The opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and values-led Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead East London Waterworks Park in this next phase of our development. This is a rare opportunity to shape the first paid executive leadership role in a pioneering environmental charity.
The CEO role is wide-ranging and dynamic, and will evolve as East London Waterworks Park grows. The CEO will provide strategic leadership to help realise our ambition to purchase the Thames Water depot site in East London, while strengthening our capacity to deliver community-led rewilding and nature-recovery projects across London in partnership with landowners, local authorities and other stakeholders.
An important aspect of the role will involve introducing a sustainable staffing model that complements and develops East London Waterworks Park’s existing volunteer ecosystem, and strengthens our culture, vision and values. The CEO will be supported in this work by long-standing volunteers at both trustee board and operational level, who believe in the benefits this organisational change will bring.
About East London Waterworks Park
East London Waterworks Park is a community-led charity working to reconnect people and nature. Starting from nature-first principles, and with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do, we work with communities to co-design spaces to unlock a chain of positive changes that culminate in the long-term transformation of people and place.
Our work includes:
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co-designing East London Waterworks Park with the East London community, working towards purchasing a 14-acre Thames Water depot in Waltham Forest and transforming it into a biodiverse urban park with free, accessible wild swimming and welcoming community spaces
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co-designing other nature-first spaces on disused or brownfield land in London, returning land to nature in collaboration with local communities to encourage long–term community stewardship
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hosting engagement, education, and empowerment activities that build skills, confidence and deeper connections to nature.
East London Waterworks Park is a sociocratic organisation, with a decentralised organisational structure and a transparent and collaborative approach to decision making. We have grown organically since 2019, responding flexibly to the challenges we have encountered but always committed to our core vision: creating a new kind of urban green and blue space: one that is ecologically rich, inclusive, and shaped by the people and wildlife who use it.
East London Waterworks Park is currently entirely run by volunteers but we recognise the need to transition to a more sustainable structure. We want to introduce paid employees to ensure we can deliver the exciting projects planned in 2026 and beyond, while retaining our strong community-led ethos.
More information
If this sounds exciting, please review the attached recruitment package.
Registered Charity
East London Waterworks Park is a charity campaigning to create a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title: Programme Lead
Reporting to: Senior Programme Lead
Location: North West
Salary: £23,500
Contract: Permanent, term-time only, full-time
Annual Leave: 50 days paid holiday each year which must be taken during school holiday
“The facilitator is a friend and teacher mixed into one… she gets the reasoning from the teacher and the understanding bit from the friend.” - Power2 Rediscover Young Person
Power2 is a fast growing and energetic children and young people's charity that has supported 27,000 young people since 2001. We are based in the North West of England and London and deliver early-intervention asset-based programmes to children and young people who have mental wellbeing challenges and are disengaged from school and more widely. We are well-known for our accredited Teens and Toddlers programme and are supporting young people via Power2 Rediscover, an intensive 1:1 crisis response programme.
With our support, children and young people who are experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantages improve their wellbeing, re-engage with school and learning, build networks and access opportunities.
We’re committed to equality and operate within a culture and structure that recognises diversity and strives to be fair. We live by our values of Brave, Expert and Passionate and we aim to have an entrepreneurial and flexible approach to work.
We are looking for new Programme Leads to deliver our programmes so that all children and young people, regardless of their needs, feel they belong and can prosper.
Our new Programme Leads will be trained to deliver all our programmes and will primarily work in schools to support young people, their families, and school staff to ensure that at-risk pupils make the most of their education and improve their life chances. Work will include 1:1 support based in a school or in the community and delivery of Power2’s group programmes. The successful candidates could be based in one school or travel between multiple schools.
The relationships you cultivate with the young people you work with are at the heart of our success – so recruiting the right people is paramount. Our facilitators work with significant autonomy and authority and must embrace responsibility and be accountable for their work. They work collaboratively alongside young people, operating as a mentor as they empower young people to develop self-esteem, become resilient and engage with school and their own future. They give each young person the time, the confidence and skills to engage with their education and their future life plans.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check (child workforce) and provide details of two referees.
Candidates are encouraged to apply even if your experience doesn’t precisely match the job description for this role. Your experience, skills and passion will set you apart so tell us your achievements, irrespective of whether they are personal or work-related and how this has shaped you, including things you’ve learnt along the way.
We are specifically interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of the issues we seek to address (childhood experience of having low family income, being disengaged with school and learning, experiencing poor wellbeing/mental health, being care-experienced, involved in gangs and violence). It is also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.
Please apply online with a CV and a personal statement. In your personal statement please describe how your skills and experience match the role description and provide your notice period. Your CV and personal statement are submitted on the second page of the application process. Applications without a personal statement will not be considered.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
Power2 strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can ALL be ourselves. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. We work to ensure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. If we can make the application process more accessible to you, please let us know.
Safeguarding
Power2 is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be required to have an enhanced DBS certificate (child workforce) in place. We may undertake an online search if you are shortlisted.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, even when things get tougher.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.