Chief Executive Officer (Part-time, 3 days/week)
Veterans With Dogs (VWD) is seeking a dynamic and compassionate Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our charity into its next chapter. This rare and exciting opportunity offers the chance to guide a small, high-impact team at a pivotal stage in the charity’s growth.
Location: Exeter (hybrid with regular office presence required)
Salary: £45,000–£55,000 pro-rata (equivalent to £27,000 - £33,000 for 3 days/week) + 3% pension contribution
Contract: Initial 1 year role with opportunity to extend
Hours: 21 hours / 3 days per week
Holiday: 28 days per annum (FTE), plus bank holidays
Reports to: Chair of Trustees
Direct reports: 4
About Veterans With Dogs
Veterans With Dogs is a UK charity that transforms the lives of Armed Forces veterans living with mental health challenges. Through the provision of highly trained assistance dogs and trauma-informed support, we help restore purpose, independence, and dignity to those who have served.
Founded in 2012, our work addresses a vital gap for veterans living with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. Through our award-winning PALS™ (Partner Animal Life Skills) programme, we help veterans re-engage with life, with the support of a trusted companion by their side.
Following a period of governance transition and renewal, we are entering a new and exciting phase. We are strengthening leadership, systems, and strategy to ensure long-term sustainability and greater reach. As we begin this next chapter, we are seeking an experienced, values-driven CEO to lead us confidently into this next phase.
The Role
The CEO will provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and cultural leadership for Veterans With Dogs. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO will oversee the delivery of the charity’s mission, ensure operational excellence, develop our long-term strategy, and foster a values-led and high-performing team.
This is a hands-on, multi-dimensional leadership role, ideal for a calm, pragmatic, and inspiring individual with experience of organisational stabilisation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth. You will be a visible leader at our base in Exeter, while building strong relationships across the veteran, assistance dog, and wider charity sectors.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
· Lead the development and delivery of an interim plan and longer-term organisational strategy
· Translate strategic goals into clear operational priorities and plans
· Foster a compassionate, inclusive, and mission-aligned organisational culture
· Act as a credible and inspiring ambassador for Veterans With Dogs with stakeholders, funders, partners, and the public
- Guide the charity through stabilisation and values-led, sustainable growth
Governance & Compliance
· Ensure compliance with all relevant charity law, regulation, and best practice
· Work in partnership with the Board of Trustees, supporting effective governance and reporting
· Implement and embed improvements in HR, finance, safeguarding, IT, and operational systems
- Lead on organisational risk management, ensuring policies and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed
Operations & Programme Delivery
· Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery
· Ensure safeguarding standards are upheld for both veterans and dogs
· Drive continuous improvement in programme quality, delivery, and impact measurement
- Ensure operational systems and data processes are robust, compliant, and fit for purpose
People & Culture
· Lead, support, and nurture a small, dedicated staff team and wider network of volunteers
· Promote staff wellbeing, clear communication, and professional development
- Work with trustees to assess future staffing needs and build leadership capacity
Finance & Sustainability
· Work with trustees and advisors to ensure sound financial management and reporting
· Contribute to financial planning, budgeting, and development of a sustainable reserves policy
- Help diversify income streams, supporting fundraising efforts, corporate partnerships, and individual giving
Fundraising & External Relations
· Build and maintain relationships with funders, donors, corporate partners, and sector allies
· Collaborate with the fundraising trustee to develop new funding opportunities
· Represent the charity externally with credibility, transparency, and professionalism
- Strengthen partnerships with ADUK, ADI, Cobseo, and other key membership bodies
Person Specification
Essential
· Senior leadership experience within a charity, social enterprise, or values-led organisation
· Strong knowledge of charity governance, regulation, and trustee relationships
· Experience leading teams through organisational change or stabilisation
· Financial literacy with experience of budgeting, reporting, and planning
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across diverse stakeholders
- A calm, values-based, and ethical leadership approach
Desirable
· Experience in health, mental health, veterans’ services, or trauma-informed work
· Experience working with boards during periods of strategic or leadership transition
· Fundraising and/or income generation experience
· Understanding of safeguarding best practice (for people and/or animals)
- Lived experience of the military or charity sectors (not essential)
Our Commitment
Veterans With Dogs is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strive to create a supportive, respectful, and empowering workplace. We recognise the value of lived experience and are committed to continuous learning as an organisation.
How to Apply
Apply with your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and suitability.
If you would like a confidential conversation before applying, we would be happy to speak with you.
