Executive director jobs in Nottingham, nottinghamshire

Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter. 

Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth. 

We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values. 

This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact. 

As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.

YMCA Derbyshire - Chief Executive - £105k pa | Derby (travel across our operating areas is expected)

Founded in 1847, YMCA Derbyshire is a charity that supports children, young people and communities across Derby and Derbyshire through a wide range of integrated services. We provide housing and supported accommodation for around 270 people each night, alongside pathways that help individuals move toward independent living.

Our work spans lifelong learning provision including our vocational college, employability programmes, school based childcare, early years provision, youth and community programmes, health and wellbeing activities, and vital services through our poverty relief programmes.

Together, these services create the essential building blocks for a safe home, improved wellbeing, skills development and real opportunities for children, young people and adults to thrive. We are a strong, stable and well-led organisation with a clear sense of purpose, and an equally clear belief that we can do so much more for the young people and communities we serve. We’re now looking for a Chief Executive who can help us continue to unlock that potential.

This is a role for a leader with real drive. You’ll join an ambitious team that is ready for fresh thinking, new ideas and creativity as we think about how to best to serve our communities and deliver our services to an even greater number. We expect that you will bring senior experience in one of the core areas of our services - housing, education, or the charity sector. You may not have experience in every facet of our delivery, and we don’t expect you to, but you will need an appetite to learn quickly, ask the right questions, and embrace the breadth of this role, as well as a strategic mindset and the confidence to explore different opportunities and shape a future where YMCA Derbyshire can grow and deepen our impact.

YMCA Derbyshire is a Christian-founded charity, and while we are very clear that we welcome, serve and work with people of all religious faiths, and of none, the CE role includes a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) to be held by a practicing Christian, under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

This is a significant opportunity to lead an organisation with strong foundations, committed colleagues, an excellent reputation and excellent networks in Derby and Derbyshire. If you’re energised by possibility, motivated by purpose, and ready to help us take bold steps forward, we’d love to hear from you. Join us - and help lead the next chapter of YMCA Derbyshire’s story. 

Transport for All has a strong reputation for leading the debate and advocating for change to improve the journeys made by disabled people. This role presents an opportunity for a strong leader with the commitment, enthusiasm and expertise to build on our success.

Our Chief Executive will be responsible for continuing to delivering the remainder of our 5-year strategy, whilst horizon-scanning to work with the team and wider DPO community to engage in the opportunities and changes ahead. We’re a small team and this is a wide-ranging role which includes:

• Representing the voice of the 16 million+ people in the disabled community by influencing policy and infrastructure decision-makers through our campaigns.

• Overseeing a highly regarded policy and public affairs function with associated communications and stakeholder engagement, maintaining our high profile and reputation with national and local governments.

• Ensuring the charity’s funding is robust and sustainable, looking at how we can diversify our income and direct it towards what matters through continuing to deliver our strategy and planning for our future.

• Overall responsibility for our successful training, research and consultancy business, building partnerships and further growth. This includes the National Accessible Transport Survey.

• Championing our award-winning support services for disabled people.

• Leading our expert teams through a period of growth and consolidation, embedding a strong organisational culture and matching our structure and systems to our upcoming challenges and increasing size.

You will report to and be supported by a well-functioning and committed Board of Trustees who are professionals with experience of working in the charity and transport sectors, as well as finance, legal and government backgrounds.

Prospectus is proud to be partnering with our client, a small, specialist health charity dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Dravet Syndrome.

Dravet Syndrome is a rare, life-long and life-limiting form of epilepsy that affects approximately one in every 15,000 people in the UK (around 2-4,000 people in total). It is a complex epilepsy syndrome so as well as severe, difficult-to-control seizures, people with Dravet Syndrome live with intellectual disability and a spectrum of associated difficulties including with speech and language, mobility, behaviours, eating and sleep. It is also common to have a co-diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD.

Founded in 2008 by a group of parents seeking support and information, DSUK has grown significantly over the past 17 years. Today, DSUK supports nearly 600 registered families across the UK and reaches over 2000 people in total, including parents and carers, siblings and bereaved families. As an organisation they deliver a range of impactful services aimed at improving the lives of beneficiaries through family support, professional education and medical research.

