Permanent jobs

Lead a Movement Advancing Universal Energy Access

Chief Executive Officer - SolarAid

Location: UK - hybrid
Travel: c. 8-10 weeks per year (Africa programmes, partners, global forums)
Salary:  c. £100k
Type: Full-time

About SolarAid

SolarAid is an ambitious international charity working to achieve a world where everyone has access to clean, renewable energy. With a strong track record of impact across sub-Saharan Africa, SolarAid has helped transform access to energy through solar solutions that improve lives, livelihoods and the environment.

Today, SolarAid is entering a pivotal new phase. Building on proven delivery models, the organisation is shifting towards systems change - scaling impact through partnerships, influencing markets, and shaping policy to accelerate universal energy access. Alongside this, SolarAid retains active operational programmes in countries such as Malawi and Zambia, ensuring deep, real-world insight informs its work.

This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation with both credibility on the ground and growing influence at the highest levels.

What You Can Look Forward To

As CEO, you will lead SolarAid through an exciting transition - balancing external influence and internal leadership to unlock its next phase of impact.

You will:

• Shape and Deliver Strategy
  Bring clarity, focus and prioritisation to SolarAid's ambitions, ensuring resources are aligned to the highest-impact opportunities
• Drive Global Influence
  Act as SolarAid's primary ambassador, building credibility with governments, funders, multilaterals and partners
• Scale Impact Through Partnerships
  Expand and strengthen partnerships to deliver scalable, replicable models across sub-Saharan Africa

Why This Role Matters

• You will lead a mission that is fundamental to human development and climate progress
• SolarAid combines proven delivery with growing global influence
• You will have the opportunity to shape the future of energy access at scale

About You

SolarAid is seeking an experienced, credible and decisive leader - someone equally comfortable representing the organisation externally and leading it internally through change.

Skills and Experience

• Proven senior leadership experience (CEO, Executive Director or equivalent) within international development, social enterprise or a related field
• Experience of programme delivery in sub-Saharan Africa, with a deep understanding of operating contexts
• Demonstrable ability to build credibility and influence with governments, funders, and global partners
• Track record of leading organisations through complexity, change or transition
• Strong strategic judgement, with the ability to prioritise and align ambition with capacity

Highly Desirable:

• Relevant sector expertise - in energy access, climate, or adjacent sectors

Personal Attributes

• Decisive and empowering, able to lead with clarity and confidence
• Credible and articulate ambassador, with presence at senior levels
• Emotionally intelligent, able to build trust and stability in a mission-driven culture

Recruitment Timeline

To ensure equitable access to information and uphold SolarAid's commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the charity will be hosting a Q&A webinar in place of individual informal calls with the Chair/Outgoing CEO. We encourage all interested candidates to submit questions in advance, which will be addressed during the session. Please register your interest in attending this webinar on Thursday 4th June 6-7pm and we will send you a link.

Application Deadline: 5pm, Monday 22nd June 2026

First Interviews: w/c 6th July 2026

Final Interviews: w/c 13th July

How to Apply

Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor to SolarAid on this appointment. Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV to Charity People and request a candidate pack in the first instance. For an informal conversation about the role or if you have further questions prior to applying, please contact Fabrice Yala or Tiku van Houtem or send an email to Senior Appointments at Charity People

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Uniting Staffordshire Against Hate provides information, advice, guidance and practical and emotional support to victims of hate crime and hate incidents to help them cope and recover from their experience and exercise their rights under the Victims Code. We also work to raise awareness and encourage reporting of hate crime across Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire. 

The role of a Training and Community Engagement Officer is an exciting and diverse one. You will be responsible for engaging with communities, including those most at risk of or directly impacted by hate crime, to improve awareness and understanding of hate crime, how to report it and how to access our specialist support service. You will do this in a variety of ways including by delivering awareness raising sessions and activities and attending events. You will also provide initial information, advice and guidance to victims of hate in the community and facilitate referrals into our specialist support service. You will be responsible for the development of meaningful and trusted relationships between communities and the service, so that the people who need our support know how to and are confident to access it. You will also be responsible for delivering our awareness raising training to professionals and communities. 

