Chief executive officer jobs

Headway Sussex 

Vacancy for Chief Executive Officer 

Part Time – 21 hours per week 

£50,000 (FTE) 

Based in Newick, East Sussex with regular travel to Eastbourne, Brighton and other areas around Sussex. Occasional travel to other Headway organisations around the country including Headway UK. 

Headway Sussex offers rehabilitation and support services for people living across the county with acquired brain injuries. Our services extend to their families and carers. People may be referred to us by the hospital or clinical services providing their medical care or by insurance companies where there is a legal claim in progress. Alternatively, our clients self-refer because they have an awareness of the services Headway organisations can provide. 

In whatever way our clients reach us, we strive to provide comprehensive rehabilitation and reablement services to support them and their families both practically and emotionally. We aim to raise awareness of the impact of brain injury and to be a lead service provider in Sussex. 

An exciting opportunity is now available to join this forward thinking and dynamic charity as Chief Executive Officer, to help shape and continue the successful development and implementation of our strategic plan. Our current delivery framework is based on a network of satellite hubs across the county offering a combination of outreach and community-based services to clients and their carers in locations close to their homes 

To achieve our plans, we are seeking a highly driven individual who can guide our organisation with determination, compassion and resilience. We need an effective communicator who is adept at building sustainable relationships with external stakeholders, cares passionately about the services we deliver and who will be a strong leader ensuring positive experiences for our clients, their families, our employees and our volunteer workers. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring good governance and compliance with charity commission requirements and our obligations to our funders. Leadership experience in the charity sector or in a service organisation supporting people with disabilities is essential. 

To read the full Job Description and Person Specification, please contact us.

Candidates must be able to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK. 

Everyone deserves good mental health.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK's leading charity focused on the prevention of poor mental health. For more than 75 years, we have combined research, policy, campaigning and public engagement to challenge the causes of poor mental health and drive lasting change.

Today, mental health outcomes across the UK are worsening, particularly for children and young people. While services remain focused on responding to crisis, we believe prevention must become the foundation of the UK's approach to mental health. Our new five-year strategy, ‘A Call to Act: Fighting for Prevention in Mental Health’ sets out an ambitious vision to achieve that change.

Why we are recruiting

After eight successful years, our current Chief Executive will be stepping down, creating an exciting opportunity for a new leader to guide the Foundation through its next phase of growth and impact.

The organisation enters this transition from a position of strength: a clear and ambitious strategy, a talented and committed team of around 70 staff across the UK, strong finances, a respected national profile, a supportive Board and committed Chair.

The opportunity

As Chief Executive, you will be the chief ambassador of the Foundation. You will lead the delivery of our new strategy, strengthen our influence with governments, policymakers and partners, and ensure we continue to grow our impact and income.

Working closely with the Board, a highly capable Senior Leadership Team, supporters and partners, you will champion prevention as the solution to the UK's mental health crisis, helping to shape policy, public understanding and systemic change across our priority areas:

· Championing prevention: so that we can prevent mental health problems before they take root, tackling the causes instead of waiting to treat the symptoms.

· Online worlds: so that people are protected from harm and are more mentally healthy in their online activity.

· Bullying and discrimination: so that children and young people are protected from the life-long harms these can lead to.

· Working lives: so that young people can thrive in mentally-healthy workplaces that support their wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to lead one of the UK's most respected charities and improve the lives of millions of people.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an inspiring, values-driven leader with the credibility, ambition and vision to take the Foundation forward.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience as a CEO, Executive Director or similar SLT role
• A proven track record of leading organisational growth, impact and fundraising success
• Outstanding communication and strategic partnership-building skills
• Experience of engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, policymakers, funders and the media, to effect change
• Strong strategic, financial and organisational leadership capability
• A collaborative leadership style that empowers and develops others
• A commitment to equity, inclusion and the Foundation's values

Knowledge of mental health, public health, prevention, related research, or campaigning would be highly advantageous, though we welcome applications from candidates with transferable leadership experience and relevant insights from closely adjacent or intersecting sectors.

Join us

This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally respected organisation at a pivotal moment for mental health in the UK. If you are passionate about creating long-term social change and have the leadership skills to inspire people, influence systems and deliver impact at scale, we would love to hear from you.

To read more about the organisation and role, please download the full appointment brief.

Together, we can build a future where everyone can live with the good mental health they deserve.

Closing date: 16 August 2026

People Beyond Profit Conversations: 20-31 August 2026

Mental Health Foundation Interviews:

• First Stage: 7 September 2026 (in-Person)
• Second Stage: 14 September 2026 (In-Person)