Executive director jobs in Manchester, greater manchester

Director of Finance and Commercial Services

Help shape the future of a values-led consultancy transforming public services.

GGi is a leading independent management consultancy dedicated to improving governance across public services, third-sector organisations and mission-driven entities. We work with boards and leaders of some of the UK’s most interesting public purpose organisations to deliver lasting societal impact, and we pride ourselves on our ethical approach, collaborative culture and commitment to better governance.

Our clients are making a big difference to people’s lives throughout the UK. They include the NHS, local authorities, charities, housing associations, sports and arts bodies, regulators and community interest companies. Our work is interesting and diverse, and we have built a values-driven team who enjoy the work we do. We are very committed to individual development and properly budget time for learning together. Have a look through our website and it will give you a picture of the work we do and the type of team we have put together.

Following significant growth in 2025, GGi is now scaling rapidly, with ambitions to double in size by 2028. We are seeking a Finance and Commercial Services Director to join our senior leadership team at a pivotal moment in our journey.

The opportunity

This is a newly created, senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Executive. You will take ownership of GGi’s four year business plan, commercial performance and operational insight, while leading the adoption of modern digital systems to support growth.

This role offers genuine influence, autonomy and variety. You will work closely with the CEO, Board and senior team to professionalise systems, improve visibility of performance and ensure the organisation scales in a financially robust, values-aligned way.

GGI is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Key responsibilities

· Lead financial strategy, governance, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow

· Oversee outsourced finance operations and embed audit-ready processes

· Drive pricing strategy, commercial input to bids and margin improvement

· Develop KPIs and dashboards to support high performance and decision-making

· Lead adoption of a unified digital platform (finance, CRM, project tools)

· Provide clear insight to the Board on growth, risks and opportunities

About you

· Values driven professional with an interest in making a difference

· Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

· Senior finance leadership experience in consultancy, professional services or a mission-driven organisation

· Strong commercial, pricing and performance management skills

· Confident working with data, dashboards and financial models

· Interest in digital transformation and efficiency through technology

· Collaborative, ethical leadership style aligned with a flat structure

What we offer

· Salary: £80,000 plus generous company bonus

·       Genuine work/life balance with remote working and regular in-person leadership meetings with occasional client travel

·    Benefits: Contributory pension

· Impact: Opportunity to shape a growing consultancy with real social impact

· Culture: Supportive, learning, values-driven and collaborative

Closing date: 27 February 2026

We are seeking a leader with a hands-on approach to lead our small team of administrative staff and support our Board of Trustees and members to help shape and implement our strategy for the future. You will manage the day-to-day operations of the organisation, translating the strategy into practice to help the organisation grow and deliver real value to our members.

About Us
ACAT is a charity dedicated to advancing Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) through training, accreditation and the provision of continuous professional development to CAT Therapists. Also, through research and promotion of CAT as a valuable and valued talking therapy.

About you
We are looking for someone who is an experienced leader with a knowledge of and understanding of CAT who is:
A strategic thinker
Able to set, manage and report on budgets
An excellent communicator with a proven track record of implementing change

Why Join ACAT
The opportunity to work with dedicated professionals to develop CAT training and the governance of CAT therapists
30 days annual leave for FTE (Pro Rata)
Flexible working arrangements with both home working and some team-based hours each month at the office in Dorchester, Dorset, and attendance at ad hoc meetings and events in person within the UK from time to time.

This is a permanent contract; part-time flexible 14 hours per week subject to successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.

Closing date: Wednesday 11th February 2026

Assistant Director of Operations
Salary: £72,000 per annum
Work Pattern: This is a permanent contract, working full time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week.
Location: Your base can be at any of the 6 mainland UK Discovery Sites: Arundel BN18, Llanelli SA14, London SW13, Martin Mere L40, Slimbridge GL2 or Washington NE38. The 7th site is Castle Espie.
For this role we can offer the opportunity for hybrid working. It is expected the role will need you to be present at each of your sites on a regular basis, at least once per month.

About The Role

WWT is the charity for wetlands.

