Executive director jobs in dublin 2, county dublin

We’re Hiring: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 + pension
Location: Northamptonshire (flexible, with min. 3 days on-site)
Closing date: 5pm, Friday 3rd October 2025

Age UK Northamptonshire is looking for a dynamic Chief Executive Officer to lead us into our next chapter.

We are the leading local charity supporting older people across the county—providing advice, companionship, and essential services to 18,000+ people every year.

As our long-serving CEO retires, we need an inspiring, strategic leader who can:
✅ Champion older people as a trusted advocate and spokesperson
✅ Lead a dedicated team of 140+ staff and 260+ volunteers
✅ Strengthen partnerships and income streams to ensure sustainability
✅ Build on our proud history while driving innovation and growth

About You

You’ll bring:

• Proven senior leadership experience in a complex organisation
• Strong financial and strategic planning skills
• Excellent communication and influencing abilities
• Integrity, energy, and resilience to lead by example

Knowledge of the voluntary sector, health, social care, or issues affecting older people is highly desirable.

Interviews take place in October. If you have any questions then please use the above email. 

�� Be the voice for older people in Northamptonshire. Lead us into the future.

We are looking for someone who can see the ‘big picture’ and who can think strategically. But they must also have strong attention to detail and be able to grapple with day-to-day operational challenges. Above all, the CEO must be a passionate champion of British Exploring Society’s core intent – keeping everything it does anchored towards unlocking the self-belief of young people, even as it continually adapts and iterates to respond to the changing needs of its beneficiaries, and the evolving environment in which it delivers its programmes

This is a critical and exciting leadership role for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust which will take the Trust forward to the next phase of organisational growth, building on the superb achievements to date of our retiring CEO. 

You’ll need passion and energy to work on some of the most profound challenges of our time. Nature needs its champions, and you’ll need to harness all of your skills, all of your personality, and your network to grow our influence, our impact, and our outcomes. You’ll excel at galvanising others to take action  enabling  us to achieve our aims and ensure bumblebees are thriving and valued by everyone.

This is an incredible opportunity to join a very special organisation with passionate and high-performing teams who are truly dedicated to our vital purpose. 

Please refer to the CEO pack for further information.

The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer.  This means that whilst seeking employment or during such employment with the Trust, we will seek to ensure equality of treatment for all persons regardless of sex, race, age, marital or civil partnership status, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity status. 

At the Trust, we have a clear goal: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. We pride ourselves on reaching for our vision, through the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees. 

We’re recruiting a new Director to lead us into our 35th year and beyond.

The successful candidate will build on the organisation’s rich history and legacy of exposing and opposing state secrecy, surveillance, repression and violence; and supporting and resourcing struggles for rights, liberties, transparency, and democracy.

They will be strategic, cooperative and adaptable, and have strong organisational, coordination and communication skills.

Find out more in the full role description and application information, attached below.

Are you a purpose-driven leader who's ready to shape lasting impact?

Charity People are thrilled to be partnering with Headway North Staffordshire to recruit a strategic and inspiring Chief Executive Officer for this brilliant local charity, which supports adults living with acquired brain injuries to rebuild their independence and reconnect with their communities.

This is a rare opportunity to take the helm of an incredibly impactful organisation, working alongside a passionate and dedicated team to guide the charity into its next chapter and beyond.

Salary: £50,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week at the centre in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent
Benefits: 28 days annual leave (inc bank holidays), free meals on site, free parking, 3% NEST pension, Employee Assistance Programme, free on-site gym
Culture: Collaborative and values-led

About the charity

Headway North Staffordshire supports adults whose lives have been changed by an acquired brain injury. From helping people re-learn daily tasks, to providing access to therapies, or simply offering a place where individuals feel understood, they deliver support that often isn't available through statutory services.

Now celebrating their 40th anniversary, they are proud of the difference they make through specialist therapies (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, counselling and speech and language therapy), tailored day services at their centre, community outreach, peer support groups, and practical advice for families. Their holistic approach enables people to rebuild confidence, regain independence, and reconnect with their communities.

About the role

As CEO, you'll be responsible for the strategic leadership, operational delivery, and long-term sustainability of the charity. Working closely with the Board of Trustees and senior team, you'll steer Headway North Staffordshire through a changing health and social care landscape, ensuring they remain responsive, resilient, and impactful well into the future.

