Executive director jobs in Leeds, west yorkshire
Interim Chief Executive
National Lived Experience Network (Gambling Harms)
Duration: Approx. 6 months – (April – September). 0.8 FTE (Alternative working patterns may be agreed for the right candidate).
Salary: c. £500 per day depending on experience
Location: Flexible/remote with travel as required
Prospectus is delighted to be supporting a national lived experience network working in the field of gambling-related harms to recruit an Interim Chief Executive.
The organisation is an independent voice raising awareness and offering support to people affected by gambling-related harms. The ambition is for the network to be able to make a difference to people’s lives, with a voice that can meaningfully participate in and influence national debate and policy.
The Interim Chief Executive will provide immediate strategic leadership, visible system presence and lead internal organisational development, including an increase in staff capacity.
This is a time-bound leadership role focused on the immediate transition phase. The skills required to establish presence, build infrastructure and secure early system positioning are distinct from those needed to lead the charity over the longer term.
The successful candidate will bring:
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Proven experience as a Chief Executive or Senior Leader operating at executive level.
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Experience of building and sustaining strategic partnerships across complex stakeholder environments, including within commissioning systems.
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Experience leading organisations through periods of transition, growth or structural change.
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Strong experience of embedding governance frameworks, strengthening compliance and overseeing safeguarding protocols (preferably within a charity setting).
Alongside technical capacity, the organisation is seeking a leader with a commitment to its mission and values, and demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with the ability to embed inclusive organisational practice.
Candidates must be available immediately.
Closing date for applications: Friday 13th March 2026
Interviews for successful candidates: w/c 16th March 2026
Applications should be submitted via CV only. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to complete a short application form as a supporting statement.
As we look ahead to our next strategic phase from 2026, we are seeking an exceptional leader to build on this momentum. As Chief Executive, you will guide a skilled and dedicated team, work closely with an engaged Board of Trustees, and shape how the Trust deepens its impact while strengthening its voice in policy and practice. The role calls for strategic clarity, strong and authentic relationship-building, and the confidence to represent the Trust across government, civil society, and the energy industry.
We are looking for a leader of sound judgement and emotional intelligence, with a collaborative and inclusive style. Someone who recognises the dignity and potential of the people we serve, and who believes that lasting change is achieved through partnership, evidence, and purpose.
The Trust has evolved significantly in recent years. We now operate with a strengthened in-house team, a clear and ambitious strategic direction, and a growing reputation as both a trusted funder and a respected voice in the national conversation on fuel poverty. Our work spans direct financial assistance, specialist advice, and community-based programmes, underpinned by an increasingly sophisticated understanding of what truly enables households to build resilience. This combination of practical support and system-level insight places us in a distinctive and influential position within the sector.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Salary: £45,068 to £51,242 (Negotiable)
37 hours per week – Flexible throughout the week, including some evenings and weekends
We are seeking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer with a proven commitment to survivor-led practice, outstanding organisational leadership capability, and relevant therapeutic competence, to provide strategic and inspirational leadership for the organisation’s future.
Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service (LSLCS) exists to provide compassionate, person-centred, trauma-informed crisis support to people across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Founded in 1999 by individuals with lived experience of mental health crisis, the organisation has grown to deliver a range of services for adults, children and young people while remaining rooted in survivor leadership and empowerment. LSLCS has a long history of innovation and excellence; receiving multiple national awards.
The CEO holds overarching responsibility for the current service provisions, with the support of operational directors and service managers. LSLCS challenges and shapes current practices; aligned with the needs of those accessing crisis services, with a strong emphasis on gaining and reviewing service user and team feedback to inform decision-making. The CEO must be able to review feedback openly, regularly and with genuine curiosity in shaping the future of the organisation.
The CEO provides strategic leadership to ensure that LSLCS continues to deliver high-quality, values-led crisis services. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO ensures the organisation operates in alignment with its survivor-led ethos, trauma-informed principles, and person-centred philosophy. The post-holder champions the mission of LSLCS, strengthens its culture, and maintains the organisation’s reputation as a trusted and innovative provider of crisis support.
The CEO must ensure that the organisation’s governance is compliant with Charity Commission requirements, contractual obligations and all other relevant legislation and guidance, and works closely with the Operations Director (Central Services) to ensure the organisation’s financial sustainability and the appropriate, responsible use of its resources.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Organisation
LawCare is the mental health charity for the legal sector, providing free, confidential emotional support and information to people working in law across the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. While our primary focus is on direct support services, we also play a leading role in advocating for improved mental health practices within legal workplaces and driving cultural transformation through education, training, and research.