This is a critical role in the recently restructured Operations Directorate at WWT. As Assistant Director, you will be directly responsible for the performance of our 7 Wetland Discovery sites. You will provide inspiring and professional leadership to your teams, whilst proactively collaborating cross organisation and externally.

Your focus will be on driving meaningful improvements at sites across our three ambitions of Restore, Inspire and Thrive, with emphasis on financial performance driven by visitor experiences. Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will directly manage two Heads of Operations, a Head of Retail and Head of Catering. You will indirectly lead more than 400 staff and volunteers across Living Collections, Reserve Management, Visitor Experience, Trading, Marketing, Facilities and Grounds.

You will work closely with Health & Safety and Sustainability leads to ensure good governance and compliance at sites and across the Operations Directorate.

You will have a background working in visitor attractions or a very similar sector, coupled with a passion for purpose-led organisations and a keen interest in the environment. You will be an inspiring leader with high levels of emotional intelligence and values & behaviours that align with WWT.

About You

To join as our Assistant Director of Operations, you will need to evidence:

• Experience in a senior position(s) held in the visitor attraction/events management sectors, directly accountable for site operations and visitor experience throughout the visitor journey.
• Strong skills in leading business planning, financial analysis, budget development and management, and delivery of significant capital projects across £multi-million business unit(s).
• Demonstrable ability to recruit, performance manage and motivate large (>100) diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
• The ability to develop, communicate and implement strategic change, turning organisational vision into improvements at scale.
• An inspirational and empathetic leadership style, able to role model an organisation’s values and behaviours, and to evidence strong emotional intelligence. Able to prioritise effectively, to collaborate, network and influence internally and externally at a senior level.
• A highly creative and inquisitive mindset, able to spot and exploit potential opportunities, keen to explore, test and learn as a means of driving continual improvement and excellence in the visitor experience.
• Experience of working collaboratively with insight, marketing and communications teams to deliver strong brand and marketing campaigns which drive footfall.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

Closing Date: 23rd February 2026

N.B. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

No agencies please.

Job Description

Job Title: Finance Director/Finance Officer

Location:Remote working (Home based)

Responsible to: Board of Trustees

Salary:£55,000

Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)

About React:

React – Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illness is a dynamic charity working to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses living in financially disadvantaged households throughout the UK. Our work is unrivalled by any other organisation and our passion and belief that every child should have comfort, dignity, and the opportunity to participate in life as fully as possible is our driving force.

The Job, in a few words:

Reporting directly to the Board, you will lead day to day finance, produce monthly & annual accounts, prepare payroll and monitor React’s grant application process.   The Finance Director/Officer will develop strong working relationships with the React Team and lead all aspects of charitable expenditure.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Managing all aspects of Financial controls

• Processing Payroll, restricted & unrestricted funds through Xero software

• Liaising with auditor, bankers, pension providers & HMRC

• To maintain accurate records and produce monthly management accounts

• Production of Statutory accounts and annual budget

• Manage the grant application process and understand the needs of families caring for terminally ill children.

SKILLS, QUALIFICATIIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Accountancy qualification or equivalent senior experience in charity finance
• Xero or Sage experience
• Confident with PAYE & Gift Aid submission
• Flexible and pro-active approach
•  Ability to work on your own initiative
• ·A natural team leader who can liaise confidently with all members of staff

Creative Director and Joint CEO

We are seeking a visionary Creative Director who will also act as joint CEO to lead the artistic and strategic direction of the charity.

For over 40 years, the organisation has used creative practice as a catalyst for social change, promoting inclusion and empowering diverse communities across the North West. The mission and vision is to co-create inclusive, artistic opportunities with diverse communities that enhance wellbeing and celebrate culture and heritage. 

If this is something you are passionate about, then we would love to hear from you!

