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Chief Executive Officer (Part-time, 3 days/week)
Veterans With Dogs (VWD) is seeking an experienced, values-driven and credible Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our charity into its next chapter. This rare and exciting opportunity offers the chance to guide a small, high-impact team at a pivotal stage in the charity’s growth.
Location: Flexible / UK-based, with regular travel to Exeter, training sites, and key meetings as required. We are flexible in how this is structured, and relocation is not required.
Salary: £45,000–£55,000 pro-rata (equivalent to £27,000 - £33,000 for 3 days/week) + 3% pension contribution
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 21 hours / 3 days per week
Holiday: 28 days per annum (FTE), plus bank holidays
Reports to: Chair of Trustees
Direct reports: 3
About Veterans With Dogs
Veterans With Dogs is a UK charity that transforms the lives of Armed Forces veterans living with mental health challenges. Through the provision of highly trained assistance dogs and trauma-informed support, we help restore purpose, independence, and dignity to those who have served.
Founded in 2012, our work addresses a vital gap for veterans living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. Through our award-winning PALS™ (Partner Animal Life Skills) programme, we support veterans to rebuild their lives, with the constant support of a trusted companion by their side.
Following a period of governance transition and renewal, we are entering a new and exciting phase. We are strengthening leadership, systems, and strategy to ensure long-term sustainability and greater reach, while maintaining the quality, care, and integrity that sit at the heart of our work.
We recognise that this is a senior leadership role within a small organisation and are committed to flexibility in how the role is delivered. We are open to conversations around working patterns and location to ensure we attract the strongest possible candidate.
We are also open to shaping aspects of the role around the strengths and location of the successful candidate.
We would particularly welcome candidates who can bring fresh perspective, while respecting and building on the strong foundations already in place.
This is an opportunity to shape the future of a respected and growing charity at a pivotal moment, with genuine scope to influence strategy, culture, and long-term impact.
The Role
The CEO will provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and cultural leadership for Veterans With Dogs. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO will oversee the delivery of the charity’s mission, ensure operational excellence, develop our long-term strategy, and foster a values-led and high-performing team.
This is a hands-on, multi-dimensional leadership role, ideal for a calm, pragmatic, and inspiring individual with experience of organisational stabilisation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth. You will build strong relationships with the team and stakeholders, maintaining a visible and engaged leadership presence both in person and remotely.
This is a genuinely part-time role with a focused and manageable scope, supported by an engaged Board of Trustees and a committed team. The role is designed to be sustainable within the allocated hours.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
- Lead the development and delivery of an interim plan and longer-term organisational strategy
- Translate strategic goals into clear operational priorities and plans
- Foster a compassionate, inclusive, and mission-aligned organisational culture
- Act as a credible and inspiring ambassador for Veterans With Dogs with stakeholders, funders, partners, and the public
- Guide the charity through stabilisation and values-led, sustainable growth
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all relevant charity law, regulation, and best practice
- Work in partnership with the Board of Trustees, supporting effective governance and reporting
- Implement and embed improvements in HR, finance, safeguarding, IT, and operational systems
- Lead on organisational risk management, ensuring policies and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed
Operations & Programme Delivery
- Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery
- Ensure safeguarding standards are upheld for both veterans and dogs
- Drive continuous improvement in programme quality, delivery, and impact measurement
- Ensure operational systems and data processes are robust, compliant, and fit for purpose
People & Culture
- Lead, support, and nurture a small, dedicated staff team and wider network of volunteers
- Promote staff wellbeing, clear communication, and professional development
- Work with trustees to assess future staffing needs and build leadership capacity
Finance & Sustainability
- Work with trustees and advisors to ensure sound financial management and reporting
- Contribute to financial planning, budgeting, and development of a sustainable reserves policy
- Help diversify income streams, supporting fundraising efforts, corporate partnerships, and individual giving
Fundraising & External Relations
Build and maintain relationships with funders, donors, corporate partners, and sector allies
- Collaborate with the fundraising trustee to develop new funding opportunities
- Represent the charity externally with credibility, transparency, and professionalism
- Strengthen partnerships with ADUK, ADI, Cobseo, and other key membership bodies
Person Specification
Essential
- Senior leadership experience within a charity, social enterprise, or values-led organisation
- Strong knowledge of charity governance, regulation, and trustee relationships
- Experience leading teams through organisational change or stabilisation
- Financial literacy with experience of budgeting, reporting, and planning
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across diverse stakeholders
- A calm, values-based, and ethical leadership approach
Desirable
- Experience in health, mental health, veterans’ services, or trauma-informed work
- Experience working with boards during periods of strategic or leadership transition
- Fundraising and/or income generation experience
- Understanding of safeguarding best practice (for people and/or animals)
- Lived experience of the military or charity sectors (not essential)
Our Commitment
Veterans With Dogs is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strive to create a supportive, respectful, and empowering workplace. We recognise the value of lived experience and are committed to continuous learning as an organisation.
