Chief executive officer jobs in Cambridgeshire, east of england

Due to educational commitments and a strategic review of our services, our Founding Director is stepping back from leading the organisation. This creates an exciting opportunity for a Managing Director to join a women-led movement shaped by lived experience.

Working closely with the Founder, Board, and team, you will take the lead in implementing our strategy, turning vision into action, and ensuring our work is sustainable, impactful, and ready to grow. You will play a central role in securing financial stability, strengthening income streams, and building a resilient organisation for the future.

We are looking for a proactive and experienced leader who can strengthen systems, processes, and team culture, while supporting and developing a small, dedicated team. This role is not just about leadership, but about working alongside others - someone who is human, approachable, and a genuine team player.

You will value collaboration and co-production and feel comfortable working in a culture rooted in trust, flexibility, and compassion. You will bring the confidence to represent the organisation externally, alongside the humility to listen, learn, and grow with the team.

This UK-based, remote role sits within a small, friendly organisation committed to reflection, learning, and continual improvement. You will help shape how we evolve, ensuring we deliver safe, high-quality, trauma-informed, and gender-sensitive support for women affected by their own or someone else's gambling addiction.

We are seeking someone who aligns with our values, understands the realities women face in a male-dominated space, and can lead with humanity and humility.

The Managing Director will be accountable for:

• Strategic direction
• Financial sustainability
• Safeguarding and risk oversight
• Commissioner relationships
• Organisational culture and values

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead development and delivery of the 3-year strategic plan.
• Ensure organisational growth aligns with mission and peer-led ethos.
• Identify opportunities for funding, partnerships and influence.
• Ensure services evolve in line with women’s needs and policy context.

Governance & Risk Oversight

• Maintain oversight of safeguarding and clinical governance.
• Ensure robust risk management and compliance systems are in place.
• Report quarterly to the Board on performance, finance and risk.
• Ensure Delegated Authority Framework is implemented effectively.
• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Financial Sustainability

• Accountable for organisational budget and reserves strategy.
• Oversee funding pipeline and income diversification.
• Negotiate and sign contracts within Board-approved limits.
• Ensure staffing model remains financially sustainable.

Leadership & Organisational Culture

• Lead and support staff team.
• Maintain trauma-informed, women-centred organisational culture.
• Ensure appropriate delegation and clear accountability.
• Protect staff wellbeing and prevent executive overload.

External Representation & Influence

• Represent the organisation with commissioners, funders and partners.
• Build relationships with VCSE organisations, OHID, NHSE, ICBs, Local Authorities and sector bodies.
• Position the organisation as a credible specialist provider.
• Support policy and influence activity at strategic level.

Board Relationship

• Work closely with the Chair
• Provide clear and transparent reporting.
• Support Board development and portfolio governance.
• Ensure Board receives timely information on risk and performance.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Senior leadership experience within VCSE, health or social care.
• Experience in women-specific services.
• Experience managing budgets and financial sustainability including evidence of successful fundraising and income diversification.
• Experience working with statutory commissioners.
• Experience overseeing safeguarding in complex services.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in addiction, gambling harm or mental health sectors.
• Experience within CIC or charity governance structures.
• Experience influencing policy or commissioning frameworks.
• Understanding and appreciation of lived experience communities and peer support spaces

Essential Skills

• Strategic thinking and planning
• Financial acumen
• Strong governance understanding
• Stakeholder diplomacy
• Ability to delegate effectively
• Crisis management capability
• Clear written and verbal communication

We kindly ask applicants to avoid submitting AI generated responses to encourage a real sense of who you are. 
 

Our operational days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We operate flexibly but our regular team meetings are held on a Wednesday and this role is expected to be accessible for our staff within these days. 

An acquired brain injury can happen to anyone at any time. The impact on individuals, their friends and family, can be devastating. Headway Luton is here to help those impacted by an ABI move forward with their life. 

Headway Luton is a registered charity that provides support, advice and services to people with an acquired brain injury and to their families and carers.

We deliver centre-based activities and community support services aimed at helping people live as independently as possible, maximise their potential, and improve their quality of life.

Our work is rooted in person-centred care, dignity, respect and inclusion. We collaborate closely with local partners, funders and the community to ensure that our services remain relevant, accessible and sustainable.