Position: Creative Director/Joint CEO 

Location: Rochdale /Hybrid (in person 2-3 days per week, one of which must be a Wednesday)

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 plus a 7.5% employer pension contribution

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Tuesday 24 February at 5pm

Interview Date: Thursday 12 March in person in Heywood

The Role

The Creative Director (Joint CEO) is responsible for the artistic vision, creative, entrepreneurial and strategic leadership of the charity. You will work as an equal partner with the Managing Director (MD/ Joint CEO), both reporting directly to the Board of Trustees to ensure that the organisation achieves its project objectives and strategic targets, while providing quality assurance of the work of the company.

Principal tasks and responsibilities include:

• Strategic Development
• Artistic Leadership
• Advocacy and Relationships
• Finance & Fundraising
• Company & Governance
• Management and leadership

About You

We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with a proven track record in securing funding, overseeing complex budgets, and fostering productive relationships with a Board of Trustees, other partners and stakeholders. You will have a creative and cultural leadership style and with experience of programming that reaches diverse communities.

About the Organisation

Join a dynamic participatory arts charity based in Rochdale, dedicated to using creative practice as a catalyst for social change. For over 40 years the organisation has co-created inclusive, artistic opportunities with diverse communities that enhance wellbeing and celebrate culture and heritage.  We call this Art for a Reason. Through a range of initiatives from Art for Wellbeing to community-led festivals, the team provide opportunities for people to explore their heritage, find their voice, and experience the transformative power of the arts. The vision is for a world where everyone has access and opportunities to create, participate and belong.

We particularly encourage applications from individuals who live in Rochdale and/or identify as being of the global majority, disabled, neurodiverse and/or LGBTQ+/and or non-binary communities. The successful candidate will be offered the post subject to an enhanced DBS check and references.

You may also have experience in areas such as Programme Coordinator/manager, Learning and Engagement, Director, Creative Director, Operations Director, CEO, Director of Creative, Joint CEO, Deputy CEO, Assistant CEO, Chief Exec, Assistant Chief Exec, Deputy Chief Exec. #INDNFP

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

CEO

We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader to guide a purposeful organisation through its next chapter.

Location: Fully remote within the UK with occasional national travel
Salary: £55,000 to £65,000
Contract: Full time, permanent
Benefits: Pension, generous annual leave, Christmas closure, family leave and sickness policies available on request
Closing date: Monday 9th February

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a new CEO! Can you uphold the thoughtful shaping and delivery of an impactful charity? Do you have senior experience in a purpose-led organisation with financial and business skills you can bring? Then you might be the right person to guide this team.

This is a great opportunity to make a life-changing difference to people living with disability!

If this is something you are passionate about, then a CEO role is a great way to use your professional experience to be a nationwide change-maker.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

Whether it’s mobility, daily living, or hobbies and sports, the charity creates solutions that change lives. At the heart of their work is designing and building custom made equipment, tailored to each person’s unique needs.

Volunteers bring together creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving expertise, including metalwork, carpentry, electronics, computer programming, and 3D printing, to deliver solutions that can’t be found anywhere else.

IF YOU JOIN THE TEAM…

You’ll have the rare chance to take the helm of a charity with a powerful social mission and build on their proud 60-year history, stewarding them into a new era of growth. A vibrant, passionate community of innovators and problem solvers will be right there with you.

You’ll join the vision for the charity to be a place where people of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel welcomed to work, volunteer or seek help. The organisation encourages flexible working and a culture that prioritises people, wellbeing, and collaboration.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We are searching for a CEO who can help ensure REMAP remains resilient, relevant, and well-prepared to respond to emerging pressures and opportunities.

We are particularly seeking someone:

• Who will strengthen financial sustainability and income generation
• Has a proven track record of senior responsibility
• Energise and support a nationwide volunteer community – strengthening relationships between central staff and locally rooted branches

You do not need to meet every requirement to be considered. If you can demonstrate the experience, passion, and capability to lead with purpose, we encourage you to apply.

