Acting ceo jobs

Social Development Direct is a mission-driven, international development consultancy with a global reputation for excellence in gender equality and social inclusion. As a social enterprise subsidiary of Plan International UK, we combine commercial agility with a deep commitment to social change.

We are seeking a Managing Director who will lead the next phase of SDDirect’s development, advancing the organisation’s influence and impact. 

The Managing Director will report into the CEO of Plan International UK and the SDDirect Board, and will provide inspirational leadership to SDDirect’s talented and motivated executive and staff, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver excellent technical quality alongside sustainable commercial performance.

This role offers a unique opportunity for a dynamic, values-led and engaging leader, with drive, resilience and commercial acumen.A high level of commercial awareness combined with a social justice technical background, and a proven track record of successfully leading and managing a commercial enterprise, consultancy or similar organisation or unit in the international development sector, is highly preferable for this position.

For more information about the company, role and responsibilities, please find the full job description and person specification below. 

How to Apply: Please click 'Redirect to recruiter' for details on how to apply for this position.

If you would like a confidential discussion about the role, please get in touch with Sue Griffiths, Managing Director, to arrange this. Contact details can be found in the job description.

We are seeking a Deputy Chief Executive Officer to support the current Chief Executive Officer and strengthen the senior leadership of our charity. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Managers and Trustees, you will play a key role in driving our long term strategic goals and ensuring our values remain at the heart of everything we do.

Are you...

• A passionate, dedicated leader?
• Committed to our ethos, values and mission?
• Skilled in mentoring, supporting and empowering others?
• Looking for a leadership role within the charity sector?
• Ready to take on a new and rewarding challenge?

You will provide strong effective leadership to service managers and operational teams, ensuring decisions are made responsibly within available financial and organisational resources. This role is central to maintaining high quality services and supporting the continued success and sustainability of Health for All.

The ideal candidate will bring...

• Significant senior level management experience
• Proven people management experience
• A collaborative, adaptable and inclusive leadership style
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• The ability to develop partnerships that enhance our work and impact

There is scope for this role to evolve over time into the Chief Executive position, offering an exciting development opportunity for the right candidate. 

The main purpose of the role:

• To act as a Deputy to the Chief Executive Officer
• To lead the operational management team, mentor, support and empower managers to achieve objectives.
• To play a key role as a member of the senior leadership team.
• To identify and inspire process improvements, collaborating with team members to implement good practice.
• To develop and represent the charity in building strategic relationships.

Hours and contract period:
Full time, 35 hours per week, normally Monday to Friday but flexibility is required given the seniority of the post. There may be some need to work outside normal office hours and may include some weekend work. This post is offered on a permanent contract with a 6 month probationary period. This post will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service
check and satisfactory references.
Location:
Based at Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre in Middleton, Leeds, the role involves regular travel to other Health for All centres and locations. It is desirable that the successful applicant is a car driver with access to a suitable vehicle. Mileage and travel costs will be reimbursed through expenses. Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

Benefits:

• 31 Days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 5% Employers Pension Contribution
• Free Parking at Health for All centres
• Mindful Employer Plus employee assistance programme

Reports to:
Chief Executive Officer.
Responsible for:
Operational Service Managers (6 Managers)

Application closing date: Friday 19th December 2025

First Interviews: Early January 2026

To apply please download the application pack from our website and complete an application form, please note we do not accept CV's.

At 21 Together, we believe every person with Down’s syndrome has the right to live a happy, rich and fulfilling life. Based in Maidstone and working across Kent, we support children and young people with Down’s syndrome, their families, and the professionals who work with them.

We are a small but impactful charity looking for an inspiring Chief Executive Officer to lead us through the next phase of our growth.

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Organisation: 21 Together
Location: Maidstone, Kent (Hybrid working available)
Salary: From £48,561 FTE, dependent on experience 

Contract: Permanent or Fixed Term (flexible)
Working Hours: Part-time or Fractional (minimum 3 days per week)
Closing Date: 5th January 2026

Interview Date: Early January 2026

The Role

As CEO, you’ll provide strategic leadership, oversee operations, and drive income generation to ensure our long-term sustainability. You’ll work closely with our committed Board of Trustees, lead a passionate team, and act as the public face of the organisation.