Established in 1997, we have spent almost 30 years supporting legal professionals by offering a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk, whether individuals are experiencing day-to-day pressures or more complex, enduring challenges. Our team of Champions, over 100 volunteers, and staff bring lived experience of the legal sector, enabling us to provide informed, empathetic support grounded in a deep understanding of the profession’s unique demands.
We serve all branches of the legal community, including barristers, solicitors, in-house teams, chartered legal executives, and business and support staff. From early-career professionals facing bullying or imposter syndrome to senior leaders managing risk, regulatory pressures, or professional isolation, we are a trusted and independent source of support.
In addition to our direct support services - including helpline, live online chat, and email support - we provide peer support and maintain a substantial, regularly updated online library of resources, including articles, personal stories, research, and multimedia content designed to promote mental health awareness and resilience across the sector. We also deliver training on mental wellbeing, management and supervision, vicarious trauma, and the new SRA workplace behaviour standards, and offer online sessions for legal workplaces and organisations to explain the support we provide.
By combining frontline service delivery with sector-wide advocacy, LawCare is uniquely positioned at the intersection of individual wellbeing and organisational cultural change. We are supported by a strong, capable team and a committed Board of Trustees, enabling us to continue making a meaningful impact across the legal profession.
The Role
LawCare is seeking an inspiring and values-led Chief Executive to lead the charity into its next phase of development at a pivotal moment for the legal profession. As the public face and strategic leader of the organisation, the Chief Executive will champion LawCare’s mission - ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality, confidential support services while strengthening its voice and influence across a rapidly evolving and increasingly commercial mental health landscape.
This is an exciting opportunity to build on strong foundations, guiding a respected and independent charity through a period of significant sector change. Working closely with staff, volunteers, funders and partners, the Chief Executive will drive sustainable growth, deepen impact, and help shape a more compassionate and mentally healthy legal culture for the future.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Impact
- Lead delivery of LawCare’s forthcoming strategy (2026 onwards), translating vision into measurable impact.
- Ensure LawCare sharpens its positioning and messaging in a crowded mental health marketplace.
- Balance direct support services, research, education and influencing work to maximise impact.
- Identify what the charity should prioritise and where it should collaborate rather than deliver directly.
External Relations & Sector Influence
- Act as the primary ambassador and spokesperson for LawCare across the legal sector in the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
- Build and maintain senior relationships with:
- Professional bodies
- Regulators
- Law firms and chambers
- Legal educators
- Funders and charitable trusts
- Speak regularly at conferences, sector events, roundtables and award ceremonies. These are primarily London based, however, there will be occasions where representation is required across England, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
- Build alliances to influence policy, regulation and workplace practice around mental health and wellbeing.
- Position LawCare as the authoritative, evidence-informed voice on mental health in law.
Service Oversight & Quality
- Ensure the continued delivery of high-quality, confidential helpline and peer support services.
- Maintain robust safeguarding, confidentiality and data governance practices.
- Oversee volunteer recruitment, training and engagement.
- Ensure services evolve in response to emerging issues (e.g., stress, anxiety, workplace conflict, regulatory pressure, AI-related disruption).
Financial Sustainability & Governance
- Lead financial planning and sustainability, working closely with the Treasurer and Board.
- Manage relationships with core professional body funders and diversify income streams.
- Develop compelling funding cases and annual pitches to key stakeholders.
- Strengthen reserves and long-term financial resilience.
- Ensure strong governance, compliance and risk management.
- Support and work closely with the incoming Chair and a refreshed Board.
Research, Education & Prevention
- Build on the impact of the Life in the Law research programme.
- Promote preventative approaches for firms and educators.
- Strengthen LawCare’s role in vocational education and regulatory conversations.
- Ensure research informs policy influence and funding opportunities.
Organisational Leadership
- Lead, support and develop a small, experienced and fully remote team.
- Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, wellbeing and accountability.
- Provide clarity and reassurance during a period of leadership transition and financial strengthening.
- Ensure operational efficiency and effective use of technology in a remote environment.
The Person
LawCare is seeking a credible, strategic and values-driven leader with a deep understanding of the legal profession and the pressures shaping it today. You will bring senior leadership experience, strong commercial and financial acumen, and the ability to balance operational excellence with sector-wide influence.