WHAT’S NEXT

If you are excited by this opportunity and ready to bring energy and expertise to a mission-driven organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Chief Executive, Executive Director, Managing Director, Head of Operations, Director of Services, Director of Strategy, Director of Programmes, Operations Director, Charity Director, Social Impact Director, Senior Leader, Development Director, Leadership Consultant, Transformation Lead, Governance and Strategy Lead  #INDNFP

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

The International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation (IPWSO) is seeking a talented and motivated CEO who will deliver our organisational strategy which aims to improve the lives of all those affected by a rare genetically determined disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). 

The role of CEO at IPWSO is both challenging and rewarding. You can help deliver change for people affected by PWS from across the globe by helping us build solidarity, promoting scientific reasoning and research, helping to foster new relationships, supporting our members, and striving for equality for everyone affected by the syndrome.

You will work alongside passionate volunteers and experts in PWS from across all continents and with a skilled and small staff team based in the UK. We are all dedicated to making a tangible difference!

For the full person specification and the JD, please refer to the attachment below.

#CEO #Chief Executive #Chief Executive Officer 

Job Title: Head of People & Governance

Responsible To:  Chief Executive

Location:Remote, but with flexibility to travel for in person meetings

Salary: £38,336 - £44,427 pro rata, per annum (dependent on experience) plus 8% pension contribution

Duration: Permanent established role

Hours: 0.8 FTE (29 hours 36 minutes per week), flexible

Job Purpose: 

The Head of People & Governance will provide leadership to the CEO Office team and serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team (SLT). This role will be responsible for the three specialist areas which form the CEO Office: People Services, Governance and Executive Support. 

This role is responsible for delivering the People Services function for the organisation, including the development and implementation of People Services strategies, plans, policies and processes. You will lead the People Services team in delivering high quality support and advisory services.

This post requires the individual to understand, anticipate and react to the organisation’s changing needs, to think critically, make decisions, and offer solutions to problems with expert professionalism, sensitivity, and confidentiality. To implement Butterfly Conservation’s (BC) objectives through leadership of the CEO Office team, setting and managing budgets, targets and workplans while inspiring and enabling staff to achieve their best.

Specific Tasks:

1. Delivering the People Services function      
2. Responsible for delivering a high-performing People Services function ensuring all interactions adhere to BC’s inclusion and organisational values. To lead, manage and be accountable for the function, including:

• Aligning workload with BC’s Strategy and annual business plans.
• Advising, coaching, and enabling the People Services team to deliver effectively and create an engaging, supportive, and empowering environment. 
• Ensure monthly workforce reporting systems are in place and actions followed up where required.  
• Lead on Employee Health and Wellbeing initiatives, promoting a culture of engagement and self-responsibility.
• Implement, monitor and evaluate performance management systems and processes. 
• In conjunction with the CEO and SLT, procuring external specialist support and/or legal advice as needed to minimise risk to the organisation.
• Act as the escalation point for complex employee casework, including dispute resolutions, disciplinaries, grievances, absence, retirement and redundancy, ensuring that the SLT members’ roles remain objective and that safe formal processes can occur if required. 
• Account management for providers of BC’s People Services Workforce Systems, ensuring Service Level Agreements are met and partnership opportunities are maximised including Occupational Health, EAP services, Hireful and BreatheHR.
• Oversee and manage ‘Charity Learn’ BC’s online learning management system, to include setting up annual statutory training for all staff and creating bookable in-house training sessions as required.
• In conjunction with the CEO and SLT, develop and implement a People Strategy to include areas of succession planning, talent management, change management, and staff engagement. 

1. Governance, Risk and Management Information & Reporting

      Accountable for the smooth running of BC’s core governance activities and trustee meetings, including:

• Overseeing the risk and audit process for the CEO Office, bridging as needed between the Finance Directorate and the CEO Office Directorate.
• Ensuring all core legal requirements are met and that the trustees comply with their duties in accordance with the Articles of Association.
• Ensuring relevant statutory returns are submitted to Charity Commission and Companies House.

1. Executive Support

      Ensure the support function to the CEO and SLT is delivered efficiently and effectively, including direct line management of the Executive Assistant to the CEO and SLT PA’s.