We’re open to part-time or fractional working arrangements (minimum 3 days/week) to attract the right person.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver our mission and long-term strategy
• Ensure strong financial oversight and fundraising success
• Lead and support staff and volunteers, fostering a positive and inclusive culture
• Maintain strong governance and ensure legal compliance
• Represent the charity externally and build key stakeholder relationships
• Monitor impact and promote continuous improvement

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• An experienced leader with a strategic mindset
• Financially astute, with a track record of managing budgets and securing income
• A confident communicator with excellent stakeholder engagement skills
• Committed to inclusion, learning, and supporting vulnerable communities

Desirable: Experience or understanding of Down’s syndrome and/or learning disabilities.

What We Offer

• Flexible working (minimum 3 days/week)
• Hybrid arrangements available
• Supportive and values-led culture
• Opportunity to make a meaningful, visible difference

The Vacancy

Job Title: CEO YMCA Newcastle

Location: Newcastle

Salary: TBC

Weekly Hours: TBC

Reference: YMC1157145

About YMCA Newcastle
YMCA Newcastle is part of the global YMCA Movement — one of the world’s oldest and largest youth organisations — and has been empowering young people in the city for over 170 years. As an independent local charity, we deliver a diverse range of youth and community services across Newcastle, including youth work, housing and social enterprise. Our housing portfolio includes supported accommodation and outreach programmes, alongside private rented flats, managed in partnership with a local managing agent,.

Our mission is simple but powerful: to empower young people and strengthen communities so that everyone can belong, contribute and thrive.

The Role
We are seeking a visionary, compassionate and inspirational Chief Executive Officer to lead YMCA Newcastle into its next chapter. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring that our organisation continues to deliver high-quality, impactful services while remaining financially sustainable.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading the strategic development and operational delivery of YMCA Newcastle’s youth, housing and community services.

Managing supported housing provision.

Acting as the Ofsted Responsible Officer and ensuring full compliance with regulatory standards.

Overseeing financial management, budgeting, reporting and income generation.

Building strong partnerships with funders, local authorities, and community stakeholders.

Promoting, developing and expanding youth work provision across Newcastle – and, in time, Gateshead.

Leading and developing a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of inclusion, safeguarding and continuous improvement.

Managing commercial interests, including a block of 22 flats in partnership with a managing agent.

About You
You’ll be a dynamic, values-driven leader with at least five years’ senior management experience in a complex or multidisciplinary organisation. You will combine strategic vision with hands-on operational understanding and have a track record of managing services for young people and/or housing provision. Financial acumen, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion are essential.

Why Join Us?

Lead a historic and impactful charity with a bold vision for the future.

Work alongside a dedicated team and supportive Board committed to positive social change.

Enjoy flexible working arrangements and a collaborative, values-based culture.

Make a lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable young people across Newcastle.

YMCA Newcastle is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

We’ve ambitions to change so much, to improve support for endometriosis – are you the experienced and highly organised Executive Assistant to CEO we need to help us?

We are the UK’s leading charity for all those affected by endometriosis, determined to ensure that everyone gets prompt diagnosis and the best treatment and support. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Executive Assistant to join our team at Endometriosis UK and help us make a real difference for the 1.5 million in the UK with the disease. This is a crucial role for our small but growing charity, supporting the CEO to ensure the smooth running of the organisation. You’ll be a key point of contact, proactively managing all aspects of EA support to the CEO to enable them to maximise their performance and delivery, as well as coordinating our governance administrative systems and processes. You will be working as part of a passionate team with a strong commitment to achieving change to help those with living with endometriosis.  