Closing date to apply: Friday 13 March 2026
· First interviews (online): week commencing 16 March 2026
· Second interviews (in our Exeter office): week commencing 23 March 2026 TBC
NO RECRUITERS AT THIS STAGE PLEASE
Apply with your CV and a Covering Letter to explain your interest and suitability for the role.
No recruiters at this stage please.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To improve the quality of life for Veterans who are living with mental health disorders with the support of assistance dogs
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Do you want to work for a dynamic, creative, fast-paced charity?
At Action Together we see the amazing things people achieve when they work together to make the lives of others better. If you share our values: believe it’s possible, strengthen others, and be true, we’d love you to consider joining our team.
Finance Director
The ideal candidate
We seek a finance leader driven by values, with extensive experience directing finance operations and delivering top-tier financial planning, reporting, and governance. This role requires strong technical accounting abilities, exceptional communication skills, and the talent to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.
You should be a collaborative, inclusive leader who excels at developing team members, managing risks, negotiating effectively, and guiding the organisation through periods of change. Most importantly, you must be committed to Action Together’s mission of social justice, equity, and community empowerment.
The role
The Finance Director will play a pivotal role in ensuring Action Together remains financially robust, sustainable, and compliant as a charity and employer. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will partner closely with the CEO and Board to shape a resilient business model, strengthen financial governance, and provide strategic direction that supports our mission and values.
You will lead and develop a high performing finance function, oversee annual budgeting and long‑term financial planning, and ensure high‑quality financial insight is available to the CEO, SLT and Board. The Finance Director has responsibility for the production of monthly accounts package, annual audit and statutory accounts, risk management, payroll assurance, investment strategy, and organisational compliance with Companies House, the Charity Commission, and all financial governance requirements.
You will play an integral role in supporting strong governance, working closely with the Treasurer and Board to provide clear, timely, and insightful financial performance updates, forecasts, and risk assessments.
You will also work with the Treasurer to shape investment strategy, strengthen financial controls, and uphold governance across all statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements
Equality , Diversity and Inclusion
At Action Together we value diversity, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.
In order to ensure that our workforce reflects our communities across all levels of seniority, Action Together is offering a guaranteed interview to any candidate who meets the essential criteria listed in the person specification and who is also:
- A disabled person and/or
- A member of a community experiencing racial inequality
Action Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We expect all of our employees to demonstrate this commitment.
Right to work
We do not hold a Sponsor License and are unable to accept applications which require sponsorship to work in the UK
Please note, the successful candidates will be required to undertake a basic Disclosure and barring Service (DBS) check. A positive Disclosure of Offences will not automatically bar an applicant from being appointed and suitable applicants will not be refused employment because of offences that are not relevant.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
To strengthen the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector. To enable positive social change and promote social justice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
MERSEYSIDE YOUTH ASSOCIATION LTD
Is seeking to recruit the following:
OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE MANAGER THE DAM
Hours:
35 hours per week
(Will Include Some Evening and Weekend Work)
Salary:
£34,594 p.a. - £37,624 p.a. - MYA Grade 7 Point 25-28
Fixed Term Funded to 31st January 2030
(With the Potential to be Extended to 31st January 2032)
Merseyside Youth Association is seeking an energetic and visionary Outdoor Education Centre Manager to lead our lakeside Outdoor Education Centre (based on the Lord Derby Estate in Knowsley) into its next exciting chapter.
You’ll be the driving force behind the Centre’s direction, designing imaginative outdoor programmes for children and young people including those who may never have experienced the outdoors before.
Alongside the outdoor delivery, you’ll bring strong commercial flair: developing and delivering a robust income generation strategy, managing budgets, securing grants, expanding school and corporate bookings, and positioning MYA as the provider of choice for outdoor education locally and beyond.
You’ll build meaningful partnerships, drive targeted marketing, track both impact and financial KPIs, and ensure our programmes not only change lives but also sustain the long-term future of the Centre.
If you’re driven, innovative, and passionate about shaping inclusive outdoor experiences that help young people grow in confidence and joy, this is your opportunity to lead something remarkable.
Note: As part of your application please make sure you highlight how you meet both the Essential and Desirable elements of the job specification.
Merseyside Youth Association Limited Actively Promotes the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults, Young People and Children.
The above post will be subject to Enhanced Disclosure,
Please note, CV’s will not be accepted and should not be part of your supporting information.
Closing Date for Completed Applications: Midnight Monday 23rd March 2026
Merseyside Youth Association Limited is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to maintaining a non-abusive environment
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Creating a Positive and Lasting Change in the Lives of Merseyside's Young People
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.