CEO

Make a real impact in South Kilburn!  The OK Club is hiring a CEO to manage and lead the organisation as we continue to develop our presence and impact in our neighbourhood.

Thanks to funding from John Lyon’s Charity, we’re looking for a visionary leader, who is motivated by their Christian faith and who can inspire and equip our team and work with us to develop and deliver our strategic development plan.  If you’re someone who loves young people and community, and is passionate about seeing people flourish, we want to hear from you! 

Started by students and graduates of Oxford University (hence the OK in our name - Oxford Kilburn) The OK Club has been providing activities for children and young people for the past 60 years and we have exciting plans for our next phase of development.  

As well as continuing our programme of youth and children’s activities, over the last couple of years we have also expanded our provision to make the club building available to the wider community.  Taking an asset based approach, our Community Animator enabled us to open our doors and connect in a new way with our neighbours.

As CEO you will be responsible for overseeing three key areas -

1. our youth & children’s work,
2. our community engagement, and
3. our building.

Applicants will have proven experience of leadership in a charity or community context.  The ability to work positively with young people is essential, and experience of managing a building and budgets is also important.

Our funding from John Lyon is initially for three years but we anticipate that, with a brilliant new CEO our funding will grow to make the post sustainable.

The OK Club is located in South Kilburn, North West London.  We currently find ourselves in the middle of a building site (quite literally) and that our neighbourhood is changing drastically. Brent Council are continuing their massive regeneration project - demolishing all existing tower blocks and replacing them with new ones, with a greater number of housing units.  While much around us is changing, our desire to support children and young people with play and development opportunities is as strong as ever.

The OK Club currently has:

• A part time Youth Work Development Officer who oversees our youth work programme.

• A part time Building Manager.

• A part time Community Animator.

• A part time Children's Worker.

• Four interns (two full time and two  part time, shared with churches), usually from abroad on gap year schemes.  

• Christian Holt House which can accommodate up to five further individuals who live as part of the missional community and are required as part of their tenancy to contribute to Club activities.

• A small but important number of volunteers are recruited from among parents and the community generally.  We are keen to grow this team, particularly with older young people and other members of the local community.

Our site contains the following facilities:

• A sports hall

• 3 x activity spaces

• A kitchen

• Garden

• Two upper floors which are currently rented out to other organisations.

We have been funded by Brent Council to renovate our Sports Hall and have ambitious plans for our whole site development in the coming years.

The work of the OK Club is overseen by a Management Committee (Trustees) who meet every two months, and the post will be Line Managed by one of the Trustees.

Inclusion & Diversity:

The OK Club strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background. 

Safer Recruitment:

The OK Club is a Safe Recruiter and will require all applicants to undergo a DBS disclosure as well as taking three references. A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to working for us but must be declared on application.

Timetable: (subject to amendment)

• Post advertised - 18th May 2026

• Closing Date - 7th June 2026

• Shortlisting will take place in the following week and interviews will take place, week commencing 15th June.

The successful candidate may start as soon as they are available and appropriate checks have been carried out.

Application Process:

• Applications must be received by the deadline on our approved application form.  

• Any expressions of interest received through Indeed, Charity Job or other online platforms will be sent the application form to complete and an application won’t be considered until a fully completed form is received.

• All applications will be acknowledged and considered in our shortlisting.

• Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited for an interview which will likely consist of a presentation, a task, and standard panel interview. 

• The recruiting panel reserves the right to request a second interview if they feel this is appropriate.

When you are completing the application form, please pay particular attention to the essay section which is where you can tell us how you fit the criteria listed in the person specification.