Interim Chief Operating Officer

Royal Town Planning Institute

About the Organisation

At the Royal Town Planning Institute (the RTPI), we champion the value of planning in building thriving places and communities. With over 27,000 members worldwide, we support planners at every stage of their career: raising professional standards, shaping planning policy, and proudly awarding chartered status, the highest professional accreditation in UK planning.

For over a century, we have empowered planners to deliver positive impact: creating healthy, inclusive, economically and environmentally sustainable places. As the voice of the profession, we advocate, support, and lead with purpose, professionalism, and passion.

About the role

We are looking for an Interim Chief Operating Officer to provide leadership across teams and to review the alignment of resources to priorities and outcomes. You will lead the finance, HR, governance, CPD training, membership, IT, facilities and EDI teams and will work closely with the Chief Executive to develop organisational capacity and capability in line with our Empower 2030 Strategy.

With a proven track record as a Director of Operations or Chief Operating Officer, you will have experience within membership organisations or similar not-for-profit organisations and a good understanding of governance and financial regulations and requirements for charities. You will be a calm and credible leader with strong stakeholder management skills and a collaborative approach.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership:

• Maintain oversight and accountability for: finance, HR, governance, CPD training, membership, IT and digital, facilities, and EDI.
• Leading and motivating the teams, ensuring strong performance management and support for direct reports.
• Work with the teams to identify and implement solutions to improve operational effectiveness, with a view to good governance and potential commercial opportunities.
• Maintain stability and continuity during a period of change.

Executive Partnership:

• Work closely with the Chief Executive to scope the responsibilities and requirements for a permanent Chief Operating Officer or similar position. 
• Act as a trusted partner to the Chief Executive and a key member of the Senior Executive Team, offering constructive challenge, senior-level judgment, and organisational insight.
• Serve as a senior representative in internal and external engagements as appropriate.
• Undertake such other duties, commensurate with the post, as may be directed by the Chief Executive.

Budget Responsibility:

• Responsible for overseeing the planning, setting, and managing of budgets across all areas of responsibility

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Experience:

• Proven track record as a COO, Director of Operations, and similar within a membership body / professional institute, not-for-profit organisation, and charity.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary corporate services teams
• Experience of risk management at an organisation-wide level
• Experience of improving governance structures
• Experience in a membership organisation

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of governance, ideally in complex organisations with multi-committee structures
• Strong understanding of the financial regulations and requirements for charities
• Understanding of digital transformation and AI-enabled tools, ideally in the membership or education space
• Experience in commissioning and managing external consultants
• Interest in planning and the built environment

Personal Qualities & Skills:

• Strong communication skills with the ability to present at the board level and to handle sensitive governance and people issues tactfully
• Calm, credible, and pragmatic
• Confident change agent without being disruptive
• Strong stakeholder management skills and emotional intelligence
• Able to work at a pace while maintaining accuracy and good judgment 
• Strategic thinker with hands-on delivery capability
• Able to work collaboratively with the Chief Executive and Senior Executive Team
• Some commercialisation experience

Compensation & Benefits

• Excellent pension scheme
• 26 days of holiday per year

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• Please upload your CV and a covering letter that tells us why you're interested in the role and how you meet the requirements. Applications are welcome from candidates who are available to start quickly.
• Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications. So, if you’re interested, please apply as early as possible.

Interviews

• The interviews Tuesday, 26th May, and Wednesday, 27th May 2026.

Policies

At the RTPI, we’re proud to offer a positive, supportive, and inclusive working environment. We actively foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and openness, where equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work. We're committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We know that a diverse team helps us better serve the communities and audiences we represent, and we’re working hard to ensure our people reflect that diversity.

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