Your key priorities will include:

• Leading and empowering a small, committed senior team across service delivery, fundraising, operations, and administration
• Driving forward a bold and sustainable strategy for growth and impact
• Strengthening income generation and nurturing relationships with key funders
• Ensuring financial oversight, compliance, and good governance
• Championing the charity externally and building partnerships with local stakeholders, communities and the wider Headway network.

About you:

They are looking for a collaborative, emotionally intelligent leader with a genuine connection to their mission. You'll bring both strategic vision and practical delivery skills, ideally grounded in a therapeutic, health, or social care setting.

You'll likely have:

• A track record in senior leadership within a charity, health, therapeutic, or social care environment
• The ability to turn strategic vision into practical, sustained delivery
• Experience managing teams and developing a positive, inclusive culture
• Financial acumen and experience overseeing budgets and income streams
• A confident, thoughtful communication style with the ability to influence and inspire

This role will suit someone who thrives in a close-knit environment, understands the challenges and opportunities facing small charities, and is motivated to guide a dedicated team making a life-changing difference every day.

To hear more and find out how to apply, please send a copy of your profile or CV to Ellen Drummond at Charity People as the first step.

Deadline: 9am, Wednesday 1st October
First stage interviews: Monday 20th October
Second stage interviews: Tuesday the 4^th & Wednesday 5th November

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Chief Executive Officer  

Salary: Circa £75,000 + Relocation Package & Bonus 

North Wales (Bangor or Aberduna office locations) – hybrid  

Full time, Permanent 

Closing Date: 30th September 2025 

Are you a visionary leader? Would you be able to enhance a compelling future for the North Wales Wildlife Trust?

These are exciting times, and we’re looking for a new CEO to join us!

We're keen to hear from those who can provide strategic and operational leadership that ensures the Trust fulfils its charitable objectives and delivers its mission effectively and sustainably while continuing to grow.

This includes shaping and implementing the strategic plan, managing people and resources, maintaining financial health, and building strong relationships with its membership, other stakeholders, funders, and the wider community.

You'll be ultimately responsible for the governance, fundraising, public trust and social impact of North Wales Wildlife Trust. An important part of this role is to ensure we play our part as an active member of the federation of Wildlife Trusts to help secure wins for wildlife beyond our border.

The role will be hybrid (after settling in period) and ideally you will be based in North Wales as we have office facilities available in Bangor or Aberduna. There will be regular travel to off-site meetings.

Who we are looking for

• An experienced senior manager with degree (or degree-equivalent qualification).

• Experience of organisational leadership within a financially accountable organisation, whether in the charitable, public, or private sector.

• Proven commercial strategy / business experience, with the ability to generate and manage diverse income streams, including through partnerships, grants, trading, or other business related activities.

• Experience with a wide range of stakeholders and partners and working with them to achieve programme aims.

• Strong data and IT abilities 

• Good public speaker with strong presentational skills

• Excellent Project Management experience

• A strong understanding of environmental issues, with a broad overview of key aspects of ecology, conservation, agriculture, fishing, climate change and other environmental pressures.

Welsh language skills are not essential for this role but are highly desirable. We expect the successful candidate, if not already fluent, to be committed to learning Welsh and to demonstrate a strong understanding of and support for Welsh culture, which is integral to our work in land management and nature recovery. 

We are proud to offer a wide range of benefits including: 

• Discretionary relocation package up to £10k reimbursement against receipts for moving expenses. 

• Discretionary bonus scheme of up to 10% of salary per annum, based on achieving agreed long-term performance targets. 

• 32 days of holiday per year, including statutory Bank Holidays, which increase by one day for each fully completed year of service up to a maximum of 38 days. 

• Salary Exchange Pension (6% ER contributions – 6% EE contributions) 

• Life Assurance (2x salary) 

• Learn Welsh on us 

Who we are: 

North Wales Wildlife Trust is an independent charity and one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK to protect wildlife for the future. We are always looking for passionate, dedicated and resourceful people to join us. If you have an interest in nature conservation issues and a passion for the values of The Wildlife Trusts, we would love to hear from you!

With the support of our members and volunteers, and our funders and partners, we work to restore nature, to empower people to take action for nature, and to create a society where nature matters.

