Location: Northmead House, Creekmoor, Poole, Dorset – CAN operates hybrid working
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary £45,000 – £50,000 per annum
Contract length: 1 Year initially
Closing date: 5th November midday
Interviews: 14th November ONLINE
The Role:
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Deputy Chief Executive to join our Senior Leadership Team. This pivotal role will work closely with our Chief Executive to ensure our internal governance, planning, and systems are robust and future-ready.
About CAN (Community Action Network):
CAN is a respected local infrastructure charity proudly holding the NAVCA Quality Award. We are a membership-led organisation committed to strengthening Dorset’s voluntary and community sector. Our mission is to serve and champion local charities and community groups, helping to build strong, healthy, diverse, and thriving communities.
We hold two national quality assurance awards and our work is underpinned by NAVCA’s four functions of a Local Infrastructure Charity:
- Leadership and advocacy
- Partnerships and collaboration
- Capacity building
- Volunteering
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the organisation.
- Drive performance by setting clear expectations and evaluating outcomes.
- Contribute to the delivery of our strategic plan, Action With Heart, aligning with our vision, mission, and values.
- Act as a key ambassador and representative for CAN, deputising for the Chief Executive as required.
- Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team to identify and secure new income streams, strengthening our financial sustainability.
About You:
You are an experienced leader with a passion for the voluntary and community sector. You bring:
- Proven experience in strategic planning, governance, and performance management.
- Strong financial acumen and a track record of income generation.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- A collaborative and values-driven approach to leadership.
Why Join Us?
At CAN, you’ll be part of a dynamic team making a real difference in Dorset. We offer a supportive and flexible working environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to shape the future of a vital local charity.
We offer a competitive salary and great benefits, including contributory pension scheme, 25 days holiday (pro-rata) plus all bank holidays, season train ticket loan, flexible working and much more.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
CAAS is an amazing organisation, supporting ADHD and autistic individuals, their families, and the community around them. We are in a great position, with stable funding, an experienced team of around 40 staff, and a new strategy that is inspiring and impactful. We are looking for a kind and effective leader to join us as our next CEO, and keep CAAS thriving into the future.
As CEO, you will have the confidence and the expertise to deliver on our vision of changing perceptions to reduce stigma and break down barriers, bringing strategic leadership experience, a high level of organisational ability, self-motivation and self-discipline. You will have a passion for extending our reach and will demonstrate experience in delivering strategy, leading effective teams and building relationships within our community.
To apply, you need to submit a completed application form alongside a supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4, detailing how you meet the requirements of the role. Deadline to apply is by 10am on Monday 17th November, but feel free to reach out to our current CEO, Kay D'Cruz, for an informal chat about the role if you'd like to find out more.
More details about the job and additional information about the person specification can be found in the job description and in our recruitment pack, but in summary the key responsibilities of the role are:
Strategic Leadership: Deliver CAAS’s strategy, fulfil our legal obligations, evaluate and improve performance, report on progress, ensure CAAS remains well positioned for the future
Operational Leadership: Ensure robust systems, processes and policies, assess and manage organisational risk, build sustainable delivery mechanisms, oversee effective digital, communications and fundraising activity, maintain our case for support and tender for and manage contracts
People & Culture: Foster positive working cultures, promote staff wellbeing, ensure staff are focussed on delivering CAAS mission, drive staff development
External Relationships: Influence and advocate for change, act as lead ambassador for CAAS with funders, professionals and other stakeholders
We are looking for candidates who:
- Have a passion for, and commitment to, our work
- Have a track record of effective working at a senior leadership level, building supportive external relationships and driving positive internal cultures, based on compassion and a drive for excellence
- Are action-orientated, adaptable and flexible in the pursuit of impact
- Can juggle multiple and competing demands, and thrive in a busy, varied environment
- Enjoy ensuring robust governance and compliance
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills; are a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
- Are warm, inclusive and approachable, an actively listener and neuro-affirmative
Further information is available on our website.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Our mission is to support, educate and empower individuals diagnosed with ADHD or who are autistic, their families and the community around them.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.