Chief Executive Officer - The Brain Charity
Location: Liverpool-based - occasional travel across Merseyside and the UK
Salary: circa £65,000 (+ 10% company pension on successful completion of probation)
Contract: permanent, full-time
Are you ready to lead a values-driven charity that supports people affected by neurological conditions and their families across Merseyside and nationally?
The Brain Charity is a Liverpool-based national charity supporting adults, children and their families affected by any of more than 600 neurological and related conditions. Since our roots in Merseyside community neurology (1992) we have grown a centre-based offer, hospital liaison roles and a national information, training and support service - from practical welfare and legal advice, counselling and rehabilitation (Neuro Gym) to peer connection via The Brain Food Café and employer/school training. We put lived experience, co-production and neuro-inclusive practice at the heart of everything we do.
As our next Chief Executive, you will:
- Strategic leadership: Develop and deliver a 5-year strategy and an operational plan with clear priorities that secures the charity’s long-term impact and sustainable growth.
- Values leadership: Model and embed the charity’s person-centred, inclusive and co-productive values across services and culture.
- Growth & income diversification: Lead development of diverse income streams - fundraising, legacies and commercial activity - to strengthen financial resilience.
- Partnerships & advocacy: Strengthen senior relationships with NHS partners, local authorities, commissioners and wider stakeholders; amplify the charity’s voice in neuro-health and community settings.
- Service quality & impact: Embed rigorous outcome measurement, quality assurance and contract compliance so our impact drives commissioning and service development.
- People leadership: Stabilise staff morale, lead and develop a high-performing Senior Leadership Team, and promote wellbeing and inclusive working practices.
- Governance & financial stewardship: Provide timely, high-quality reporting to the Board; oversee budgeting, forecasting and risk management to safeguard financial sustainability.
Who you are:
- An experienced Chief Executive or senior director with a minimum of three years’ experience at CEO or equivalent level.
- Proven track record of winning and managing commissioned contracts and delivering against local authority or health contracts.
- Skilled at building strategic partnerships and commanding credibility with senior stakeholders across health, local government and the voluntary sector.
- Confident at leading turnaround and financial sustainability work - experienced in budgeting, forecasting and making difficult decisions when needed.
- A values-led, collaborative leader with high emotional intelligence, resilience and a commitment to co-production and inclusion.
Why The Brain Charity?
- Lead a respected, person-centred organisation with a unique, wide-ranging offer across advice, emotional support, rehabilitation, social connection and national training.
- A high-impact role where you can stabilise the organisation, professionalise fundraising and scale services strategically.
- Liverpool-based centre with hybrid working and national reach - a chance to influence neuro-health practice and commissioning across the UK.
Please see the attached Recruitment Brief with details on how to apply.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 10th November 2025
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.
Thank you!
At Action for ME, we believe that change won't just happen; it has to be made. That's why action and impact are at the heart of everything we do. Whether that's helping people today with support, information, or care. Or working towards securing future change through our research and campaigning work.
The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.
More information can be found in the application pack.
You will play a pivotal role supporting the Charity in several different ways. Working with the Senior Leadership Team, you will ensure the smooth running of the organisation, providing administrative support to the Director of Operations and the Chief Executive. As a self-starter you will manage a range of tasks such as diary management, meeting minutes, assisting with event administration and HR administration. No two days will be the same!
You will be the point of contact for our HR, recruitment and training systems, ensuring consistency and assurance across the organisation. You will support HR administration such as supporting recruitment, on-boarding and off-boarding of colleagues as well as taking minutes for Board meetings, so you will need to be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
As a team player, you will provide comprehensive, confidential and sensitive people-orientated administration support, developing a deep understanding of our organisation, our work and build strong, effective working relationships with colleagues.
Remote working at home can be challenging for some and for others, it works incredibly well. You will need to be able to work on your own, use your own initiative and ensure you are proactive in maintain good levels of communication and contact with your colleagues to ensure we deliver the best service possible to people with ME.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.