The role will be ideal for a highly organised, proactive, and experienced Executive Assistant used to working on their own initiative and comfortable with multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment. You will be a born organiser, with superb judgment, a diplomatic approach, solution focused and with excellent problem-solving skills. You will have the ability to think two steps ahead, guided by our strategic and operational priorities, and the confidence to steer senior managers accordingly. You will bring a meticulous attention to detail and exemplary skills in prioritisation, time management and task completion. Advanced skills in MS Office are essential. Your written and verbal communication skills will be first-rate, with stakeholders at all levels. You will be comfortable handling confidential material with the utmost discretion. You will have proven experience supporting senior executives and Boards, ideally in the charity or non-profit sector. The EA will also play a proactive role in improving organisational processes and supporting priority areas as needed.

This will be a busy, varied and important role working closely with the CEO to make sure their diary supports their strategic priorities. Key responsibilities include managing, triaging and responding to emails, complex diary management to ensure effective use of their time, providing briefing papers and ensuring the CEO is well prepared for meetings, and ensuring we’ve efficient governance and office processes. You will need to have the ability to exercise tact, diplomacy and sensitivity, with excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills. You will act as that indispensable individual for the CEO, ultimately responsible for proactively ensuring their work life runs effectively and efficiently. The key focus of the role is to ensure the CEO is able to maximise their impact and influence in the charity, plus ensuring the smooth operation of board and committee functions,

This is a hands-on role in a small but ambitious charity, ideal for someone who’s willing to get stuck in, take initiative, is flexible and brings structure and calm to a busy leadership team. You’ll be a trusted partner, helping to manage schedules, coordinate meetings, prepare documents, and ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

We look forward to receiving your application. 

Job title: Executive Assistant to CEO

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Working hours: Full time/ 37.5 hrs a week

Location: Endometriosis UK’s office at London Bridge, with hybrid working options

Contract: Permanent

Annual salary: £38,000 - £40,000 depending on experience, and incl London Weighting

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 1st December 2025

Interview date: Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th December, at our office in London Bridge

Harris Hill is delighted to be working with Safer Places to recruit its new Chief Executive Officer.

Safer Places is a specialist support service for individuals at risk of, fleeing from, or recovering from domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking. We provide a wide range of trauma-informed services to adults, children, and young people across Hertfordshire and Essex, with safe accommodation available to those in need from across the UK.

As Chief Executive, you will:

• Lead Safer Places into its next chapter. This includes enhancing the charity’s service delivery, forging new partnerships, and expanding its role as a Registered Social Landlord to better meet the evolving needs of our communities.
• Embed Safer Places’s vision across the organisation – ensuring it is understood, embraced, and translated into action at every level.
• Have an entrepreneurial mindset to leverage opportunities for the charity to grow. 
• Continue to ensure that Safer Places is recognised for the quality of its services, its commitment to inclusivity, and its highly trained, compassionate staff.

If you are inspired and excited by what Safer Places does, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £85,000 - £90,000 p.a.

Location: Hertfordshire/Essex – most working hours will be spent collaborating with colleagues and partners at our offices and service sites, with flexibility for some remote work.

Employment term: Permanent / full time.

How to apply:

Please review the recruitment pack for further information about Safer Places, the CEO position and for details on how to apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Friday 5th December 2025

Safer Places is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. However, this CEO post is restricted to women applicants due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Woman’s Trust is a leading, specialist mental health charity supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse. As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2026, we stand at a powerful moment of growth and transformation. Each year, our trauma-informed, women-led services provide life-changing counselling, therapeutic support and advocacy to women and children across London. Our ambition is to scale this work to reach many more nationally. With a dedicated team of 45 staff, a strong financial foundation and annual income of £1.3m and a deeply committed Board of Trustees, we are poised to shape an ambitious new strategy for the years ahead.

We are now seeking an inspirational Chief Executive Officer to lead Woman’s Trust into this next chapter. This is a rare opportunity to guide a respected organisation whose work is not only transformative but often life-saving. The CEO will steer our strategic and operational development, strengthen and expand partnerships, grow sustainable income, and champion our voice across policy, public campaigns and mental health advocacy. Alongside a dedicated and collaborative team and Board, you will play a vital role in delivering and developing innovative services—supporting women and children, survivors navigating the justice system, and peer-led support groups—ensuring we remain responsive to the needs and experiences of those we serve.

