Interim Co-Pilot Support During Organisational Transition
About the Client
Cambridge Past, Present & Future is a local charity dedicated to protecting Cambridge’s green spaces, historic sites and countryside, ensuring these vital places are preserved for everyone to enjoy now and for generations to come. Its work balances history, nature and progress to support a thriving Cambridge.
What They Needed
In late 2024, the charity entered a period of operational strain. Staff vacancies combined with reduced senior leadership capacity created pressure across the organisation. Operational backlog was building, recruitment needed to be progressed, and additional leadership support was required to maintain stability and momentum.
I was brought in for a three-month interim General Manager role to act as a co-pilot alongside the CEO. The focus was to stabilise operations, support staff wellbeing, strengthen governance processes, and ensure the organisation was well-positioned for its next phase.
What We Did Together
Over the course of the interim period, I stepped into day-to-day operational leadership, line managing eight staff members and supporting the wider team. This included regular one-to-one meetings, structured wellbeing check-ins, and open communication to maintain morale and focus.
Alongside people management, I worked closely with the CEO and Finance Officer to prepare the 2025–26 budget. This involved reviewing salaries and investment strategy, refining projections, and supporting presentation of the budget to the Finance Committee and Board.
Operational systems were strengthened and backlog reduced. I oversaw recruitment for two roles and supported the induction of three new staff members, helping to ensure continuity as permanent leadership capacity was established. I also reviewed internal processes, policies and appraisal structures; analysed the annual staff survey; and provided recommendations to the Board for approval.
Throughout the period, I supported governance and compliance processes, prepared board and committee papers, and ensured key statutory updates were completed. I also introduced improvements to internal IT systems and provided targeted training where needed.
At the end of the interim period, I produced a recommendations report outlining priority areas for organisational development. This later informed the creation of a dedicated organisational development working group, on which I continue to serve as an external adviser.
The Impact
By the end of the three months, operational backlog had been significantly reduced, recruitment completed, and the charity transitioned to a permanent Head of Finance and Organisational Development, with clear systems and documentation in place to support continuity.
The Chair said: “Flóra brought much-needed expertise and staff support at a time when we faced a number of challenges. She got up to speed with the complexities and priorities of the charity extraordinarily quickly and added enduring value in the 3 months she was with us. A particular strength was her calm and reassuring approach, taking a measured view of any issues that arose and delivering practical solutions. We have retained Flóra as an advisor to various organisation development initiatives and she continues to bring a clear and realistic approach, in keeping with what this charity needs.”
Need Interim Leadership Support?
If your organisation is navigating transition, leadership gaps or operational pressure, I can step in to provide steady, practical support and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.