Chief Executive Officer – The Abbey Centre
Location: The Abbey Centre, Westminster, London (site-based role, flexible working available)
Salary: £90,000 – £95,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent (Full-time, 37.5 hours/week; regular evening attendance for events as required)
Could you lead a much-loved community hub through its next chapter of stability, growth and civic impact?
About The Abbey Centre
Our charity has served the community of south Westminster since 1948 and has occupied The Abbey Centre building, a converted Victorian public bath house a stone’s throw from Westminster Abbey, since 1991. We are a site-based community hub and social enterprise, combining community services, training and outreach with venue hire, an on-site café and catering to generate income that supports our charitable work.
We work across employability, health and wellbeing, volunteering and practical support for vulnerable residents; the Centre welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, and sees over 1,000 visits each week. Our strong partnerships with Westminster City Council, statutory bodies and corporate donors underpin commissioned activity and solidify our position as a trusted local delivery partner.
This is an opportunity for a visionary but hands-on leader to preserve the Centre’s warm, inclusive culture and outstanding reputation while further professionalising systems, developing our income, and shaping a multi-year strategy that secures the building and grows impact.
As our next Chief Executive Officer, you will:
• Strategy & Impact: lead a collaborative listening phase and then develop and deliver a 3–5 year strategy and rolling business plan that defines the Centre’s core offer and impact targets.
• Governance & Finance: own the annual budget and medium-term financial modelling, deliver full-cost recovery across activity lines and present timely, accurate management information to trustees.
• Operational Leadership: ensure continuity of community services, venue trading and café operations and strengthen operational systems including safeguarding, H&S and business continuity.
• Income Generation: drive commercial performance of venue hire, events and catering, professionalise fundraising (major donors, legacies, corporate partnerships) and lead bids for multi-year statutory contracts.
• Community & Partnerships: sustain and deepen strategic relationships with Westminster City Council, commissioners, local partners and corporate supporters to secure commissioned work and philanthropic income.
• Estate Stewardship: manage day-to-day stewardship of the Centre’s significant ageing building, overseeing maintenance, lease/compliance obligations and contractor relationships.
• People & Culture: build a cohesive senior team, embed clear role accountabilities, performance management and development, and protect the Centre’s welcoming culture while managing change.
• Brand & Profile: act as a visible ambassador locally and with funders to raise the Centre’s profile and champion its social value.
Who you are:
• A seasoned senior leader with proven experience in a small/medium charity, community organisation or social enterprise that combines front-line delivery with significant premises/estate responsibility.
• Demonstrable track record of leading strategic development and delivering organisational growth while balancing hands-on operational leadership.
• Strong commercial and earned-income expertise, with experience of running successful commercial – ideally site-based - operations.
• Confident in winning and managing statutory contracts and multi-year grant programmes; credible with local authorities, commissioners and corporate partners.
• Financially literate with direct budget and cash-flow accountability and experience of full-cost recovery modelling.
• A collaborative, visible and warm ambassador who builds trust quickly, communicates clearly and can present concise management information to trustees.
Why The Abbey Centre?
• A powerful mission: deliver practical services, companionship and opportunity for south Westminster residents in a civic, high-impact setting.
• A prominent, historic central Westminster location and a cherished community building offering scope for strategic estate planning and growth.
• A warm, loyal staff team and an engaged board navigating a positive leadership transition.
• A social enterprise model where successful trading directly funds frontline services and creates a platform for entrepreneurial leadership.
• The opportunity to shape a multi-year strategy that secures the long-term future of the charity and grows its impact in the community.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 12th January 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
Thank you!
Woodgreen is here for pets and their people. Our volunteers play a vital role in making this possible and with a growing network of retail shops and community initiatives, we rely on passionate, committed volunteers to help us deliver our mission every day.
We’re seeking an energetic, people-centred Recruitment Coordinator (Volunteers) to help us grow and sustain a diverse and committed volunteer workforce. In this hands-on, outreach-focused role our successful applicant will be out and about: talking, listening and connecting with people from all walks of life. Their goal is to make volunteering with Woodgreen accessible, inclusive and appealing, ensuring that our shops and wider charity are supported by the people and skills they need, now and in the future.
They will;
- Build strong community connections to generate awareness and interest in volunteering – including with colleges, job centres, community groups, clubs and local networks.
- Attend and represent Woodgreen at volunteer fairs, events, and local initiatives to promote shop-based volunteering.
- Support shops to develop and implement localised recruitment activity, using community insights and creative approaches.
- Develop and deliver outreach activities that raise awareness of volunteering opportunities and inspire people to get involved.
- Tailor recruitment approaches to reflect the motivations, barriers and expectations of today’s volunteers.
- Work closely with shop managers and volunteer teams to ensure an effective and positive onboarding experience.
- Monitor and report on recruitment trends and community engagement activity, identifying opportunities and challenges.
In addition, they will play a key role in expanding Woodgreen’s corporate volunteering opportunities, collaborating closely with our Partnerships team to develop meaningful, mutually beneficial opportunities for businesses to get involved.
This is an ideal role for someone who loves being out in the community, meeting people, building relationships and inspiring others to get involved. If you are;
- A natural communicator who enjoys meeting new people and building connections.
- Experienced in volunteer recruitment, community engagement or a similar role.
- Passionate about volunteering and community engagement.
- Proactive, confident and comfortable working independently in a hands-on, outreach-heavy role.
- Creative and adaptable, with the ability to shape recruitment approaches based on real-world insights.
- Committed to inclusive practices and making volunteering accessible for everyone.
Please get in touch!
This is a full time, permanent, hybrid position with the expectation that the successful candidate will work across the full Woodgreen Retail Estate (including our Head Office in Godmanchester) as required. It is important to note that some weekend working may be required in this role for which time off in lieu will be provided.
In addition to a starting salary of £25,553 - £26,841 per annum, depending on experience, you will receive;
- 36 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays) rising by 1 day each year to a maximum of 40 days after five years
- Up to 8% employer pension contributions
- Support towards healthcare costs (cashplan)
- Employee wellbeing package to include free access to Headspace
- Life assurance (4x salary)
- Enhanced parental leave (subject to qualifying period)
- Benefits hub – exclusive discounts on popular brands
- 25% discount in our charity shops
Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this opportunity as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.
This role is subject to a range of pre-employment checks to include a basic DBS check.
Woodgreen is committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and, as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.
Early application is encouraged as this position may close sooner than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is found.
Woodgreen is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and protecting anyone that comes into contact with us from harm. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our vision is for every pet to have a home where they are loved, well cared for and enjoy positive relationships with their owners.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.