Role overview

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the overall leadership, management and development of Headway Luton.

They will ensure that the charity delivers high-quality, person-centred services in line with regulatory standards, while working with the Board of Trustees to secure the organisation’s long-term sustainability and growth.

The CEO will promote a culture that reflects our core values:

• Person-centred care
• Dignity and respect
• Safeguarding and safety
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Professional standards

Key responsibilities

1. Strategic leadership

• Lead the development and delivery of the charity’s strategic direction.
• Identify opportunities for growth, partnerships and service development.
• Ensure services continue to meet the needs of the local community.

2. Governance and board engagement

• Work closely with the Board of Trustees to support effective governance.
• Attend trustee meetings and provide clear and timely reports.
• Ensure compliance with the Charity Commission, Companies House and relevant legislation.
• Support the planning and delivery of the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

3. Service delivery & operations

• Oversee the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services.
• Ensure compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
• Monitor service performance and outcomes.
• Ensure safeguarding is embedded across all services.

4. People leadership

• Lead, support and develop staff and volunteers.
• Line manage senior staff and oversee performance management processes.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and collaborative working culture.
• Ensure the appropriate recruitment, training and development of staff.

5. Financial management & sustainability

• Oversee budgets and financial performance in partnership with the Board.
• Ensure resources are managed effectively and responsibly.
• Support the development of funding streams, grants and partnerships.
• Contribute to long-term financial planning and sustainability.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Experience

• Experience in the charity, health or social care sector
• Experience of managing teams and organisational performance.
• Experience of financial oversight and budget management.

Skills and knowledge

• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Ability to work effectively with a Board or senior stakeholders
• Good understanding of governance, compliance and risk
• Strong communication and decision-making skills

Personal attributes

• Reliable, motivated and able to work independently
• Able to prioritise workload and manage competing demands
• Committed to the values and aims of Headway Luton

Desirable criteria

• Experience in a senior leadership role (e.g. CEO, Director or equivalent).
• Understanding of CQC or regulated services
• Experience of fundraising, commissioning or contract management
• Relevant qualification (e.g. business, leadership or management)

Position: Chief Executive Officer
Employer: Headway Luton Ltd (Registered Charity 1080775)
Location: 49-53 Alma Street, Luton, LU1 2PL
Responsible to: Board of Trustees

Hours: 25 hours per week (flexible, Monday to Friday)
Salary: £30,277 per annum (pro rata)
Contract: Permanent, subject to a six-month probationary period

Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays (pro rata)
Pension: 5% employer contribution
Other benefits: Flexible working, TOIL for additional hours and free on-site parking

Appendix 1: Initial priorities (first 6 months)

• Build strong relationships with staff, trustees and key stakeholders.
• Develop a clear understanding of services, operations and funding.
• Review the current financial position and identify risks or opportunities.
• Ensure governance and reporting processes are effective.
• Identify early opportunities for service improvement or development.
• Contribute to future strategic planning. 

Chief Executive Part-time role - £48,000 - £50,000 per year FTE plus pension. 15 hours per week, usually balanced across 3 or 4 days per week. Reports to Chairman.

Location: Hybrid role. Must reside in Hertfordshire and be flexible to work from Welwyn village office and home as needed. Must have own transportation for occasional meetings / events all over Hertfordshire.

About CPRE Hertfordshire

CPRE Hertfordshire is the countryside charity for Hertfordshire. We campaign to protect, promote and enhance the beautiful countryside across the county for the benefit of everyone. We are an independent charity federated with 40+ county charities and a national office, giving us local, regional and national reach. Our CPRE National Patron is King Charles III.

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional individual who can work with and motivate volunteers, take a strategic view on issues affecting the Hertfordshire countryside and represent CPRE Hertfordshire at events and through media. The role also involves management of a small staff team, the oversight of our Governance including finances, reporting, budget, fundraising, communications and volunteer management.

This is an exciting time to join CPRE Hertfordshire, as the candidate will be able to build and influence the new long-term strategy and annual plan with our Board of Trustees in advance of 2027.

The Chief Executive is responsible for:

1. Contributing to and driving the implementation of CPRE Hertfordshire’s strategy.

2. Delivering effective and efficient operational performance of the charity including robust contingency arrangements.

3. Providing exceptional leadership and management of the team – both paid staff and volunteers – and further growing our volunteer cadre.

