About Planet Patrol
Our vision is a world where all beings can enjoy our waterways, free from pollution. We are a global community dedicated to placing people-powered environmental data at the heart of decision-making. Through our unique anywhere, anytime, anybody approach to citizen science, we gather critical evidence of water and litter pollution to drive solutions that protect both environmental and human health. Our data and citizen science methods have been featured in academic journals (Stanton, et al., 2022) and media investigations (Channel 4 and ITV), enhancing public and scientific knowledge of litter pollution.
About the role
As Director, you will oversee daily operations, including forecasting and budgeting for the entire organisation (currently c£300K per annum). As such, you will lead on developing a sustainable funding stream for our mission-driven work, ensuring we maintain a 6-month runway at all times. You will build and maintain strong external relationships to help grow and develop the organisation. The Director will provide leadership to a small, remote team (4 x PAYE) and create a happy, sustainable and productive work environment. Most importantly, the Director will ensure objectives are being met - both personal and organisational - to deliver impactful, positive change for our waterways in the UK, and abroad.
About you
The successful candidate will be a strong leader who excels at strategic thinking, with the natural ability to analyse situations and relationships to maximise impact and return on investment. They will have experience in line management, fundraising and financial management. We are seeking candidates who have experience in senior management in a non-profit setting, ideally within the environmental sector but not essential. Critically, you must thrive in a start-up environment and have a can-do attitude to problem solving. You’ll be one of only a handful of employees and a team of excellent freelancers, so being a team player is a must! This is a great opportunity to really shape the organisation and our impact, so if you like having agency and being innovative, Planet Patrol would be a great fit.
Your top qualities as a leader
- Ambitious
- Collaborative
- Agile
- Resilient
- Resourceful
Key Responsibilities
Funding Development + Stakeholder Relationships (40%):
- Significant responsibility for successful contractual negotiations and maintaining a healthy new funding pipeline. Secure six-to-seven figure funding opportunities to provide a sustainable revenue stream for 3+ years.
- Strategic understanding and experience of competitive and fast changing charitable financial landscape.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with funders and other voluntary sector organisations.
- Ensure we are suitably represented at appropriate meetings, events, conferences, management groups etc. and that issues that impact our work are raised appropriately.
Operational Leadership including Compliance + Budgetary Control (30%):
- Effective leadership driving business operations and strategic targets. Inspire teams to deliver high-quality programmes and foster a culture of creativity and innovation.
- Draw up and monitor budgets, with support from the Founder and Team Leaders, and ensure effective management and use of all resources. Ensure maximum operational efficiency and maintain a six-month runway at all times.
- Work collaboratively with the Founder and Team Leaders to build annual Business Plans and long term strategies for the organisation.
- Ensure compliance across product / project delivery, finance, human resources, IT, legal, health and safety, customer services and facilities management. Ensure that all data is collated and managed in line with data protection requirements.
- Maintain and develop effective human resource systems for the recruitment, management, support, training, and appraisal of staff and volunteers. Ensure systems are in place to monitor and evaluate the work.
Team + Performance Management (30%):
- Build high-performing, committed teams. This includes line managing, coaching, and supporting team members to create a positive, productive work environment.
- Oversee the team to deliver comprehensive planning and reporting.
- Set benchmarks, monitor performance, and develop a culture of continuous improvement.
- Proactively manage the performance of Team Leaders by carrying out inductions, regular accountability meetings, supervisions, and probation reviews, while also setting clear work and development objectives.
Person Specification
The role is for up to 30 hours a week over 4 days - for the right person we would consider fewer hours. If you think you could do the role but do not meet all of the specification points below, we would still like to hear from you.
Essential Experience and Ability
- Senior management experience working within a small charity or Community Interest Company (CIC).
- Track record of driving operational excellence, including organisational finances and resources.
- Experience of line management, team development and performance management.
- Experience of securing sustainable and diverse revenue streams; including multi-year, strategic deals worth six-and-seven figures.
- Proactive approach to risk management and maintaining compliance.
- Experience in a strategic role, including developing organisational strategy and/or developing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and managing stakeholder relationships.
- Ability to effectively prioritise, manage and oversee programmes of work across the organisation and lead through change.
- Ability to work under own initiative, delegate where appropriate, prioritise work and meet strict deadlines.
- Good general IT skills and appreciation of new platforms that can increase efficiency and effectiveness (Slack, Trello, Canva, Dext, Xero, HubSpot, SenseHR).
- Broad understanding of GDPR and other essential legislation and organisational policies, including use of AI.
- Passionate about the environment and the importance of citizen science.
- A commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
- Legal right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship.
What we offer
Planet Patrol values collaboration, innovation, and agility. That’s why we’re proud to be a 4-day week employer. We offer a flexible, remote working environment, paired with regular opportunities to connect as a team. We’re a vibrant, mission-driven non-profit that supports professional growth, alongside wellbeing. We offer a generous annual leave package, your birthdays off and encourage you to get out into nature whenever possible.
Application details
If you believe in the work we’re doing and think you could add something to it then we would love to hear from you.