We are seeking an inspirational and experienced people leader who combines strategic thinking with the ambition needed to position Woman’s Trust for growth. Confident in representing your organisation at a policy and advocacy level, you will act as a powerful ambassador for survivors’ mental health, influencing systems, shaping debate and strengthening our public voice. With strong financial and governance insight and the ability to build trusted, values-driven relationships across sectors, you will model a growth mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement. Above all, you will uphold our feminist, inclusive and survivor-centred values, nurturing an empowering and equitable culture for our staff, volunteers, partners, and—most importantly—the women and children we serve.

To read more about the opportunity and our work, including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief.

If you have the passion, clarity and commitment to champion the mental health and wellbeing of women and children survivors—and the leadership to guide Woman’s Trust into a bold new era—we would be delighted to hear from you.

Closing Date: 21 December 2025

People Beyond Profit Screening Conversations: 22 December - 6 January 2026

Woman’s Trust Panel Interviews:

· First Stage (online): 13 & 14 January 2026

· Second Stage (in-person): 22 January 2026

Please note:

This post is open to female applicants only as this is deemed a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

We are supporting an impactful national charity, helping marginalised young people to make and monetise music.

At a time of reduced public funding, mental health challenges, climate change, and the growth of AI, we believe their mission has never been more urgent. Music builds confidence, creativity and community and it can transform how young people understand themselves and their place in the world.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a strategic, inclusive leader who shares this belief to join the UK’s largest and leading young people’s music charity. We are searching for a Chief Executive who will boldly campaign for the charity’s mission, inspire colleagues, and play a key strategic role in shaping their next chapter.

Chief Executive

Salary: £100,000 - £110,000 + benefits

Location: London, Southwark office- Hybrid working

We’re seeking a senior leader with a proven track record in securing major partnerships, grants, or donations, ideally from a charity, foundation, or similar organisation. You’ll have experience across the creative, youth, education, or cultural sectors, with expertise in funding strategy, impact measurement, and working confidently with government. A key priority will be accelerating income growth by building strong, strategic relationships with funders, policymakers, and philanthropists.

Key responsibilities include:

· Lead and evolve the charity’s strategy, ensuring it reflects the organisation’s vision and values.

· Act as principal ambassador, advocating their mission with authority and authenticity.

· Model inclusive, values-driven leadership, promoting equity, wellbeing, creativity, and youth participation.

· Oversee long-term financial planning and budgeting with the COO and board.

· Drive digital transformation through strategic adoption of digital tools and technologies.

As Chief Executive, you’ll be an effective spokesperson, progressive thinker, and committed advocate for grassroots youth music, able to connect with people from all backgrounds. If you bring energy, belief in young people, and a passion for music, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply
To apply for the role, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website.

Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.   

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role, please contact us for more information. 
 
At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications: Sunday 4th January (midnight) 2026

Interviews with Prospectus: 12-23 January

Interviews with the charity: 2-13 February

Anaphylaxis UK is seeking our next Chief Executive Officer. This is an opportunity to lead the UK’s only charity dedicated solely to people at risk of anaphylaxis, taking forward its mission at an exciting moment of development and growth.

About Us

Anaphylaxis UK is the UK’s leading charity supporting individuals, families and carers living with serious allergies and anaphylaxis. For over 30 years we have provided evidence-based information, training and advocacy to improve safety, inclusion and quality of life for people at risk of severe allergic reactions. Our services include a dedicated helpline, the AllergyWise® training portfolio (including the Safer Schools Programme), accredited factsheets, an expanding digital offer and partnerships with healthcare, research and industry partners. We champion research, influence policy and work directly with schools, businesses and healthcare settings to reduce risk and anxiety for people with allergies.