We do this by managing natural landscapes in North Wales, including over 750 hectares of land, both on and beyond our 35 nature reserves.  We also work to raise awareness of and protect the important coastal waters of North Wales.

We value the connection of natural habitats, wildlife and people, and work with landholders, businesses, organisations and individuals to create, improve and connect habitats in North Wales. We also provide planning and other professional services to local authorities, businesses and individuals.

Job Description

SAVTE (the Sheffield Association for the Voluntary Teaching of English) supports people to develop English language skills to help them gain confidence and become independent, active citizens. Working in partnership with disadvantaged communities in Sheffield, we offer a person-centred approach to practical language learning and increased participation in society. 

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is a visionary leader for SAVTE. They guide and develop the organisation so it can continue to deliver successfully against its mission and values. At the heart of the role is the day-to-day management of the core functions of the organisation, and maintaining excellent governance practice. The CEO drives the financial development of the organisation by securing funding and exploring different opportunities for growing and strengthening SAVTE’s capacity to deliver. 

The CEO inspires SAVTE’s employees, volunteers and beneficiaries, and also builds and strengthens partnerships with local and national stakeholders to ensure the organisation’s reputation and position continue to grow. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO drives the strategic direction and success of SAVTE. 

Benefits:

• Hybrid working.
• Annual leave: 28 days including bank holidays (pro rata).
• Pension: SAVTE has a workplace pension scheme in place.

We are looking for that special person with drive, empathy and business acument to support Circle an already proven and successful youth employment charity to the next level. Our model achieves very high outcomes as we take small cohorts and listen to what our young people want. We have partnerships with many large corporates who understand how we are differant from most charities.

Chief Executive Officer

We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to guide a well-established health support charity through its next stage of growth and transformation.

Position: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Shipley-based, with regular travel across Bradford and Craven District
Salary: £45,000+ depending on experience
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Tuesday 30th September
Interview Date: Bradford, date to be confirmed

About the Role

This is a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of a respected local health charity. The organisation is moving towards a more personalised and outreach-focused model of care, and we are looking for a CEO who can combine empathy with business acumen to drive that change.

Key responsibilities include:

· Leading the development and delivery of the charity’s strategy and vision

· Driving income generation across diverse fundraising streams

· Overseeing financial planning, reporting and governance

· Supporting, developing and motivating staff and volunteers

· Building strong external partnerships and raising the organisation’s profile

· Ensuring compliance with safeguarding, data protection and charity regulations

· Acting as the charity’s public face and spokesperson

About You

We are looking for a confident and credible leader with:

· Experience of successfully leading and growing a charity or similar organisation

· A strong track record in strategic planning, governance and financial management

· Expertise in fundraising across trusts, foundations, corporate partnerships and community giving

· The ability to inspire teams, build partnerships and represent the organisation externally

· Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach

· A genuine empathy with the challenges faced by people living with or affected by serious illness

A degree-level management qualification or equivalent experience is desirable. Use of a car and flexibility to travel within the region will be important for the role.

About the Organisation

For over 35 years, this Yorkshire-based charity has provided vital practical and emotional support to people living with or affected by serious illness and their families. Rooted in the community, the charity is now evolving to ensure its services remain accessible, relevant and impactful. This is a chance to join at a transformative moment and help shape its future direction.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Charity Director, Managing Director, Operations Director, Head of Services, Fundraising Director, Chief Operating Officer, Programme Director, Senior Charity Leader

How to Apply
To apply, please send a CV and a statement (no longer than 2 pages) outlining why you are the right person for this role.

Safeguarding Statement

This charity is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all individuals who participate in its programmes and of all staff and volunteers. Successful candidates will be required to carry out a disclosure and barring check.

Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement

The organisation is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment.

Data Protection Statement

For information about how your data is used as part of the recruitment process, please contact us.

Location: Hybrid – Warwick/Leamington Spa office (min. 3 days/week), remote up to 2 days/week

Salary: £74,000 – £78,000 (depending on experience)

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Reporting to: Chair of Board of Trustees

About SOS – Silence of Suicide

Founded in 2015 by Michael and Yvette Mansfield, SOS Silence of Suicide exists to break the silence around mental health and suicide. Initially a peer-support group, SOS is now a growing charity offering multi-channel support services via a national helpline, mobile hubs, and in-person outreach. With around 45 staff and volunteers, SOS is poised for further expansion and impact and is seeking a strategic and compassionate CEO to lead us through the next exciting phase of development.