An authentic and compelling ambassador for mental health and wellbeing, you will be an exceptional communicator who builds trust with ease. Emotionally intelligent, resilient and grounded, you will combine empathy with clarity and conviction, guiding the organisation confidently while remaining steadfast in your commitment to improving mental health across the legal community.
Essential
Professional Background
- Prior professional experience in the legal sector is required. Experience working in a qualified or regulated professional role is desirable.
- Deep, intrinsic understanding of the culture, pressures and structural dynamics of the profession.
- Senior leadership experience with responsibility for strategy, people and budgets.
Leadership & Influence
- Credible, visible and compelling leader with presence.
- Exceptional communicator - confident public speaker and strong writer.
- Knowledge of mental health systems, workplace wellbeing or addiction support.
- Able to influence senior stakeholders and bring sceptical audiences “on the journey.”
- A credible ambassador for mental health and wellbeing - knowledge of mental health systems, workplace wellbeing or addiction support.
- Comfortable operating at Board level.
Organisational Capacity
- Experience managing and motivating high-performing teams (ideally remote).
- Financial acumen, including budget oversight and income generation.
- Fundraising experience, particularly with trusts, foundations or membership bodies.
- Ability to balance operational delivery with strategic influence.
- Skilled at prioritisation in resource-constrained environments.
Personal Qualities
- Authentic commitment to mental health and wellbeing.
- Emotionally intelligent, empathetic and values-driven.
- Resilient and calm under pressure.
- Able to navigate sensitive conversations with discretion and diplomacy.
Desirable
- Experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector.
- Experience working with regulators or professional bodies.
- Understanding of research commissioning or evidence-led advocacy.
Further information
For further information about LawCare, the scope of the role and the person specification, please download the Candidate Briefing Pack.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please provide the following with your application:
- An up to date CV, with the details of two referees (we will not contact them without your prior permission).
- A supporting statement outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the Person Specification, along with your motivation for applying for the role.
Closing date for applications: Monday 30th March 2026
Preliminary interviews with Russam: Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th April 2026
Interviews with LawCare: Week commencing 20th April 2026
We look forward to receiving your application.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE - OPERA NORTH
STRATEGIC FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS
Opera North, one of the UK's leading opera companies, is seeking an accomplished Director of Finance to provide strategic financial leadership and ensure robust financial management across the organisation.
Reporting to the General Director, you will lead the financial operations and governance framework of Opera North and its affiliated organisations, working closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to devise sustainable financial strategies that deliver the company's artistic ambitions and strategic priorities. You’ll be taking over from a well-respected senior finance leader who is moving on after years of brilliant service, leaving a legacy to build upon and facilitating a substantial handover period.
This is a senior role requiring significant experience in complex financial and regulatory environments, with strong charity accounting knowledge highly desirable. You will lead a dedicated finance team while building productive partnerships with stakeholders across the organisation, external auditors, and professional advisers.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Lead financial operations and governance across Opera North, Opera North Trading Ltd, Opera North Future Fund and Friends of Opera North
- Contribute to company strategy across all business areas, providing financial analysis and guidance on activities, plans, targets and business drivers
- Work with the General Director and Board to develop sustainable and viable financial strategies
Financial Management & Reporting
- Provide budgets and financial modelling, offering robust challenges to planning processes where necessary
- Produce regular management accounts, annual income and expenditure budgets, improving their effectiveness as managerial tools
- Prepare information on capital expenditure, property management and reserves management to enable effective Board assessment
- Ensure timely and accurate compliance with requirements of Arts Council England, Charity Commission, Companies House and other external stakeholders
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, manage and support the continuous professional development of the finance team
- Support the development of financial skills and awareness across budget-holders to achieve continuous improvement in financial planning, forecasting and budget management
- Develop procedures and policies to support the company's financial performance
Compliance & Governance
- Liaise with providers of professional services including auditors, tax advisers, insurers, lawyers and pension providers
- Work closely with the People Team to ensure efficient payroll and pension arrangements in line with legislative and HMRC requirements
- Maintain awareness of changes to leadership and governance legislation, communicating implications to non-finance colleagues
- Ensure an effective governance framework is in place
BENEFITS PACKAGE
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- 35 hours per week
- 33 days annual leave inclusive of 8 statutory holidays
- Pension scheme: Opera North contributes 5.5% of basic pay after 3 months' service (employee contribution 2.5%)