How to Apply
Please apply via Charity Jobs.
If you would like a confidential conversation before applying, we would be happy to speak with you.
Closing date to apply: 5pm on Monday 15 June 2026
- First interviews (online): week commencing 22 June 2026
- Second interviews (in our Exeter office): TBC
Previous applicants need not reapply, thank you.
Veterans With Dogs is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1161554).
Apply with your CV and a Covering Letter to explain your interest and suitability for the role.
No recruiters at this stage please.
Previous applicants, please don't apply. Thank you.
To improve the quality of life for Veterans who are living with mental health disorders with the support of assistance dogs



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Think Active is entering an exciting period of growth, collaboration and system leadership. Over the coming years, we aim to strengthen our influence and impact across Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire, particularly in tackling inequalities through the power of sport and physical activity.
At the heart of our work is our vision:
#WeThinkActive – Everyone in Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire to benefit from movement and enjoy sport and physical activity in safe and thriving communities.
And our mission:
We will use the power and potential of sport and physical activity to enable future generations to have healthier and more prosperous lives.
This new role of Strategic Partnership Lead: Coventry has been created following successful investment through Sport England’s Place Expansion programme for Coventry. The role will provide strategic leadership for the implementation and coordination of the Sport England Place Expansion investment across Coventry , including supporting the development and implementation of the emerging Coventry Physical Activity Partnership.
The role reflects the growing recognition that physical activity has an important role to play in improving health, reducing inequalities and strengthening communities across Coventry. We envisage physical activity continuing to be used as part of the wider One Coventry approach to tackling the inequalities experienced by local people.
The postholder will be employed by Think Active but will work on behalf of the Coventry Physical Activity Partnership, bringing together partners from across sectors around a shared vision and agenda for change.
Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, pre-employment checks, a DBS check and proof of the right to work in the UK.
BASE LOCATION & WORKING APPROACH
Think Active’s headquarters are at 1 Mill Street in Leamington Spa; however, this role will also be expected to work from a range of locations across Coventry, reflecting the partnership and place-based nature of the role.
This role requires a strong commitment to system working, including engaging with partners and stakeholders where they are and at times that best support collaboration and impact. As such, there may be a requirement for occasional evening and weekend work.
There will also be occasional travel regionally and nationally to support partnership working, learning, and organisational priorities.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE
Uphold the values, culture and customer charter of Think Active in your behaviour and your work.
Reporting to the Development Director, the Strategic Partnership Lead: Coventry will will act as a senior leader within Think Active, shaping our strategic role and leading the implementation of the Sport England Place Expansion investment across Coventry, ensuring strong partnership working, effective programme delivery and a collaborative, community-centred approach.
The role will play a key part in ensuring physical activity is embedded within wider system priorities across Coventry, including health, wellbeing, inequalities, communities and place-based working.
The postholder will be expected to uphold the values, culture and customer charter of Think Active in their behaviour and work.
Strategic Leadership and Place Development
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Lead and project manage the implementation of the Sport England Place Expansion investment across Coventry, ensuring delivery aligns with the Conditions of Award
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Lead the development and implementation of the Place Expansion Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework for Coventry
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Support the strategic development of the Coventry Physical Activity Partnership and contribute to shaping its long-term direction and priorities
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Help position physical activity as part of the solution to wider social, health and community challenges within Coventry
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Influence and align partners to adopt whole-system thinking and inclusive, community-centred approaches
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Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, investment and impact across the Coventry system
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Ensure the voices and experiences of communities help shape priorities, approaches and decision-making
System Leadership
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Position physical activity and movement as a contributing solution within wider prevention, inequality, wellbeing and community agendas across Coventry.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders across sectors, including:
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NHS organisations and health systems
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Local Authority teams
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Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations
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Community groups and residents
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Strategic and operational delivery partners
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Act as a trusted partner, facilitator and connector across Coventry’s system landscape
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Convene and coordinate partners around shared agendas and priorities
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Be adept at navigating barriers and challenges to partnership working when they arise
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Represent Think Active and the Coventry Physical Activity Partnership within relevant boards, partnerships and working groups
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Support organisations and communities to co-design sustainable solutions that embed physical activity within communities and services
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Identify opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability, investment and system ownership of Coventry’s Physical Activity Partnership.