The Role

As Chief Executive Officer you will be the senior officer responsible for the strategic leadership, operational management, financial stewardship and external representation of Anaphylaxis UK. You will lead delivery of the charity’s strategic ambitions, grow and diversify income, and work collaboratively with a committed small staff team and an active Board of Trustees.

Key responsibilities

• Lead strategy delivery, balancing service quality and financial sustainability.

• Oversee governance, reporting, budgeting, risk and regulatory compliance.

• Grow and diversify income to strengthen financial resilience.

• Provide ethical leadership, manage senior staff and build an inclusive culture.

• Develop strategic partnerships and act as public representative.

• Deliver high-quality services and drive digital innovation.

Key details

• Job title: Chief Executive Officer

• Salary: £70,000–£75,000 per annum

• Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours per week)

• Location: Hybrid - home based with regular in-person staff and Board meetings (including an average of one weekly meeting with third-party agents in central London); travel across the UK as required.

• Hours / working pattern: Hybrid working with regular face-to-face commitments and attendance at relevant UK conferences.

As our next CEO, you will demonstrate:

Essential

• Minimum five years’ executive (CEO-level or equivalent) leadership with proven strategic and change delivery.

• Strong business development track record, including diversifying income (fundraising, commercial, grants/partnerships).

• Solid financial competence: budgeting, control, reporting and financial stewardship.

• Experience working with boards, good corporate governance and risk management.

• Proven ability to deliver and improve high-quality services.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing across government, health, research and industry.

• Collaborative, emotionally intelligent leader who builds trust with staff, trustees and partners.

• Willingness to travel sustainably as required.

Desirable

• Knowledge of allergy, health or education sectors, or experience in health-related charities.

• Experience developing digital services and improving accessibility of information.

• Experience with corporate partnerships, schools or training delivery.

• Degree or relevant professional qualification.

Please download the appointment brief for full details, including how to apply,

If you would like an informal conversation about this position, please contact in confidence our consultant, Jenny Hills, at Harris Hill via the apply button with suitable times to speak, and optional but appreciated, a CV or professional profile.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th December

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Harris Hill is delighted to be working with Hospice of the Good Shepherd to recruit its new Chief Executive Officer.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd provides care and support free of charge to the people of Chester, West Cheshire and Deeside who are affected by life limiting illnesses, and we ensure everyone we support has the best possible quality of life. We help our patients to live as well as possible and to make every moment count.

As Chief Executive, you will:

• Bring inspirational leadership and drive to the Hospice.

• Give direction, maintain financial stability and develop the operational management of the Hospice.

• Have a passion for end-of-life care, with the energy and talent to motivate our highly committed teams as we forge a path to a future where we tailor our services ever more closely to the needs and wants of our local communities.

If you are inspired and excited by what Hospice of the Good Shepherd does, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £84,500 - £89,000 p.a. FTE

Contract: Permanent / Full-time (37.5 hours p/w) or Part-time (30 hours p/w)

Location: Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Gordon Lane, Backford, Chester. CH2 4DG

How to apply:

Please review the Recruitment Pack for further information about Hospice of the Good Shepherd, the CEO position and for details on how to apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 5th January 2026

Both Hospice of the Good Shepherd and Harris Hill operate an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for improving the lives of women and families in the perinatal period?

Are you ready to lead the next phase of growth and development of our established Perinatal Mental Health Support charity as Chief Executive?

About Light Peer Support

Light is a perinatal mental health support charity, set up in 2010, which has grown to support parents and their families across South Yorkshire through the provision of peer support and counselling. We’re led by our passion to support mental health during pregnancy and beyond for all families from all communities.  

From our hub in Sheffield as well as in Family Hubs across Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley, we work with families who are experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties in the perinatal period, working in partnership across the statutory and voluntary sector to raise awareness of perinatal mental health difficulties and the support available.

We’re committed to providing services that embrace diversity to support equity in service access and promote equality of opportunity. 