The Role

The Chief Executive Officer will lead SOS’s strategic direction, operations, partnerships and fundraising. This includes shaping long-term sustainability, developing our team and enhancing our voice in national conversations centered around suicide prevention and mental health.

Key Responsibilities

· Lead and manage the Senior Leadership Teams

· Deliver and grow SOS’s core services – helpline, hubs and outreach – ensuring high-quality, accessible support.

· Develop and implement a sustainable income generation strategy in collaboration with fundraising staff.

· Ensure sound financial management, working with bookkeepers, auditors and the Board to meet compliance needs.

· Support trustees with good governance and maintain full legal and regulatory compliance, including safeguarding.

· Represent SOS to external stakeholders including NHS, government, press and funders.

· Oversee impact reporting, evaluation and quality improvement across all service areas.

· Champion SOS’s mission, values and voice on suicide prevention, stigma reduction and mental health awareness.

About You

We are seeking a strategic leader who is hands-on, collaborative and emotionally intelligent. The ideal candidate will bring the following:

· Proven experience in charity leadership and team management, ideally in a growth phase.

· Strong understanding of mental health or suicide prevention – lived or professional experience welcomed.

· Track record in strategic planning, income generation and stakeholder engagement.

· Experience of developing services, managing volunteers, and fostering inclusive culture.

· Sound knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding, finance and HR best practice.

· Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.

· Comfortable with hybrid working, frequent travel and engaging with emotionally complex topics.

SOS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and lived experiences. The successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check.

Timetable for interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be notified w/c 29th Sept with formal Interviews to be held 6th/7th October 2025 in the Warwickshire area. 

Addendum: Person Specification

Communication & Interpersonal

· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships across staff, volunteers, partners and service users. (Essential)

· Strong verbal and written communication skills. (Essential)

· Diplomatic, professional and emotionally intelligent. (Essential)

· Able to work both independently and collaboratively; confident engaging with a wide range of stakeholders. (Essential)

Fundraising & Partnerships

· Proven track record in fundraising strategy, including grant applications, donor engagement and community fundraising. (Essential)

· Provide strategic oversight of the charity’s communications—ensuring the website, social media and printed materials are used effectively and creatively. (Essential)

· Develop a mental health training and awareness service that advances SOS’s mission. (Essential)

Leadership & Management

· Proven experience delivering programmes and activities within the charity sector. (Essential)

· Proven ability to lead and line manage staff within a dispersed team and varied working patterns. (Essential)

· Experience of managing volunteers and supporting their ongoing development. (Essential)

· Ability to work under pressure and respond flexibly in a fast-paced environment. (Essential)

· Proactive and highly organised, with strong time management skills. (Essential)

· Strong attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise, delegate effectively and meet deadlines. (Essential)

Mental Health & Values

· Strong understanding of mental health and suicide prevention, ideally with lived experience. (Essential)

· Commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion internally and externally. (Essential)

· Demonstrated commitment to safeguarding, with experience in policies and processes to protect vulnerable adults. (Essential)

· Clear commitment to the aims and mission of SOS Silence of Suicide. (Essential)

· Empathetic listener with the ability to engage non-judgementally. (Desirable)

Strategy & Governance

· Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic plans, preferably in a charity context. (Essential)

· Experience of designing and building effective organisational structures to support growth, including operating in a ‘start-up’ environment. (Essential)

· Sound knowledge of charity governance and compliance, including engagement with trustee boards. (Essential)

· Ability to develop and implement new organisational processes and frameworks. (Desirable)

Technical Skills & Other

· Proficient in Microsoft 365 and OneDrive, including Teams, Word, Outlook and Excel. (Essential)

· Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field. (Essential)

· Willingness to work outside of standard hours, including evenings and weekends when required. (Essential)

· Living within one hour of the Warwickshire office, with access to a vehicle for business use. (Desirable)

CEO

We are looking for an experienced leader to join the charity in this part-time role.