Project Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
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Manage the Place Expansion budget and ensure effective oversight of investment and resources
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Manage timelines, delivery plans, risks and reporting requirements
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Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches are embedded throughout delivery
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Contribute to capturing insight, learning and impact across the partnership and share this with stakeholders, including Sport England
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Support the development of local capacity by mentoring and supporting organisations and partners
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Ensure delivery remains aligned to community need, strategic priorities and organisational values
Governance, Reporting and Contribution to Wider Organisational Priorities
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Prepare reports and updates for Think Active, partners, funders and governance groups as required
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Ensure delivery aligns with organisational governance, funding requirements and reporting frameworks
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Contribute to organisational learning and wider Think Active priorities
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Work collaboratively across the Think Active team, avoiding siloed approaches to delivery and partnership working
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Adhere to Think Active safeguarding, equality, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality policies
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Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as directed by the line manager and/or Chief Executive
PERSON SPECIFICATION: RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
A successful candidate for this role would be able to demonstrate the following skills, experience and knowledge:
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
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Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant professional experience in community development, public health, sport and physical activity, social policy, partnership working or related fields
Desirable Criteria
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Project management, systems leadership or facilitation qualification
Experience
Essential Criteria
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Significant experience of leading or coordinating complex partnership programmes, projects or strategic initiatives across multiple organisations and stakeholders
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Experience of working within partnership, public sector, health, community or system leadership environments
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Proven ability to build, influence and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders, partners and communities
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Experience of convening organisations and stakeholders around shared priorities, outcomes or strategic agendas
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Experience of leading or supporting place-based, systems change or collaborative approaches to tackling inequalities
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Experience of managing complex programmes, interconnected priorities, budgets and delivery plans
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Experience of monitoring progress, managing risk and reporting to partners, governance groups or funders
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Experience of amplifying community voice and lived experience to shape strategic priorities, partnership approaches or service design
Desirable Criteria
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Experience of working within Active Partnerships, Sport England funded programmes or wider place-based investment programmes
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Experience of working within or alongside local government, NHS, VCFSE or community-led systems
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Experience of working within Coventry or similar urban communities experiencing inequalities
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Experience of supporting or facilitating co-production, community engagement or participatory approaches
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Experience of managing commissioned work, procurement processes or contract oversight
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Experience of line management, mentoring or workforce development
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Experience of developing or applying monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks
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Experience of securing investment, funding or partnership contributions
Knowledge
Essential Criteria
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Strong understanding of the role physical activity, movement and sport can play in improving health, reducing inequalities and strengthening communities
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Understanding of systems leadership, partnership working and collaborative approaches to change
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Understanding of inequalities, barriers to participation and the wider social determinants that influence health and wellbeing
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Understanding of community-centred approaches, co-production and asset-based ways of working
Desirable Criteria
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Knowledge of Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy and place-based investment approaches
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Knowledge of local policy, partnership or community landscapes across Coventry
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Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, insight and learning approaches within community or systems-based programmes
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Awareness of current national policy relating to prevention, population health or place-based working
Skills
Essential Criteria
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Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity
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Excellent relationship-building, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills
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Ability to bring people together around a shared purpose and create momentum for change
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Strong programme and project management skills, including planning, coordination and oversight of multiple workstreams
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Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with different audiences and sectors
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Ability to analyse information, identify opportunities and translate insight into action and partnership development
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Confident digital literacy skills, including use of Microsoft Office and collaborative working tools
Desirable Criteria
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Facilitation, workshop design or group process skills
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Presentation or public speaking experience
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Experience of developing reports, business cases or funding proposals
ABOUT THINK ACTIVE
Think Active is a charity and the Active Partnership for Coventry, Solihull, and Warwickshire. We are one of 6 sub-regional Active Partnerships within the West Midlands and one of 42 across England.
Active Partnerships are strategic organisations that recognise activity levels are affected by a complex system of influences, and no single organisation or programme can create sustainable change at scale. Understanding the unique attributes and challenges within Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, we work collaboratively with our network of local partners to help create the right conditions for those facing the greatest inequalities to have access to movement, sport and physical activity, in a way that works for them For further information on Think Active, please visit our website here
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THINK ACTIVE
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Employer pension contribution of 6%, subject to scheme eligibility and terms.27 days annual leave (FTE), plus bank holidays.
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Agile and flexible working, with a blended approach to home, office, and remote working.
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Enhanced maternity, paternity, and sick leave policies.
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Contribution to the cost of eye tests.
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Commitment to professional development and training.
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Cycle to Work Scheme.
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Life Insurance cover
We love difference and will be interested to find out what motivates you and how you can contribute to Think Active. We encourage diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are a Disability Confident committed employer, and we actively encourage applicants from all protected characteristics and commit to providing any reasonable adjustments required during the application and assessment process, and upon joining Think Active.
We recognise that some of the language used within this job description may be sector specific. We are committed to keeping jargon to a minimum and would encourage interested applicants to ask questions or seek clarification at any point during our recruitment process.
For everyone in Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire to benefit from movement and enjoy sport and physical activity in safe and thriving communities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Fundraising Assistant - North
Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?
Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.
After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!
It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - North, to join our Community and Digital Fundraising team.
- Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
- Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?
- Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
- Do you live in either Scotland, North East England, North West England or the East Midlands?
Have you answered Yes to these questions?
Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?
Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack which is included within this advert.
If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application. We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!
We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.
To find a cure for all types of brain tumours To increase the UK investment in brain tumour research
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.