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A defining opportunity for a practical charity leader - Help an established bereavement charity build a sustainable future.

Interim Transformation Director

Help an established bereavement charity build a sustainable future and reach more people across London.

LOCATION: London
Hybrid by agreement

REPORTS TO: Chair and Board

Director-level role

PROBATION: 3 months

The opportunity

CCIWBS is an established charity providing accessible, professional counselling and support to people experiencing bereavement and loss. Our services have enabled people to receive counselling who might otherwise face financial barriers.

We have recently widened our charitable objects so that we can support people experiencing different forms of loss and extend our reach across London. This creates a genuine moment of opportunity, but also a clear challenge: we need a sustainable operating and income model that protects what is valued today while enabling the charity to grow with confidence.

We are looking for an experienced, entrepreneurial and hands-on leader who can turn that ambition into a deliverable plan. You will bring strategic judgement, commercial and financial awareness, and the willingness to do the practical work, from building financial models and writing bids to developing partnerships and strengthening our profile.

What makes this role distinctive

· Visible impact: your work will directly shape the charity’s future sustainability, reach and social impact.

· Real scope to build: our expanded charitable objects create space to test new services, partnerships and sources of income.

· Strategy with delivery: this is not an advisory assignment. You will lead the thinking and personally drive implementation.

· A collaborative leadership model: you will work alongside the Charity Director, who leads clinical services and operational delivery, ensuring that change is clinically appropriate, achievable and financially sound.

· Board-level influence: you will report directly to the Chair and Board of Trustees and help them make well-evidenced choices about priorities, risk and investment.

What success could look like after 12 months

The precise priorities will be agreed following an initial diagnostic, but we would expect the postholder to have:

· established a clear, evidence-based transformation plan, with realistic milestones, ownership and measures of success;

· developed an affordable and credible business model, supported by robust budgets, forecasts and service-level financial analysis;

· created and actively managed a diversified fundraising and income pipeline, with strong proposals submitted and relationships built;

· tested and progressed viable opportunities for new services, partnerships, commissioned work or earned income;

· strengthened the charity’s positioning, communications, referral networks and digital presence across London;

· put in place practical systems, capabilities and handover arrangements so that progress can continue beyond the appointment.

Purpose of the role

To provide strategic leadership and practical delivery for CCIWBS’s transformation and long-term sustainability. The central purpose is to develop and implement a viable business model that allows the charity to maintain accessible counselling, diversify income, extend its reach across London and respond intelligently to opportunities created by its expanded charitable objects.

The Interim Transformation Director and Charity Director will both operate at Director level and report to the Chair and Board. The Charity Director will retain responsibility for counselling services, including clinical staff, volunteer counsellors, clinical standards and associated service administration. The Interim Transformation Director will lead strategic and organisational development, working in close partnership with the Charity Director.

Key responsibilities

1. Shape and deliver the transformation

· Review the current operating model, services, income and expenditure, identifying the most important opportunities, constraints and risks.

· Agree a prioritised transformation plan with the Chair and Board, with clear outcomes, milestones and measures.

· Develop a sustainable business model and lead the implementation of agreed changes.

· Explore options including affordable counselling offers, commissioned services, earned income and other funding models.

· Ensure proposals are financially viable, clinically appropriate and operationally achievable.

2. Grow and diversify income

· Develop and deliver a focused fundraising and income-generation strategy.

· Take direct responsibility for practical fundraising, including prospect research, bid writing, proposal development and funder engagement.

· Build opportunities with trusts and foundations, statutory funders, commissioners, corporate partners and individual supporters.

· Establish and manage a realistic pipeline, reporting transparently on prospects, conversion, income and risk.

3. Build financial sustainability

· Work with the Treasurer and finance support to understand and monitor the charity’s financial position.

· Lead business planning, budgeting, forecasting and scenario analysis.

· Develop proportionate financial models and business cases for existing and proposed services.

· Identify efficiencies and investment choices without compromising service quality or accessibility.

4. Strengthen profile, reach and partnerships

· Develop a practical marketing and communications plan that raises awareness of the charity, its services and impact.

