Chief executive officer jobs in Birmingham
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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!
Help us make sure no one living with nystagmus ever feels alone. We're looking for a Chief Executive who can turn a trusted, growing charity into a fundraising and communications powerhouse.
The Nystagmus Network is a small charity with an excellent reputation. For forty years, we've been the voice people turn to when they need it most. Whether that's a parent whose child has just been diagnosed, an adult navigating a new condition, or a clinician looking for a research partner with expertise in patient involvement. We've built that trust one relationship at a time, and now we're ready to grow it into something bigger.
We need a Chief Executive who sees fundraising at the heart of the charity, and as storytelling with a purpose. If you thrive on walking into a room with a funder and leaving with a partnership, you're the person for us. Securing significant income through trust and statutory bids sits at the heart of this role, and so does the expertise in demonstrating impact. Sharp, compelling reporting that shows funders and supporters exactly what their money makes possible.
We're looking for someone who can shape a communications and brand presence that matches the strength of our reputation, someone with experience in setting direction for external-facing content, comfortable working with fractional expertise to keep our voice consistent and professional, and just as comfortable being the face of that voice themselves. You'll be equally at home talking research priorities with an ophthalmologist as you are meeting a family with an unexpected diagnosis.
This is a hands-on role in a lean, ambitious organisation. You'll hold real responsibility for strategy, governance and our external profile, working closely with a supportive Board of Trustees, but you'll also be close enough to the work to take ownership of the insight and data that prove it's working. We want to hear from you if the idea of taking real ownership of all aspects of running a charity appeals to you, if you are a self starter with the skills to manage a wide range of projects and ideas.
You do not need to have been a Chief Executive before. What you do need is real sector experience, credibility with funders and trustees, and the drive to turn ambition into a deliverable plan. We particularly welcome applications from people with personal experience of nystagmus or other eye conditions.
If you can bring both the strategic weight and the storytelling instinct this next chapter needs, we would love to hear from you.
Part-time · 3 days per week · 12-month fixed-term contract · £44,000-48,000 per annum, depending on experience (pro rata) · Remote, with periodic in-person meetings
Please keep cover letters to one page maximum and be sure to answer the following questions:
1. What is it about your previous experience that makes you a good fit for this role?
2. Please describe what you consider to be the biggest opportunities for the Nystagmus network
3. What made you apply for this role?
Registered Charity
1 - 5
Our mission is to champion the cause of the nystagmus community we support.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
This is an exciting opportunity for a new leader to guide the organisation through its next phase of development, building from a position of strength. The organisation is in the first year of a clear and ambitious three-year strategy, with a strong core team of staff and a healthy financial position.
The outgoing Executive Director was previously also the organisation’s Advocacy Director, and continued to deliver both functions within one role. For this reason the Board of Trustees is advertising the position in two configurations. Applicants are welcome to express an interest in either:
• Option A — Part-time Executive Director. A 0.6 FTE part-time post which is a leadership and management role only, and does not include delivering the advocacy activities of the organisation. These will be undertaken by a separate part-time Advocacy Director, who carries the advocacy responsibilities covered by the associated Advocacy Director job description.
• Option B — Full-time Executive Director. A single full-time post in which the successful candidate takes on both the part-time Executive Director role and the responsibilities of the part-time Advocacy Director role being advertised concurrently. The successful candidate must meet the person specification requirements of BOTH roles.
Registered Charity
1 - 5
Ensuring every life lost to armed violence is recorded, identified, and acknowledged.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Rainforest Trust UK
Rainforest Trust UK (RTUK) (Charity No. 1169111) is a high-impact conservation charity dedicated to protecting the world’s most threatened tropical forests.
This is a pivotal moment for global conservation and for our organisation. As one of the most effective rainforest conservation charities globally, Rainforest Trust has helped protect over 60 million acres of tropical rainforest across more than 67 countries, delivering permanent protection for some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems.
Rainforest Trust UK is one of the charity’s fastest-growing affiliates, now generating £2m+ annually and supporting a global organisation with $55m+ in revenue with significant ambition for further growth and impact.
The role
We are seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the next phase of our strategic plan driving growth in income, strengthening the organisational capability, and positioning the UK as a leading philanthropic engine within the global organisation.
The CEO will provide overall leadership of Rainforest Trust UK, with a primary focus on fundraising, external engagement, and partnering.
This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring both strategic clarity and operational execution. The CEO will lead a small team, work closely with the Board of Trustees, while partnering with the global CEO and senior leadership based in the USA.
Key responsibilities
Strategy and organisational leadership
- Lead the delivery of the 2026–2030 strategy, aligning UK priorities with global objectives
- Translate strategy into clear plans, targets, and performance metrics
- Drive organisational focus on outcomes, impact, and growth
Fundraising and external leadership
- Act as a senior ambassador for the organisation in the UK and internationally
- Build Rainforest Trust UK’s visibility and influence within philanthropic networks
- Personally cultivate and manage a portfolio of high-value donor relationships
Financial Stewardship
- Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and performance including annual audit
- Ensure strong financial controls and effective use of resources
- Support the growth of sustainable income to maximise conservation impact
Governance and Board engagement
- Ensure compliance with UK charity regulation and best practice
- Provide clear, rigorous reporting on performance, risk, and finances
- Work in close partnership with the Board to support effective governance and decision-making
Global partnerships and collaboration
- Build strong, effective relationships with global Rainforest Trust leadership
- Align UK fundraising with global conservation priorities
- Act as a key interface between UK donors and global programmes
Leadership and culture
- Lead and develop a small, high-performing team
- Create a culture of accountability, clarity, and delivery
- Ensure effective organisational structure and use of resources
Purpose & Alignment
- Deep commitment to environmental conservation and climate impact
- Motivated by the opportunity to deliver measurable, lasting global outcomes
- Alignment with Rainforest Trust’s values of effectiveness, integrity, and partnership
Why Join Rainforest Trust UK
This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation where:
- Impact is clear, measurable, and permanent
- There is significant opportunity to scale income and influence
- You can play a direct role in protecting some of the world’s most critical ecosystems
At a time when the protection of tropical forests is more urgent than ever, this role offers the chance to combine purpose with performance delivering meaningful impact at global scale.
Candidate profile
We are seeking a credible, externally focused leader with:
- A strong track record in fundraising, particularly major donors and high-value relationships
- The ability to operate with credibility, influence, and judgement at senior levels
- Experience leading organisations or teams through growth and change
- Experience working with Boards and an understanding of UK charity governance
Above all, candidates will bring a clear alignment to the mission and is motivated by the opportunity to deliver measurable, lasting conservation impact at global scale.
Rainforest Trust UK is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating a fair and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know.
Please submit a CV and a brief covering statement outlining your interest through Charity Job by 19th July.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Rainforest Trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves for the benefit of species, people and the planet.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.