Flexibility is a key characteristic of all our posts, and the post-holder may be asked to carry out other tasks consistent with the grade from time to time. 

This role is based at our offices in Hanley but most of your time will be spent working in communities across Staffordshire and regular travel is a key element of this role. 

Equality and Diversity:  

All staff members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity. We recognise and celebrate the positive value of diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. 

Join Kingston Hospital as our new Director to lead a well-established NHS charity and drive forward both fundraising income and impact for Kingston & Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Friday 26th June.

Who we are

Kingston Hospital Charity is the dedicated charity for Kingston & Richmond NHS Foundation Trust. Working closely with clinicians and teams across Kingston Hospital and local community services, we raise and steward charitable funds to enhance care and the experience of patients and their loved ones—above and beyond what NHS funding alone can provide. Our support helps create welcoming, healing environments, invest in innovation and technology, and strengthen staff wellbeing and development so that exceptional care can be delivered every day. Relaunched in 2017, the charity brings together grateful patients and families, community groups, businesses, trusts and philanthropists who want to make a tangible difference for local healthcare.

About the role

The Charity Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for Kingston Hospital Charity. Reporting to the Board, the postholder will lead the charity’s growth, profile and impact, ensuring charitable income is maximised to enhance patient care, staff wellbeing and innovation beyond core NHS funding. There is a real focus on securing major gifts to successfully deliver trust strategic priorities and other funding opportunities as well as expanding the charities’ reach and impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Setting and delivering the charity’s long-term vision and strategy
• Leading income generation across fundraising, partnerships, philanthropy and grant funding
• Building strong relationships with clinicians, NHS trust leadership, donors and community stakeholders
• Ensuring excellent governance, financial stewardship and regulatory compliance
• Leading and developing a high-performing charity team
• Acting as a senior ambassador and advocate for the charity locally and regionally

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a senior fundraising leader to lead a small but ambitious charity team and drive income growth. You will need:

• Senior leadership experience in charities, fundraising or a relevant sector
• A strong track record of income growth and strategic development
• Experience in building relationships with high-net-worth individuals
• Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• Credibility operating at the Board and executive level
• Commercial acumen combined with a strong values-led approach
• Passion for improving healthcare outcomes and patient experience

This role offers a high-impact opportunity to shape the future of a well-established NHS charity and make a tangible difference to local health services.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Friday 26th June.

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

At the Centre for Better Health, we envision a world where everyone can lead satisfying and hopeful lives in a society without any stigma of mental ill health. This is an exciting opportunity to step into a meaningful and rewarding role that makes a positive difference to the community we serve.

Role Purpose

As Reception and Office Administrator, you will play a key role in the team; providing a warm, efficient and professional reception service, and being the first point of contact for enquiries.

You will also provide administrative support to contribute to the smooth running and success of services. This will include supporting with the promotion of our services, processing new referrals, managing bookings and payments, and maintaining good record keeping.

Our Centre operates 9am–5pm on Mondays and Fridays, and 9am–8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please note that some evening work is required for this role (with working hours 12-8pm in these instances).

Main Duties

• Provide a professional, confidential reception service, welcoming service users and volunteers and managing phone and email enquiries.
• Act as the first point of contact for enquiries, sharing accurate information and offering appropriate signposting.
• Deliver general administrative support to the team, including promoting the organisation’s services, processing referrals, arranging assessments, managing bookings and payments, and handling day‑to‑day reception tasks.
• Maintain monitoring systems and databases in line with the organisation’s processes.
• Work collaboratively with the team to achieve agreed objectives.
• Attend and contribute positively and constructively to meetings as required.
• Respond proactively to the needs of the role, demonstrating flexibility and a positive attitude.
• Support marketing activities when required, including designing posters, sending mail-outs, and creating simple social media and website content.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive and may change depending on the need and development of the organisation.