1. Management and Development of Team members

      Responsible for managing a team of five direct reports and undertaking all People Manager duties, including:

• Setting objectives, workload planning, holding 121 meetings and regular reviews.
• Conducting Performance Development Reviews and giving timely direction and feedback.
• Building engagement within the team and creating an environment of trust and wellbeing.
• Coaching and developing team members to ensure professional and personal growth and career development and supporting any training needs. 
• Role modelling people management in line with BC’s values and competency framework, setting a good example from the CEO Office. 

1. Strategy, Planning and Budgeting

      Working with the CEO and SLT on the annual and long-term business cycles, including:

• Supporting with the creation of BC’s Strategy as required.
• Creating annual Directorate work plans to deliver actions and outcomes in line with BC’s strategic priorities ensuring  teams within your responsibility have clarity and direction.
• Working with Finance to ensure that the function has adequate budget to match the work plans and supporting with budget refresh and reforecasting.
• Supporting the Directorate with workforce planning and resource management as required.
• Responsible for the CEO Office budget.

1. Relationship building, partnering and culture development,

     Operating as a strong ambassador for BC and the CEO by:

• Cultivating and nurturing excellent working relationships both internally with all colleagues and trustees, and externally with branches, volunteers, partners, suppliers, funders, and sector networks.

General:

• Promoting and exemplifying BC’s values (Excellence, Passionate, Inspiring, Collaborative) ensuring they are adopted in all aspects of the role.
• Aligning with the mission and strategic goals of BC; commitment to species conservation, the environment and nature recovery.
• Undertaking any other reasonable duties as required and commensurate with the grade of post.
• Undertaking all duties and responsibilities in compliance with BC policies, processes and code of conduct, role modelling inclusive behaviour to enable a diverse workforce.
• Be cost conscious and respectful of funders’ money. Make good financial decisions to minimise cost and maximise impact by the charity.
• Actively participating in on-going professional development activities, committing to personal and professional growth and development.

Candidates must have the right to work and be resident in the UK.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early before the advertised closing date and time.

Closing date:Sunday, 15 February 2026 at 23:59. 

REF-226 149

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and values-led Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead East London Waterworks Park in this next phase of our development. This is a rare opportunity to shape the first paid executive leadership role in a pioneering environmental charity.

The CEO role is wide-ranging and dynamic, and will evolve as East London Waterworks Park grows. The CEO will provide strategic leadership to help realise our ambition to purchase the Thames Water depot site in East London, while strengthening our capacity to deliver community-led rewilding and nature-recovery projects across London in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders.

An important aspect of the role will involve introducing a sustainable staffing model that complements and develops East London Waterworks Park’s existing volunteer ecosystem, and strengthens our culture, vision and values. The CEO will be supported in this work by long-standing volunteers at both trustee board and operational level, who believe in the benefits this organisational change will bring.

About East London Waterworks Park

East London Waterworks Park is a community-led charity working to reconnect people and nature. Starting from nature-first principles, and with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do, we work with communities to co-design spaces to unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place.

Our work includes:

• co-designing East London Waterworks Park with the East London community, working towards purchasing a 14-acre Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest and transforming it into a biodiverse urban park with free, accessible wild swimming and welcoming community spaces

• co-designing other nature-first spaces on disused or brownfield land in London, returning land to nature in collaboration with local communities to encourage long–term community stewardship

• hosting engagement, education, and empowerment activities that build skills, confidence and deeper connections to nature.

East London Waterworks Park is a sociocratic organisation, with a decentralised organisational structure and a transparent and collaborative approach to decision making. We have grown organically since 2019, responding flexibly to the challenges we have encountered but always committed to our core vision: creating a new kind of urban green and blue space: one that is ecologically rich, inclusive, and shaped by the people and wildlife who use it.

East London Waterworks Park is currently entirely run by volunteers but we recognise the need to transition to a more sustainable structure. We want to introduce paid employees to ensure we can deliver the exciting projects planned in 2026 and beyond, while retaining our strong community-led ethos.

More information

If this sounds exciting, please review the attached recruitment package.