the Foundation's ambition to cultivate future leaders across public and civic life.
- Ensure external communications reflect the Foundation's values, intellectual seriousness, and long-term vision.
Person Specification
- Experience in a partnerships, communications, or programme management role, ideally within the charity or public sector.
- Strong written communication skills, able to produce clear and compelling content for a range of audiences.
- Comfortable working with data and producing evidence-based reports.
- Experience of managing social media for an organisation, with a sound understanding of responsible and values-led communications.
- Entrepreneurial and proactive, with the confidence to initiate ideas and build relationships independently.
- Strong judgement and the ability to represent the Foundation with professionalism and credibility.
- Motivated by social impact, leadership development, and expanding opportunities for underrepresented talent.
- Comfortable contributing within a mission-driven organisation with ambitious goals and high expectations.
- Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple stakeholder relationships simultaneously.
- Committed to the mission and values of the Avicenna Foundation.
- We are particularly interested in candidates who are proactive, thoughtful, and willing to challenge conventional approaches in pursuit of better outcomes for scholars and the wider community.
- Successful candidates will be motivated by building something exceptional, not simply maintaining existing processes.