The role

Following the planned retirement of our current Chief Executive, we are seeking an exceptional leader to guide our grassroots charity through its next phase of growth and development. As our new Chief Executive, you will work closely with the Board of Trustees to build on a strong foundation of trusted services and demonstrable outcomes. You will provide inspiring strategic, financial, and operational leadership to ensure our services remain sustainable, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and responsive to the needs of parents and families from all communities.

We’re looking for a compassionate, visionary leader with proven senior-level experience who can balance day-to-day operational oversight with stakeholder engagement and longer-term strategic thinking.

This is a pivotal moment for our organisation. You will lead us into an exciting new chapter — strengthening partnerships, creating new collaborations, expanding our reach, diversifying income, and driving innovation in how we support families. As our lead ambassador, you’ll champion lived experience and the value of co-production, raise awareness of perinatal mental health challenges, and influence change locally and nationally to improve the experiences of families at a crucial time in their lives.

We looking to you to bring the following skills and experience:

Senior operational and strategic leadership with at least 3 years’ experience, including successful delivery of public or private sector contracts.

Service growth and development experience, including leading organisational expansion and managing performance, contracts, tenders, and funding or grant applications.

Financial and governance expertise, including budget management, financial oversight, reporting to governing boards, and strong knowledge of governance, compliance, safeguarding, and GDPR.

People leadership, with a track record of managing staff, building high-performing teams, and increasing volunteer involvement.

Stakeholder engagement and networking skills to advance awareness and investment in our mission.

Sector knowledge, including understanding of maternity, mental health and children’s services, and the challenges faced by women and families in the perinatal period, along with the value of timely intervention.

Equality at Light

We believe that every parent deserves understanding, compassion, and the right support at the right time and in the right place.

We’re proud to be a welcoming, inclusive charity, and we want our team to reflect the diverse communities we serve. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and life experiences, especially those with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges. We're aiming for a workforce that is truly representative of the communities we serve.

We're a family friendly employer and open to discussion on flexible working subject to service needs.

If you’re an inspiring leader who shares our passion for supporting parents and families — and you’re ready to build on a proud 15-year legacy and shape the future of perinatal mental health support — we’d love to hear from you.

Please note full-time working is 35 hours/week

Closing date 23:59 Monday 1st December 2025

CamRARE is celebrating a decade of progress and impact and is seeking a dynamic Managing Director to lead our next chapter of growth. 

As our Managing Director and founding member prepares for her planned retirement, Cambridge Rare Disease Network (CamRARE) is seeking a dynamic and visionary new leader to guide the charity into its next decade. You will drive strategic growth, strengthen partnerships, ensure long-term sustainability, and champion innovation, research, and community impact for people affected by rare and undiagnosed conditions. 

You will inspire and empower a passionate and talented team of staff, trustees, volunteers, families and partners, while building strong connections across our networks to expand our reach, visibility, and influence. As an energetic and forward-thinking leader, you will bring the drive and expertise to strengthen partnerships, grow income through innovative fundraising and strategic collaborations, and champion CamRARE as a trusted voice within the rare community and beyond.

Why choose a career at Cambridge Rare Disease Network?

#purpose – We’re on a mission to make life with a rare condition easier through community, collaboration and connections. Your role is to lead this mission to directly contribute to a better future for those living with rare conditions.

#growth – We’re a small, ambitious team where you’ll have opportunities to shape and grow with us. You will use your experience and knowledge to make a measurable impact.

#diversity and inclusion– We value the diversity and unique insights each person brings. We actively welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

About Cambridge Rare Disease Network

There are over 10,000 rare conditions that affect 400 million people globally. Receiving a diagnosis can take years. Most rare diseases have no treatment. Coordination of care is often poor.

We’re on a mission to make life easier for those affected—uniting individuals, families, patient groups, researchers, industry, clinicians and policymakers to accelerate solutions and improve lives. Through knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and creativity, we aim to make the journey smoother for people living with rare and undiagnosed conditions and their families.