At a time of continued growth for the charity, and as medical advancements in the field continue (including clinical trials for the first gene therapies in rare epilepsy), DSUK are now looking to recruit a strategic, collaborative new CEO to help shape the next stage of their journey.

As the organisation’s new CEO, you will provide inspiring, values-driven leadership across the organisation, holding overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations and long-term growth. You will work closely with the Board of Trustees to develop and deliver the organisation’s next five-year strategy, steering organisational priorities, strengthening culture and ensuring the charity continues to grow, both in terms of scale and in impact. You will lead a small, dedicated, cross-functional team across family support, fundraising, communications and research, driving collaboration across all teams. You will also lead on impact and quality, embedding a culture of learning and continuous improvement. A key part of your role will involve developing and building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders, including families, professionals, researchers, pharmaceutical companies as well as other charities and funders. You will also represent DSUK at relevant conferences and sector events, both in the UK and occasionally internationally.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a small, specialist, growing organisation providing life-changing services. To apply for this role, you will be a confident, collaborative leader with significant senior leadership experience in the charity or not for profit sector (experience of working in a rare disease, health, disability or patient advocacy charity is desirable). You will have demonstrable experience of scaling an organisation, and navigating the complexity that growth brings. You will be a skilled communicator, confident at building relationships across health, care or community sectors. You will be resilient, adaptable and comfortable with the breadth and pace of working as a senior leader within a small charity.

If you are interested in applying for this exciting position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call to fully brief you on the role.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Victoria Savva at Prospectus.

Please note, this will be home-based with regular travel across the UK (and occasional international travel). Working hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:30 (however some flexibility for evenings and weekends is required).

Recruitment Timetable:
Deadline for initial CV interest – Wednesday 20th May
Deadline for applications – Tuesday 26th May
First stage interviews - Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th or Thursday 11th June
Final stage interviews – Friday 26th June

Who we are

Safe and Sound is a well-established Derby-based charity supporting vulnerable children and young people affected by exploitation and risk across the city and county. For over two decades, we have worked to prevent, support and help rebuild lives to a point where we are no longer needed, no matter how long that takes. We do this work by working in engaging local communities to deliver education, intervention and recovery services that change lives.

Following a period of significant development, including the successful merger with another local charity and investment in our facilities, we are now entering a period of consolidation. This is a moment to build on strong foundations and ensure long-term sustainability.

About the role

We are seeking a Chief Executive who can lead Safe and Sound through its next phase with confidence, creativity and purpose.

This is a broad and visible leadership role, combining strategic oversight with hands-on engagement. You will:

• Provide overall leadership to the organisation, ensuring high-quality delivery and strong outcomes for young people.
• Lead on income generation, developing sustainable funding streams and building relationships with key funders.
• Act as the public face of the charity, representing Safe and Sound across Derby’s business, public and voluntary sectors.
• Support and develop a committed staff team, fostering a positive and high-performing culture.
• Ensure the organisation remains responsive to emerging risks, including evolving challenges facing young people

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a values-led leader who can combine strong operational leadership with a confident and credible external presence.

You may be an existing CEO or a senior leader ready to step into your first chief executive role.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• The ability to lead and inspire teams in complex, people-focused environments.
• Experience of securing income and building sustainable funding models.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the confidence to represent an organisation publicly.
• Sound understanding of governance, safeguarding and organisational risk.

A strong connection to Derby or the ability to quickly build credibility and networks locally will be important. This is not a remote role; you will need to be visible, present and embedded in the community.

Why join Safe and Sound

This is an opportunity to lead a respected and impactful organisation at a genuinely positive moment.

As our Chief Executive, you can expect:

• A financially stable charity with strong governance.
• A committed and experienced team of staff and volunteers.
• Established partnerships and a recognised local profile.
• The space to shape the next chapter while building on existing success.

Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of vulnerable young people across Derby.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Friday 22nd May.

For further information about the role and to register your interest, please visit the Peridot Partners page and contact our advising consultants.