- Professional development opportunities
- Access to Opera North performances and cultural activities
- Based at the Howard Opera Centre, Leeds
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications & Professional Standing
- Full professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
- Professional membership of recognised accountancy body
Experience
- Senior manager or director level experience
- Substantial professional experience in a complex financial and regulatory environment
- Preparing and presenting management accounts, reports and data at board level
- Liaising with auditors and other professional advisers
- Management of a payroll function
- Managing teams
Technical Knowledge
- Knowledge of relevant legislation affecting financial reporting and taxes
- Good knowledge of VAT and Gift Aid
- Strong Excel skills
- Comfort with different accounting software
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent communication skills with ability to explain complex financial information to stakeholders with varying levels of financial knowledge
- Ability and willingness to review and improve internal systems
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
HIGHLY DESIRABLE
- Knowledge and experience in charity accounting
- Understanding of charity law and guidance
- Knowledge and experience in preparing creative tax reliefs
- Professional experience of the arts sector
ABOUT OPERA NORTH
Opera North is one of the UK's most vibrant opera companies, creating extraordinary experiences for audiences across the North of England. The organisation values creativity, collaboration and cultural impact, operating with a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Opera North promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and makes recruitment decisions by matching our needs with the skills and experience of candidates. As we work to address underrepresentation in our workforce, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from the global majority or those with other protected characteristics.
The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK or be ready to obtain it.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
All Opera North employees are expected to:
- Represent company values and purpose to create extraordinary experiences every day
- Work collaboratively with all team members
- Act as an ambassador for Opera North, following all policies and procedures
- Ensure everyone visiting Opera North is welcomed and treated with respect
APPLICATION PROCESS
Broster Buchanan are acting as recruitment partner for this appointment.
To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Lucy Rider at Broster Buchanan
Application deadline: 13th March 2026 Interviews: 25th & 26th March
For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Lucy Rider at Broster Buchanan.
If you require any adjustments to the application process, please let us know.
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!
This is a full-time Chief Exec role offering an exciting time to join an organisation making
a huge impact with minimal resources. As the Organisation enters its tenth year,
regrettably the need for this work has never been greater and in addition to enhancing
existing projects, we plan to grow our Dignity Centre locations as well as expand our
outreach and impact in the coming two to five years. As a small charity, the role is
incredibly varied as well as hands-on. While there is no physical back office, meaning
the role is mostly from home/remote, the CEO spends sustained periods of time in our
projects in Nicosia, Cyprus and Bournemouth, UK as well as any new or potential
project sites in the UK and abroad. A typical day could include troubleshooting and
managing maintenance problems at distance for our projects in Nicosia and
Bournemouth, preparing and delivering interviews and presentations to the media or for
donors, calling volunteers to prepare them for collaborating with us and collating
indicator data for impact reports.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Neotree: The Digital Learning Health System
Neotree is an award-winning digital learning health system co-designed with frontline clinicians to end preventable newborn deaths in low-resource settings. Our open-source platform integrates real-time, knowledge-based clinical decision support (CDS), structured data capture, and visual dashboards into routine neonatal care. Currently active in 18 healthcare facilities, Neotree has supported care for 60,000 newborns and trained over 3,000 health workers to date. Neotree is the only platform of its kind with a defined pathway to embed AI-enabled decision support into routine neonatal care in sub-Saharan Africa.
Neotree: The Charity
The UK charity was established by core members of the University College London (UCL) Neotree research project to maximise the impact of their research on the quality of newborn care and newborn mortality. After five years of rapid growth and proven clinical impact, Neotree is seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead our next chapter. Having evolved from an innovative research pilot into a multi-country digital health intervention, integrated into routine neonatal care in Malawi and Zimbabwe, Neotree is poised for national-scale rollout and scale up, alongside rigorous ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
The Opportunity: Impact at Scale
By 2030 the ambition is for Neotree to be a fully integrated, sustainable standard of care across Malawi and Zimbabwe, having been handed over to, and owned by, their respective Ministries of Health. The incoming Executive Director will lead this transition, shifting the organisation from a research-led implementation partner to one able to scale up a digital public good (currently a DPGA Nominee with a full submission for DPG designation under review).
While the technological landscape, and specific delivery modules, will evolve, the Executive Director will ensure Neotree remains a safe, cost-effective, equitable, and evidence-based system that is successfully embedded within national digital health infrastructures.