Position: CEO

Location: Milton Keynes

Hours: Part-time, 3 days/22.5 hours per week

Salary: £65,000 pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 17 September 2025

The Role

The current CEO, Denise Stygal-Watson, has done a fantastic job since joining the charity over four years ago and will be handing over an organisation at an exciting time in its development. We have a strong senior management team in place, enjoy robust processes, solid reporting, accountability and financial rigour and, while there are inevitably challenges, there is everything to play for going forward.

Great work has already been done but the charity needs to continue to build its network, develop partnerships with local companies, as well as grow its donor income, including legacies, to build on its base of earned income from its retail revenue. Ambitious for our growth and commercially minded, our new CEO will have the opportunity to make a significant impact and to focus externally, to be the ambassador for Age UK Milton Keynes, to raise its profile and promote the opportunities available to the people and organisations who can benefit from partnering with us.

Main responsibilities include:

• Strategic leadership and vision
• To provide clear and forward-thinking leadership to ensure Age UK Milton Keynes remains resilient, relevant and impactful in a changing environment
• Financial leadership and fundraising
• To grow income from all sources, encouraging new avenues of income generation through services and growth.
• To be responsible for the effective, strong leadership and management of the staff, volunteers, the organisation and its resources.
• Governance and compliance
• Service development and delivery
• To actively promote, explore and develop ways of working with organisations and statutory agencies within Milton Keynes

If you feel you are the right person to join our board, we would be delighted to hear from you!

About You

We are looking for someone with a proven track record of leadership and management across a range of responsibilities at senior level – ideally gained in the corporate sector.

You will also have:

• Substantial experience of business planning development and delivery
• Financial acumen – experience of financial management and control, including budget oversight and cost control
• Knowledge, experience and understanding of strategic planning and service development planning; including facilitation, implementation and review/evaluation and organisational change
• Track record in driving and supporting fundraising growth, developing networks and working with funding partners
• Demonstration of influencing and developing relationship with key stakeholders and senior opinion leaders including local authority or similar
• Track record as a leader of people, creating positive affirming environments for successful teams and an inclusive organisation

The Organisation

Age UK Milton Keynes was established in June 1978 as Age Concern and became Age UK Milton Keynes when Age Concern and Help the Aged were merged in 2011. Age UK Milton Keynes is a local independent charity working to improve the quality of life for all older people living in Milton Keynes.

At Age UK Milton Keynes we are committed to encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee/volunteer to feel respected and able to give their best. In the search for our new CEO we would be particularly pleased to receive applications from people who come from groups that are often underrepresented, knowing that our work only benefits from a truly diverse staff team.

You may have experience in other areas such as COO, CEO, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Deputy CEO, Deputy COO.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

We are seeking an experienced, results-driven executive to join our organisation as Chief Executive Officer on a part-time basis (2 days per week. Pro-rata salary: £20,000-£24,000). This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned leader looking to make a significant impact whilst maintaining flexibility in their schedule.

Role Overview

As our part-time CEO, you will provide strategic vision and leadership to drive our organisation forward. You will work closely with our management team to develop and implement child-centred volunteering strategy, ensure operational excellence, and foster a culture of innovation, learning, and accountability.

About Us

TimeGivers is a fast-growing West London charity that is redefining how children engage with their communities. TimeGivers creates scalable, school-centred volunteering programmes that embed social action into the lives of children and the fabric of their communities. Every programme is community-led: we partner with local schools, councils, alliances and charities, co-designing volunteering programmes around specific, identified local need. Our events are also child led whereby young people choose the causes they want to support and help to come up with ideas for how they want to help them.

Core Responsibilities

With proven leadership experience in the charity sector, you must bring a passion for our work and an ability to translate strategy into action. You will be leading us from successful start-up to a more established and growing organisation. We therefore seek experience in driving organisational growth and aligning resources to support this, together with expertise in introducing effective monitoring, evaluation, and performance management to ensure we’re delivering against our strategic objectives and can demonstrate impact.

A key aspect of your role will be overseeing the financial health of the organisation ensuring effective budgeting, forecasting and resource management. You will work closely with the Fundraising Manager to develop and implement a sustainable fundraising strategy, identifying and securing diverse income streams (e.g. grants, donations corporate partnerships), as well as working with the Financial Director and the Board to prepare annual accounts and financial reports.