· Lead cost-effective activity across digital channels, social media, outreach and referral networks.

· Build productive relationships with GP practices, social prescribers, health bodies, community organisations, funders and commissioners.

· Review the charity’s website, online visibility, name, brand and positioning, making clear recommendations and implementing agreed changes.

· Identify strategic partnerships and collaborations that increase reach, capability or income.

5. Leave the organisation stronger

· Review systems and processes, including digital and IT infrastructure, and introduce proportionate improvements.

· Build repeatable approaches to fundraising, marketing, business development and performance reporting.

· Provide clear reports, advice and recommendations to the Chair and Board, including at bimonthly Board meetings.

· Plan for sustainability and effective handover, so that knowledge, relationships and momentum are retained.

About you

You may come from business development, fundraising, organisational transformation or a broader charity leadership background. We are more interested in your evidence of achieving sustainable change than in a particular job title. You will be comfortable moving between the Board-level conversation and the detailed work needed to make progress in a small organisation.

Essential experience

· Significant senior experience in business development, fundraising, organisational development or transformation in the charity or voluntary sector.

· A strong record of developing and implementing fundraising or income-generation strategies, including personally writing successful bids or proposals.

· Experience of creating business plans, financial models and sustainable income streams.

· Evidence of identifying and developing new services, partnerships or commercial opportunities.

· Experience of leading organisational change or complex projects and delivering measurable results.

· Experience of working effectively with trustees, Boards and senior stakeholders, ideally in a small or medium-sized charity.

Essential skills and knowledge

· A strong understanding of charity funding, financial sustainability and viable business models.

· Excellent bid-writing, communication and influencing skills.

· Sound financial and commercial judgement, including budgeting, forecasting and assessing investment choices.

· The ability to build trusted relationships, negotiate and create momentum with a wide range of partners.

· A practical understanding of marketing, communications and digital engagement.

· Strong strategic, organisational and project-management skills, with the discipline to prioritise and deliver independently while collaborating well.

Desirable

· Experience of transformation or new delivery and income models in a small or medium-sized charity.

· Knowledge of counselling, bereavement, mental health, loss or the wider health and wellbeing sector.

· Knowledge of London’s voluntary-sector funding and partnership landscape.

· Experience of rebranding, digital marketing, systems improvement or responsible use of AI to support organisational development.

Your approach

· Entrepreneurial and resourceful, while grounded in charitable purpose and social impact.

· Strategic and evidence-led, with a practical willingness to roll up your sleeves

· Demonstrate a proactive and initiative orientated approach.

· Open, resilient and adaptable, able to make progress where resources and capacity are limited.

· Collaborative and diplomatic, able to offer constructive challenge and take people with you.

· Sensitive to the experiences of people affected by loss and committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

What we offer

· A rare opportunity to shape the future of a valued charity at a pivotal point in its development.

· A four-day working week and hybrid working arrangements to be agreed.

· Direct access to an engaged Chair and Board, and a close working relationship with the Charity Director.

· The chance to deliver visible, lasting impact for people experiencing bereavement and other forms of loss.

How to apply

Please send the following:

· An up-to-date CV setting out your employment history, key responsibilities and relevant achievements.

· A statement of suitability of no more than 1,000 words explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience, skills and approach meet the essential criteria.

Your statement should use specific examples and make clear the outcomes you personally delivered. Please do not exceed the 1,000-word limit.

Selection process

Applications will be assessed against the criteria in this advert. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and may be asked to complete a short, role-relevant exercise or presentation. Any exercise will be designed to test practical judgement and approach rather than require extensive unpaid work.

Inclusion and accessibility

CCIWBS is committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds and perspectives, particularly those whose experiences are under-represented in charity leadership. If you require a reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process, please tell us when you apply.

Safeguarding and values

The successful candidate will be expected to uphold CCIWBS’s charitable objectives, values and reputation; work in accordance with organisational policies and relevant legal and regulatory requirements; maintain confidentiality; and recognise the importance of safeguarding, professional standards and ethical practice in counselling services.