The Executive Director's success will be measured collaboratively, focusing on KPIs related to impact and sustainability, and they will work alongside experienced clinical, technical, and academic leads.
Location: Remote within 2-3 hours of Central Africa Time (CAT), with approximately quarterly travel (including to Malawi, Zimbabwe and the UK).
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Key Responsibilities
1. Operations, Clinical Safety & Quality Assurance
1.1. Senior Operational Oversight: Provide high-level oversight of Neotree’s operations across 18 healthcare facilities in Malawi and Zimbabwe, ensuring that the "baby-first" mission is consistently delivered on the ground.
1.2. Clinical Safety & Ethical Governance: Lead the overarching strategy for clinical safety and ethical compliance. Ensure the platform remains a safe and effective clinical tool, and that all operations comply with international data protection and health governance best practices.
1.3. Quality & Effectiveness: Oversee the continuous improvement and optimisation of the Neotree platform based on real-world feedback from frontline clinical staff, ensuring the system remains highly acceptable and trusted by healthcare professionals.
2. Management: People, Grants & Finance
2.1. International Team Leadership: Lead, oversee and inspire a multi-disciplinary, multi-country team (UK, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa), fostering a culture of agility, collaboration, and excellence.
2.2. Develop local leadership and support the growth of country-based teams, ensuring long-term sustainability through in-country capacity building.
2.3. Financial & Grant Management:
2.3.1. Provide robust oversight of the charity’s finances, including budget setting and cash flow.
2.3.2. Lead the management of complex institutional grants (e.g. FCDO, Gates Foundation), ensuring all milestones and reporting requirements are met.
2.3.3. Manage relationships with multiple downstream partners.
3. Governance & Accountability
3.1. Statutory Compliance: Lead Neotree’s reporting and compliance with the Charity Commission, HMRC, Companies House, donors and other relevant legislation. Oversee internal and external audits.
3.2. Board Development & Relations: Act as the primary link to the Board of Trustees, providing transparent reporting on risks, financial performance, and strategic progress. Work proactively with the Chair to strengthen the board, supporting its growth and ensuring its membership is representative of the diverse international contexts and communities Neotree serves.
3.3. Risk Management: Serve as the ultimate lead for organisational risk, identifying and mitigating risks to protect the charity’s reputation, clinical safety, and financial health.
3.4. Organisational & Innovation Governance: Responsible for the continuous review and implementation of all policies (HR, due diligence, safeguarding, clinical and data governance etc.). Ensure policies are legally compliant across international operations.
4. Strategy & Impact Scaling
4.1. Overall Strategy: Lead the development and execution of Neotree’s business model and strategy to scale impact globally, ensuring the sustainable growth and wider adoption of Neotree as a digital public good.
4.2. Evidence base: Work closely with Neotree’s academic team at University College London to identify and address evidence gaps, to support on Neotree research grants (e.g. NIHR, Gates Foundation), and to ensure academic insights are translated directly into clinical impact and national policy.
4.3. Tech Strategy & Interoperability: Lead the development and execution of Neotree's digital strategy. A key focus will be driving the roadmap for system interoperability to ensure Neotree is a future-proofed platform. This includes FHIR compatibility and integration with national systems, such as DHIS2 and national EHRs, to support seamless data exchange.
4.4. Fundraising Strategy: Design and deliver a diverse fundraising strategy that further moves the organisation toward financial resilience and reduced dependence on major academic grants.
4.5. Partnerships & External Relations: Serve as one of the primary ambassadors for Neotree, alongside our Principal Investigators and co-founder Professor Michelle Heys. Define priority stakeholders, and build and maintain relationships with those high-level strategic partners to drive adoption and raise Neotree’s profile.
Key Priorities for the First 12-18 Months
The new Executive Director will focus on the following key priorities during their initial 12-18 months:
1. Successful Project Delivery & Ministry of Health Partnerships. Ensure successful delivery of the projects currently in flight, in both Malawi and Zimbabwe. This includes partnerships with the Ministries of Health in both countries to build and hand over neonatal modules in their EHR systems based on Neotree, and support their successful rollout.
2. Strategic Plan Development. Develop a 3-5 year plan with the Board, academic partners, and wider project team to build on our existing foundation to expand Neotree – including addressing research gaps, using AI to improve clinical decision support, and finding ways to expand the adoption of the technology in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and beyond. Sustainability is a core part of that strategy.
3. Strategic Plan Execution. Execute on that plan, including securing funding, building partnerships, and further developing the Neotree team.