You will be responsible for ensuring the charity operates in accordance with its constitution, policies and legal requirements; maintaining high standards of accountability, safeguarding and risk management across all aspects of the organisation. You will support the Board of Trustees by providing timely and accurate information to ensure effective governance and decision making.

Alongside these skills we are looking for an inspirational and entrepreneurial leader who can galvanise and optimise the performance of our team and dedicated volunteers, ensuring the effective delivery of our programmes. You will be someone who can think strategically but is not afraid to roll their sleeves up and has an energetic, positive and can-do approach. To be successful you will also be adept at managing a range of stakeholders and be credible and inspiring as an ambassador, equipped with excellent communication and influencing skills to promote TimeGivers.

Desirable Experience

 · Proven executive leadership experience, preferably as CEO or in a similar senior role in the charity, public or voluntary sector

· Experience working with child-focused non-profit organisations

· Strong track record in income generation including fundraising, partnerships and securing grants.

· Robust experience in driving and delivering growth and meeting objectives

· Thorough working knowledge of governance and compliance requirements for charities

Personal Attributes and Skills

· Excellent strategic thinking and decision-making abilities

· Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills

· Good financial management skills including budgeting and resource allocation

· Flexible and creative thinker

· Ability to work effectively in a part-time capacity whilst delivering full impact

· Passionate about youth development and community service

This is a unique opportunity to build on our success and act as a catalyst to realise the next stage of our journey.

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join our team of nearly 100 staff, ideally before the end of 2025.

This is a full-time, home-based, permanent position. You can be based anywhere in mainland UK or Ireland, with some travel and occasional overnight stays to meeting and conferences mainly in England and Wales.

We offer flexibility around working hours, including the option of a 9 day fortnight - time off in lieu is also available. We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory public holidays. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.

The role is a grade 7 position with a starting salary circa £75,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

The Finance Director (“FD”) works alongside the Chief Executive and Operations Director to manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust, a leading conservation charity with three associated trading subsidiaries operating across the UK and Ireland, with a collective annual income approaching £10m.

Given the prospective retirement of the current postholder at the end of 2025, we are seeking a well-qualified and experienced individual to take on this senior leadership role as soon as possible to enable handover to occur.

The role is very varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to the Trustees and senior management on a quarterly basis, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading on annual budgeting, appraising internal project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance administration and liaising with auditors.

The postholder will lead a team of eight in the Finance department and join a very welcoming team of 95 highly engaged and passionate staff at The Rivers Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Working alongside the CEO, the Finance Director will provide commercial, financial and governance management and leadership for The Rivers Trust ("the Charity") and its associated subsidiaries (“The Companies”). The FD will not only be an exceptional accountant, with executive oversight of the finance function, but will be commercially astute and have the confidence to represent robustly the best interests of The Companies. The FD will also be an experienced manager of people.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Act as a business partner to support and constructively challenge the CEO in the general management of the Charity and the Companies, reporting to the board.
2. Lead all aspects of the finance function (including maintaining and developing the financial control environment; robust financial accounting; cashflow management; incisive management information; clear and concise reporting to Board) to ensure that the Charity and the Companies’ assets are secured, risks are managed, and the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards and committees can make well-informed decisions.
3. Manage relationships with auditors, funders, IT specialists, banks, investment platforms and other external organisations.
4. Provide support to project bids and the development of other commercial opportunities to ensure that bids/opportunities are optimised for the Charity and the Companies as a whole.
5. Provide input to project and programme delivery from time to time, to ensure that performance is maximised for the Charity and the Companies.
6. Attend Board meetings and Business Audit and Risk Committee meetings to guide the Board and the Senior Management Team on financial, commercial and governance issues.
7. Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House and, from time to time, provide guidance to members of the Rivers Trust movement on good governance practice.
8. Maintain the finance department operational manual for business continuity.
9. Serve as the Company Secretary for the Charity and Companies.

Staff Management:

1. Lead, manage and develop the finance team (who work remotely) and ensure the team understands their respective and collective contribution to achieving the Charity's and the Companies’ objectives.
2. Support the team in their professional development.
3. Ensure the team delivers a high-quality service focused on internal and external customers and funders.