• CamRARE connects patients, advocates, research experts, and leaders—catalysing action to drive solutions and create lasting change
• Connects knowledge with lived experience to transform the journey toward better diagnosis, treatment, and support for individuals and their families
• Connects, educates, and supports the rare disease community - locally and globally - to improve outcomes and transform lives

Leading CamRARE

As Managing Director, you will provide strategic leadership for the charity, oversee governance and operations, develop and execute the strategy set by the Board of Trustees, and build key external partnerships. This role leads fundraising efforts and develops high-level external stakeholder relationships with Government bodies, including healthcare organisations/departments, Industry, patient and charity organisations, and Research Institutions involved in rare disease. This is a key role to build, strengthen and nurture the charity's connection with the rare disease community, empowering them and fostering an inclusive and supportive network.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a deep commitment to improving the lives of individuals and their families living with rare conditions.
• Has proven experience of 10+ years in a senior leadership role with a track record of delivering impact.
• Has experience in strategic planning, organisational development, and leading change.
• Brings creativity, adaptability and a “can-do” attitude.
• Has experience in income generation and managing stakeholder relationships.Has strong team management skills with a focus on development and building an inclusive workplace culture.
• Has experience in financial management and resource allocation.
• Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and inspire.
• Has sound knowledge of issues affecting the voluntary sector
• Enjoys working independently, hands-on as part of a team and effectively with remote teams
• Experience in and enjoys networking and partnership building, can communicate effectively with a broad range of people
• Experienced in business delivery aligned to financial targets, core objectives and strategy implementation
• Has experience leading events and campaigns

Susan’s Farm is an energetic organisation delivering a broad range of activities. Our charitable purpose is to transform people’s lives through learning and therapeutic experiences on an organic working livestock farm. After six years as a charity, and following a recent governance and staffing review, we are now seeking to appoint a dedicated managing director to oversee all aspects of the charity’s work. The Managing Director will join a small but committed staff team and report to enthusiastic board of trustees.

Susan’s Farm is based in Houghton, a small village 3 miles from Carlisle and delivers its educational activities on site as well as on the other half of our farm near Armathwaite and for a neighbouring farmer at Aglionby. We have a small learning centre at Houghton and also work closely with Cumbria Wildlife Trust whose Northern office is on land adjacent to our farm.

We have three main strands of delivery; primary school visits, alternative provision placements and care farmer placements and are certified by Social Farms & Gardens. We are a beef and sheep Organic and Pasture for Life certified Farm. We also have hens and geese and some horticultural activity. Our farm produce is sold direct to the customer.

Susan’s Farm is a registered charity converting from a CIC in 2019.   Before that our founder, Susan Aglionby ran educational activities on the farm over a period of more than 20 years. Over the last six years considerable effort has been devoted to professionalising the organisation and our delivery work and we are no ready for the next stage.

ROLE FOCUS: 

To support, manage and provide dynamic leadership to Susan’s Farm and its staff and services. Working with the Board of Trustees to ensure that Susan’s Farm meets its requirements, as a charity in delivering services, and to maintain its reputation as a national and local leader in working to provide services to its beneficiaries through the experience of a farm. To further develop the organisation and the services it offers promoting the charity’s principles. 

Closing Date 3rd December 2025. Interviews in the week commencing 15th December.

Application forms are available on our website.

For a conversation about the role or to arrange a visit please contact our office.

We are looking for a person who can lead LWPT through ongoing development of the organisation in coordination with both staff and trustees. The person needs to be able to maintain a clear strategic plan for the organisation that allows the organisation to stay focussed on what we plan to do to the benefit of both beneficiaries and supporters. The right person is able to maintain a healthy focus on income and expenditure in order to ensure that LWPT can meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Essential for the right applicant:
• A Christian with a good knowledge of the Christian communities in the UK.
• Someone who is an active member of a local church.
• Is able to affirm the historic creeds of the Christian church.
• A personal commitment to the development of the next generation of Christian Bible teachers in the UK.
• The ability to work from home with good wifi access.
• Ability to travel to the main office in Watford twice a month.

£60k pa FTE. This is a 0.8FTE role