Person Specification
Personal attributes and skillset
- Overall: Values-driven, mission alignment, humility, and commitment to equitable partnership.
- Visionary Leadership: An inspiring leader who can balance day-to-day operations with a long-term strategic focus. You can articulate a clear future for Neotree that motivates an international team and aligns global partners toward making Neotree a national standard of care, ensuring every innovation remains underpinned by our "baby-first" mission.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: You must thrive in a landscape that is constantly shifting. You can pivot strategies as national digital health priorities evolve or as new technological partners emerge. You are comfortable with ambiguity and can steer the organisation through the "unknowns" of the next five+ years.
- Communication & Collaborative Mindset: You are a bridge-builder. You have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across international borders and multidisciplinary partners, linking academic research, technical development, and frontline clinical delivery.
Experience
1. Education: Master’s degree (MSc, MPH, MBA) in a relevant field (e.g. Global Health, International Development, Digital Health).
2. Proven track record of overseeing delivery of health services and/or health interventions (ideally in low-resource settings).
3. Experience of working in partnership with Ministries of Health strengthening health systems.
4. Proven experience in scaling an organisation or a digital product / health intervention from a pilot phase to a national or regional standard.
5. Experience of leading multidisciplinary, multi-cultural teams, both in person and remotely.
6. Experience of monitoring and evaluating health programmes.
7. Experience managing complex grants, and diverse revenue streams (grants, philanthropy, or social enterprise models).
Desirable
- AI & Innovation: Understanding of the ethical and practical implications of integrating AI/Machine Learning into healthcare.
- Governance: Familiarity with UK charity governance, including reporting to the Charity Commission and Companies House.
Equal opportunities
Neotree values diversity and is committed to equal opportunities. All applicants for employment will receive equal treatment without discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic or national origins, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation, or any other grounds. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds, and the low-resource settings in which we work, to ensure we have a well-balanced and widely representative staff base.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you a visionary leader who can help shape the next stage of our work to protect, create and restore Scotland’s woodlands?
We are looking for our next Chief Executive, someone who can lead the charity into an exciting period of growth and change.
FWS is a Scottish charity working to create a Scotland where trees and native woodlands are thriving for our wildlife, communities and climate. Our mission is to protect, create and restore these vital habitats through knowledge, partnership and practical action.
Founded in 2012 to support innovative thinking for trees and native woodlands, we have grown into an organisation delivering practical action at scale. Today, our work stretches from city spaces to wild places — supporting farmers and landowners to create or restore native woodlands, strengthening local nurseries, building sector skills, and bringing trees into everyday landscapes across Scotland.
The organisation has grown rapidly over the past three years, and now operates as a team of seven delivering national programmes across Scotland.
About the role
This is a rare opportunity to shape a small, ambitious and high‑performing charity at a time of growth and increasing national influence.
As Chief Executive, you will report to and work closely with our Board of Trustees, providing strategic leadership and acting as the organisation’s senior representative. You will:
- Lead the delivery of our strategic plan and future direction
- Strengthen partnerships across the woodland, environmental, community and land‑use sectors
- Oversee programme delivery and organisational performance
- Support, motivate and develop our small and committed team of seven, working across programmes, fundraising and communications
- Represent Future Woodlands Scotland at senior levels across Scotland
You will bring strategic clarity, a collaborative leadership style, and the ability to build strong, trusted relationships across sectors and with funders.
Location
This role is Scotland-based, working from home with travel across Scotland to meetings. Our current team is spread across Dumfries & Galloway, Lothian, Central Scotland and Aberdeenshire.
Contract and salary
- 8% employer pension contribution
- Permanent, part‑time (3 days per week)
- £65,000–£75,000 FTE, depending on experience
- 25 days annual leave + 10 public holidays (pro rata)
- Additional annual leave increasing with length of service, up to a maximum of 10 additional days.
How to apply
Before applying, please read the Candidate Pack for full details of the role, responsibilities and the application process. You can find it on our website.
Invitations are invited from suitably qualified people and applications should consist of a CV and covering letter. The covering letter should explain how you meet the essential skills set out in the Candidate Pack and what you would bring to Future Woodlands Scotland.
If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Shireen Chambers to arrange a call (details in Candidate Pack).
Key dates:
- Application deadline: Midday, Monday 16 March 2026
- Interviews: Monday, 30 March 2026, in Edinburgh in person
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.