8 Chair and trustees jobs

About Youth Concern

At Youth Concern, we create spaces where 13-25 year olds in Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire can feel safe, be real and be themselves. We are an independent charity that supports young people through our Drop-in Centre, counselling and homelessness prevention projects. We create safe spaces where young people can thrive.

The opportunity

Our Chief Executive is taking a planned 3 month sabbatical, and we are looking for an experienced interim leader to keep Youth Concern running well while they are away.

This role is about continuity, not change. You will work closely with the Chair, trustees and our Senior Leadership Team to make sure young people continue to receive safe, high-quality services, that staff and volunteers feel supported, and that the charity stays financially stable, well governed and compliant. You will need to step in at short notice and be effective from day one.

Key responsibilities 

Leadership and People Management

• Uphold the values and culture of Youth Concern at all times and through all communications.
• Provide visible and supportive leadership across the organisation.
• Line manage Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and provide supervision and guidance as required.
• Staffing decisions to be taken with the SLT and be endorsed by the Chair.
• Escalate to and work with the Chair and SLT on any complex employee relations (ER) matters, appeals, settlement discussions and legal issues during the sabbatical.
• Maintain staff wellbeing, morale and organisational culture.
• Ensure effective communication across the organisation.
• Support managers to resolve operational and personnel issues.
• Make day-to-day organisational decisions within delegated authority.

Service Delivery and Safeguarding

• Support the Director of Youth Services to ensure all services are delivered safely and effectively.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding practices and policies. (The Director of Youth Services is safeguarding lead.)
• Monitor service performance against agreed objectives and funding commitments.
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding, operational or reputational concerns.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and data protection requirements.

Finance and Resources

• Work with the Finance and Communications Manager to oversee organisational finances and cash flow.
• Review management accounts and financial reports.
• Ensure resources are deployed effectively and in line with budget.
• Escalate any significant financial concerns to the Chair and Board.
• The Interim CEO will operate within Youth Concern's Scheme of Delegation. Any expenditure above the agreed amount, recruitment or significant staffing changes, contractual commitments or matters carrying material strategic, reputational or financial risk must be referred to the Chair.

 Fundraising Oversight

· Support employed and self-employed fundraisers to prepare funding applications and monitoring reports, for business as usual and the Youth Hub capital campaign.

· Support and approve existing fundraising activity led by Youth Concern's employed and self-employed fundraisers.

· Authorise and review significant funding applications for existing work before submission.

Governance and Risk Management

• Attend bi-monthly trustee meetings (January and March 2027). In advance collate colleagues’ reports and KPIs, and own report on organisational performance, for distribution.
• Support trustees in fulfilling their governance responsibilities.
• Monitor organisational risks and maintain the risk register.
• Support compliance with Charity Commission, Companies House and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain key organisational policies and procedures.

What the role does not involve

This is a hold-steady appointment. You will not be expected to develop new strategy, lead major change programmes, make major staffing restructures, or start new projects or funding bids. Day-to-day management of individual projects stays with our managers.

You will work within our Scheme of Delegation. Larger spending, recruitment or significant staffing changes, contractual commitments and anything carrying material strategic, reputational or financial risk will be referred to the Chair, who will also be your point of escalation for complex employee relations or legal matters.

Support you will have

The Chair will provide support and supervision throughout, and our trustees and senior leadership team will take on additional responsibilities during this period.

About you

Essential

• Previous Chief Executive or Director-level experience, with the ability to step in at short notice and work effectively from day one.

• Senior leadership experience within the charity, public or community sector.

• Experience of leading teams and managing organisational performance.

• Strong financial and governance understanding.

• Experience of overseeing fundraising activity, providing strategic support and challenge to fundraisers, and reviewing significant funding applications and reports.

• Experience of working with trustee boards.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to make sound decisions and manage risk.

• Commitment to safeguarding and supporting young people.

Desirable

• Experience of youth, mental health, homelessness or community services.

• Previous experience of interim or short-term leadership roles.