4. Delivering the marketing and communications strategy, including membership acquisition and retention communications, email and social media marketing.

5. Leading and managing local Branch campaigns and projects as agreed by the Board of Trustees. 

6. Devising and overseeing activities to increase recruitment of new CPRE members. 

7. Devising fundraising activities in line with agreed targets in collaboration with the Board of Trustees. 

8. Overseeing our planning activities, including interaction with those in national and local government roles and community groups, and ensuring the charity keeps up to date with current national and local planning policy.

9. Attending regular meetings with national CPRE and other county branches to share knowledge, formulate “one CPRE” policy positions, and participate in national campaigns.

10. Ensure that the annual operating budget is met and continually look for cost savings across all lines of expenditure.

11. Ensuring that all risk factors faced by the charity in undertaking its activities are clearly understood and mitigated as appropriate.

12. Ensuring the charity keeps up to date with appropriate external best practices and maintains compliance with relevant charity commission and other regulations such as HSE and GDPR.

Essential

1. Successful track record of organisational leadership from a not-for-profit sector role.

2. Demonstrable evidence of exceptional people and team leadership and management skills.

3. Good communication skills and knowledge of social media and websites to support delivery of a marketing strategy.

4. Experience presenting to large groups, taking part in media interviews and writing formal reports. 

5. Experience of operational delivery, a completer-finisher.

6. Good financial management and budgeting skills.

7. Full UK driving license with access to own transportation (for occasional meetings and events around the county).

8. A passion for the countryside and protection of the environment. 

Desirable

1. Experience with a variety of digital tools and technologies.

2. Knowledge of income generation/fundraising.

3. Good understanding of marketing and communications.

4. Strong project management skills.

5. Able and committed to taking on new knowledge, in particular of the planning system, sufficient for effective oversight of the planning team and activity.

How to Apply:

 Please provide your CV along with a covering statement describing how your achievements, skills and experience match the requirements of the role and apply via Charity Jobs.

Recruitment Timetable and Process

 Closing date for applications is Saturday 2nd May 2026 at 11.30pm and we will aim to respond to candidates on first interviews by Friday 8th May 2026. First interviews will be held on Wednesday 20th May at our office in Welwyn Village.

We are looking for a dynamic, values-led, strategic leader to drive our mission for migration justice and social work solidarity. The role entails oversight of the operations and strategy of the organisation, responsibility for financial management and fundraising, maintaining the health of the organisation and embedding anti-racist and anti-opressive values into every aspect of the organisation. 

Are you an outstanding leader, fundraiser and a natural networker? Do you want to help local communities to take practical action to make a difference to UK seas and shores? 

Sea-Changers is looking for a motivated leader to make a step change at a key point in the organisation’s journey. Sea-Changers’ vision is a future where the UK’s seas and shores are clean and healthy and marine species and habitats are protected. Our grants seek to support communities of Sea-Changers – people who care about the seas and want to take practical action to make a difference. Through our grants we enable diverse, grassroots and community-led marine conservation across the UK.

Doubling our income to over £300,000 in 2025 has catalysed Sea-Changers to move from a volunteer-led charity to a sustainable organisation with a dedicated staff team. To enable this, we are seeking to appoint our first Executive Director. This new role will work alongside the Co-Founders and our Board of Trustees and lead the transition from a volunteer-led operation to a staff-led organisation.

As a driven individual, you will build on our success — strengthen partnerships, expand our impact, and help more communities to protect the ocean. Supported by a strong group of volunteers and an impressive Board, the Executive Director will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operation level, and ‘hands on’. By the end of 2027 it is our expectation you will take full responsibility for the strategic leadership and overall operational delivery of Sea-Changers.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for the right individual. It is a chance to build on our success to date, to forge new partnerships with our funders, to motivate and inspire our inspiring volunteer team and to engage with our wide community of applicants. Through Sea-Changers, the Executive Director has the rare chance to deliver a lasting legacy for UK marine conservation.

Strategic leadership, increasing organisational income and managing a motivated team of volunteers are essential aspects to the role. A passion for the marine environment is key, as is a working understanding of UK marine policy. We want someone who passionately advocates for Sea-Changers, who can communicate confidently and credibly at all levels. You will champion our oceans and galvanise others.