UK maritime search-and-rescue charity operating 238 lifeboat stations
RNLI is a UK-registered nonprofit operating one of the world's oldest maritime rescue services, founded in 1824 and now running 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland, plus seasonal lifeguard coverage on 240+ beaches and specialist flood-rescue teams. Tech adoption is sparse but deliberate: the org is migrating to Workday (signaling modernization of HR and payroll infrastructure) while still leaning on Office, SharePoint, and CAD tools. Hiring has accelerated across engineering, operations, and marketing, with notable activity in leadership roles around change management and HR transformation—typical of a large nonprofit restructuring its internal systems.
Notable leadership hires: Change and Engagement Lead, HR Project Lead
RNLI provides 24-hour search-and-rescue coverage at sea, beach lifeguard services, and disaster-response flood rescue across the UK, Republic of Ireland, and Channel Islands. The organization is built on volunteer labor: 95% of the workforce are unpaid volunteers, with a core staff of 1,001–5,000 managing operations, fundraising, and compliance. Revenue comes almost entirely from donations and legacies (98% of total income), making long-term supporter cultivation and legacy giving central to organizational sustainability. The charity holds dual regulatory registrations across England, Wales, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Guernsey, and Alderney.
RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland, including four on the River Thames, four inland stations, and seasonal lifeguard services on 240+ beaches.
RNLI is actively hiring in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with headquarters in Poole, Dorset.
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