Deputy chief executive jobs in Cambridge
How's your job search on our site?
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.
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
Please complete the questions within word count alongside a CV to be considered for the role.
Short listed applicants will be asked to submit a 3 minute video on a values based topic as part of the interview process.
Non Charity Employer
1 - 5
We stand alongside women impacted by their own or someone else’s gambling and create space for healing, connection and confidence.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
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!
Role Overview
This is an exciting opportunity to shape Shine’s strategic direction while managing the operational delivery of our services for children, young people, and families aged 0–25. Building on the success of our Little Stars/Ser Bach programme for members aged 0–12 and the development and extension of the FIRE (Friendship, Independence, Resilience, Empowerment) programme for those aged 13–25, you will play a key role in shaping the future of our support for children, young people and their families.
Working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will lead the delivery of an established, evidence-based programme that improves health, social, and emotional outcomes for those living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and associated conditions.
You’ll lead a passionate team and work closely with Shine’s Adult Services Team (25+), Health Team, Wales and Northern Ireland Managers and wider colleagues across the organisation to ensure work is coordinated, complementary, and beneficial to members. At the same time, you’ll forge strong partnerships with NHS professionals, statutory services, and voluntary organisations—driving collaboration that will support our vision of providing consistent, high-quality support for children, young people and families nationwide.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership & Team Management
- Programme Development & Delivery
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
- Member Support & Engagement
Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website.
Benefits to working at Shine:
- Competitive salary: Review due April 2027
- Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)
- 3% pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year
- Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’
- Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
- Broadband allowance for home-based roles
- Life insurance after 12 months’ employment
- Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
- Support to learn and develop
How to apply
Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job.
If you would like to discuss the role with our Deputy CEO, Gill Valentine, please contact Shine to arrange a convenient time for a call.
To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria.
We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications.
*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted*
Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm
Interviews: Monday 27th April 2026
Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Providing specialist advice and support for spina bifida and hydrocephalus
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Chief Executive Officer
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to take on the executive leadership of a highly respected and effective charity working within and around Cambridge.
Join a charity that aims to protect, enhance and celebrate the landscape, heritage and nature that make Cambridge a special place, for today and for generations to come.
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Cambridge/Hybrid (1 day per week working from home)
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (part-time or job share considered)
Salary: £65 - £75k dependent on skills and experience.
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: 33 days annual holiday entitlement pro rata, includes allowance for Bank Holidays. Pension contribution of up to 5% of gross pay. Flexible delivery of hours. Remote working options. Free on-site parking
Closing Date: 5pm on Monday 13 April.
The Role
This charity is a small but complex organisation. It owns greenspaces, nature reserves and historic properties that welcome thousands of visitors every year; it runs a busy outdoor education and events programme and delivers civic initiatives such as the Blue Plaque scheme for Cambridge; it is a driving force in the Cambridge Nature Network; it responds to hundreds of planning proposals that could have a harmful impact on Cambridge’s landscapes, nature or special character and runs major campaigns when needed. It combines hands-on land and property management with being a highly respected and effective voice influencing the sustainable development of Cambridge.
The CEO is responsible for ensuring that all green spaces and historic buildings in the charity’s care are protected and enhanced, and that the influence on the development of the greater Cambridge area is as strong as it can be. Balancing demands across all areas of the charity’s work is a major part of the role, informed by a strategy and strategic plan that guides prioritisation and focus in any given year. You will play a primary role in local advocacy, influence and the development of external partnerships and opportunities, and support the staff team in delivering the other areas.
Main areas of responsibility include:
- Inspiring and Supportive Leadership
- Strategy Development and Delivery
- People and Organisation Development
- Finance and Governance
- Influence and Advocacy
About You
With sound finances and a small but effective staff team, we are looking for an inspirational and supportive leader who has the experience and knowledge required to help the charity flourish and rise to the opportunities and challenges of the coming years.
You will bring with you the following key skills and experience:
- Degree or equivalent higher professional qualification, in management or a subject relevant to the role.
- Experience managing a team at a senior level.
- Proven ability to lead and motivate a senior team.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills across multiple audiences.
- Proven ability to network, advocate and positively influence at a high level.
- Experience of collaborative and partnership working to achieve more impact.
- Good professional understanding or experience of managing either natural habitats or built heritage, or both.
- Experience in strategy development and delivery, turning an ambitious vision into actionable plans.
- Experience of developing projects and project management, delivering practical outcomes to time and to budget.
- Experience in budgeting and financial management across multiple work areas.
- An understanding of town planning issues and the English development process, or willingness to learn.
- A good negotiator who can listen, influence, respond and follow up appropriately.
- High levels of self-awareness, emotional intelligence and empathy.
- Competency with a range of IT software and communications mechanisms.
Our ideal candidate will live within Cambridge or the surrounding region and have had senior management experience in a relevant organisation. If this sounds like you then apply today!
A full clean driving licence and proof of the right to work in the UK are required for this role.
When applying you will be asked to submit a CV and Cover Letter. Please note that we are unable to consider anyone for the role if they haven’t submitted both documents.
About the Organisation
The charity cares for the green setting of Cambridge and its most valuable landscapes and is working to enhance and connect them for nature and people. They inspire people of all ages to get outdoors and help them to enjoy, learn about and get involved with their local environment, heritage and culture.
You may also have experience in roles such as CEO, Chief Exec, Managing Director, Head of Operations, Deputy CEO, Deputy Chief Exec, Chief Executive Officer, Department Head, Head of. #INDNFP
Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.