Please submit your CV, LinkedIn profile and answers to the four questions listed on the application page. We are unable to process applications which are not complete.
Applications close midnight Sunday 23 November.
First stage interviews will be held virtually on Wednesday 26 November.
Second stage interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 3 December.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Here at Youth4Youth, we have grown a strong, tight-knit community of individuals who are passionate about making a difference and improving the lives of young people across the UK. Our growing team, who are primarily volunteers, all contribute, significantly, to the impact that we have as a charity on our direct beneficiaries, regardless of the department that they work in of the level of time that they are able to commit. Our services primarily offer a peer-support network to young people right across the UK, allowing them to access a peer mentor who is of a similar age to them and somebody that they feel more comfortable speaking with.
If successful, you will be joining a growing team of diverse, but likeminded individuals, collaborating to increase the reach of the Charity and improve support provisions available to young people. All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers, but that doesn't stop us keeping in touch and maintaining a strong positive culture amongst our whole team.
If you are interested in applying for this role, and would like to find out more, you are welcome to join our Chairman and outgoing Volunteer CEO in one of the following informal drop-in sessions. This will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the charity, its mission and how you may partner with the Chair to lead Youth4Youth through the next stages of its journey. Sign up is required:
- Wednesday 26th November - 12:00pm
- Wednesday 26th November - 6:00pm
- Friday 5th December - 12:00pm
- Friday 5th December - 6:00pm
Contact us directly to be added to one of these sessions, or sign up via our direct recruitment page.
About the role
We are seeking a transformational and visionary Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to lead a national youth focused organisation, dedicated to promoting peer-led early intervention support for those in need. The successful candidate will be the first employed leader, propelling Youth4Youth from its robust foundations to the next stages of its development. The CEO will be responsible for turning our recently developed, yet ambitious, strategy into reality. This role provides an exceptional opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact from the outset.
Youth4Youth has secured funding to appoint a CEO for one year, with the expectation that the appointed leader will focus on securing long-term sustainable funding, thereby transitioning this position into a permanent role at the end of the fixed-term period. Additionally, the CEO will facilitate the appointment of further roles to support our mission as further funding becomes available.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the Chair of the Board and Trustees to establish and execute organisational strategy in alignment with the charity’s vision, mission, and objectives. This includes ensuring effective governance and legal compliance, and providing sound, evidence-based recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
- Champion continuous improvement, ensuring Youth4Youth remains a leading provider of youth-led early intervention wellbeing services. Identify and develop opportunities to expand the charity's reach and impact across the UK.
- Oversee effective financial management, ensuring the organisation can continue delivering its services efficiently. Lead the development of sustainable funding streams, enhance fundraising strategies, foster partnerships, and drive growth in commercial activities.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships within and beyond our sector to maximise partnership opportunities. Explore the delivery and co-delivery of commissioned services and access broader funding sources previously untapped by the charity.
- Ensure that youth perspectives are central to decision-making processes about the charity's future. Establish systems to continuously gather input and feedback from our target beneficiaries.
This position offers the chance to advance an organisation with solid foundations, enhancing its reach and impact across the UK through a volunteer executive leadership team and a growing network of approximately 100 volunteers nationwide. The CEO will be instrumental in crafting a strategic vision that translates into operational success, building and strengthening partnerships across the four nations, developing sustainable funding streams, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services.
Skills
- Exhibit a profound passion for Youth4Youth's mission and demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing the impact of our services.
- Possess substantial experience in senior and/or strategic leadership roles, with proven abilities to both develop and implement organisational strategies.
- Have the capacity to influence effectively, both internally and externally.
- Are action-oriented and adaptable to the demands of a dynamic and growing organisation, with the ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently.
- Excel in a fast-paced and varied work environment.
- Show a strong commitment to good governance and compliance.
- Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with exceptional interpersonal abilities.
- Embrace inclusivity in all aspects of their work, demonstrating approachability, active listening, and empathy towards others.
While prior experience in youth-led or youth-focused organisations is not mandatory, candidates must demonstrate passion for our mission and an understanding of our strategy. Experience working with young people is preferred but not required.
Benefits of working with Youth4Youth
- 28 days paid holiday, plus public holidays (pro-rata)
- Remote working, with flexibility allowed
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, Health Cash Plan & Life Assurance
- Defined contribution pension with a 6% employer contribution
- Access to a range of discounts via charity partner platforms
The hiring process
- Pre-application information sessions (Optional)
- Application Deadline: 19th December 2025
- First round interviews to be conducted in early January 2026
- Second round interview (including a presentation)
Please let us know if you require any accommodations for the interview process, and we’ll do our best to assist.
Role: Chief Executive Officer
Reports to: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Salary: £60,000 p.a. (pro-rata)
Hours of work: 20 hours per week (Part-time, 0.5FTE)
Location: Remote, with travel required
Contract type: 1 year fixed term contract, with potential to become permanent
Note: Right to work in the UK is required to be able to apply for this position
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To ensure that all young people have a safe space to reach out for support, enabling them to realise their full potential, thrive in everyday life
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.