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Significant experience in financial management and senior leadership roles, ideally gained in a range of organisations.
• A strategic thinker, able to see the big-picture, shape long-term direction and balance this with attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with creativity and openness to innovate.
• Strong IT and digital skills, with experience of using technology to improve efficiency and automate processes.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams and creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
• Excellent relationship builder, with the interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships across the organisation, including with trustees and senior stakeholders.
• Experience reporting to boards of trustees and/or directors, with the confidence to contribute to board-level discussions as a trusted adviser.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complexity into pertinent, concise and understandable messages tailored to diverse audiences.
• The courage to make and communicate tough decisions and be open about risks and setbacks.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to maintain focus and steady leadership in challenging circumstances.
• Impeccable standards of integrity and personal ethics, acting as a role model for the organisation values.
• Knowledge of Sage financial software packages.
• Work to a good standard in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the charitable sector.
• Experience of being a Company Secretary.
• Understanding of the environmental sector or a passion for making a positive impact.
• Familiarity in using Sharepoint, Sage and Slack.
• Knowledge of Partial Exemption VAT rules.
• A basic understanding of Irish tax law, Irish and UK payroll taxes and corporate governance.

Qualifications/ Education

• Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.

Additional information

Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.

Please note we can only accept applications made through this site, and not sent by email or other methods.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you through the process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter.

Closing date: Wednesday 24th September 2025

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong pool of applications, so we encourage early submission

MDXSU is a powerful student-led charity committed to ensuring that Middlesex University students have the best possible university experience. We are proud of our history as the home of the modern students' union, with our roots tracing back to the students of Hornsey College of Art who pioneered the students’ union as we know it today. Over the past two years, we've shaken off the effects of lockdown to put the heart and art back into who we are, rediscovering our fun, creative, and dynamic spirit. We've revolutionised our ways of working and put students at the heart of everything we do. This dedication to excellence led to our nomination for Students' Union of the Year in the 2025 WhatUni Student Choice Awards.

We're now entering a new phase, collaborating with Middlesex University and sister unions to champion a new era of modern students’ unionism and strengthen the broader student movement. We are seeking a new CEO to lead this charge, advocating for student leadership, innovating our practices, supporting our staff, and continuing our strong partnership with the university.
 

About the Role
As the Chief Executive Officer, you will provide strategic leadership and ensure effective governance for MDXSU. You will empower and support our elected student officers and build strong relationships across the Middlesex community and beyond. You will also be responsible for the union's financial performance, legal compliance, and reputation.

This is a unique opportunity to join a union with the foundations in place to go from good to great. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding and belief in student leadership and social justice, along with a proven track record of developing and delivering high-quality organisational strategies. 

What We're Looking For
The ideal candidate will have significant management experience at a senior level within a students' union or similar organisation, with a strong track record of developing and delivering organisational strategies. You should also be committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment by actively breaking down barriers to engagement for different communities.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant senior-level management experience with strategic responsibility across multiple functions
• Demonstrable experience embedding student or member voice throughout an organisation's strategic planning and operations
• Experience in sound operational management, including effective financial control and oversight of HR
• A deep understanding and commitment to student leadership and social justice
• Proven ability to lead and motivate diverse teams to achieve high performance
• Strong political acumen with an understanding of key issues affecting students and Students' Unions

An award winning employee experience

• At least 39 days' annual leave each year, including MDX-wide seasonal closure
• Exceptional development opportunities, including access to accredited University qualifications following successful probation, with paid study leave
• Enhanced parental leave
• Paid volunteer days and wellbeing days
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Access to a range of competitive discounts - on and off campus
• Max Flex working – a fully flexible working culture with core hours to be worked across 8-8, Mon-Sun as works for you and MDXSU, with significant flexibility of where and when you work during University vacation weeks
• Discounted access to MDX Gym and swimming facilities in the local area

We are committed to equity, diversity, and liberation. If you believe in the transformative power of comprehensive higher education and are ready to lead with collaboration and empowerment, we encourage you to apply.

How to apply
Apply with your CV and a personal statement of no more than 2 pages that demonstrates how you meet the requirements set out in the About You section of the recruitment pack through our recruitment portal, by 10am on Tuesday 16 September 2025.

Dates for your diary
First round interviews (online): Wednesday 24 September 2025
Final interviews (in person): Monday 6 October 2025