Strategic development officer jobs

Citizen Advice in West Susssex (North, South, East) or “CAWS” is entering an important phase of growth and transformation, and we are seeking an inspiring Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organisation with clarity, ambition and compassion. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a trusted regional charity that delivers life‑changing advice and support to communities facing complex and evolving challenges.

As CEO, you will guide a £2.5 million organisation through a shifting social, economic and policy landscape, ensuring CAWS remains resilient, innovative and deeply connected to the people it serves. You will champion our values, strengthen our strategic direction and ensure our services continue to empower individuals and influence positive systemic change.

This role calls for a leader who can build strong partnerships, nurture a positive and inclusive culture, and drive organisational excellence. If you are motivated by social impact and ready to lead a forward‑looking charity with purpose and integrity, CAWS offers a meaningful and rewarding platform to make a lasting difference.

Who We Are 
With 40,000 people supported each year, 70 paid staff, 240 volunteers and a circa £2.5m portfolio, we are a local charity delivering advice and influencing positive social change across our communities. You can find out more about who we are here

The Role
As CEO, you’ll work closely with our Board of Trustees to shape our strategic direction, strengthen partnerships, drive innovation and digital development, and ensure we remain inclusive, accessible, and financially sustainable in a rapidly changing landscape.

You’ll lead a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who are passionate about empowering people and challenging inequality.

About You
We’re seeking a forward‑thinking leader with a strong track record in complex organisations, a commitment to our mission and values, and the imagination to explore new ways of meeting local need. Whether you come from the advice sector, wider charity world, or another relevant field, if you have the vision and drive to steer CAWS into the future, we’d love to hear from you. 

With six advice centres, the successful applicant will be able to chose which centre to be based at, but travelling between all centres will be necessary.

Open live question time:
If you would like to know more about this role or ask any specific questions, we are holding two open forum online meetings. Each will run for 30 minutes. These will be held on Thu 19 Feb at 10.30am, and on Tue 24 Feb at 6pm. If you would like to attend, kindly email usand we will send you the link.

More about this role:
Please read the full job description and persona specification for more information about the role.
You will see the link to our specialist CEO pack and you can watch our video on our website.

Sahir has been on an incredible journey over the past four years. We have grown, strengthened our services and deepened our roots in the communities we serve. We are proud of what has been achieved and excited about what comes next.

Our CEO is stepping on to their next chapter, and we are taking the time to recruit the right permanent leader for what comes next at Sahir. In the meantime, we are looking for an Interim Chief Executive to help keep things steady, support the team and maintain the momentum we have built.

We are looking for someone who leads with empathy and compassion, works in partnership and brings the confidence and drive to support the organisation through a period of change.

About Us

Sahir is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We are dedicated to fostering a brighter, healthier future for our communities.

We provide practical and emotional support, camaraderie and connection to:

· LGBTQ+ people

· People living with or affected by HIV

We actively confront injustice, combat discrimination and address inequalities. Through advocacy, partnerships and service delivery, we work to create a fairer and more equitable society for the people we serve. Our work is insight led and co-developed with our communities.

About the Role

This is a key interim leadership role focused on stability, continuity and care for Sahir during a period of transition.

The Interim Chief Executive will work closely with the Board, staff and partners to ensure Sahir continues to deliver safe, effective and person-centred services, maintains strong relationships and remains financially and operationally secure.

The role is not about changing direction. It is about protecting what has been built, supporting the team and helping Sahir move confidently towards the appointment of its next permanent CEO.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a senior leader who brings:

· Significant leadership experience in the voluntary, community, health, social care or equalities sector.

· Experience working with a Board of Trustees and supporting good governance.

· Strong financial oversight and organisational management experience.

· A calm, steady and values led leadership style.

· The ability to lead people well through transition and uncertainty.

· Strong relationship building skills and a partnership approach.

· Knowledge of issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities, people living with HIV and people seeking asylum is highly desirable.

What It Is Like to Work at Sahir

We want people to enjoy working at Sahir and to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. As a health and wellbeing charity, we place strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, reflective practice and work life balance.

We offer a friendly, inclusive and supportive working environment built on trust, openness and shared purpose.

Equality, Inclusion and Accessibility

Sahir is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.

Lived experience is valued at Sahir, but it is not a requirement. We are interested in people who share our values and want to contribute positively to our communities.

You do not need to meet every requirement listed to apply. If you feel aligned with our values and excited by the role, we encourage you to apply.

We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.

Use your communication experience to build the migration justice movement’s defiance and strength at a pivotal moment.

About Right to Remain

Right to Remain is a national migration justice organisation, working with hundreds of communities and groups across the UK. As a key anchor organisation within the migration justice movement, we uniquely combine sharing public legal education that democratises knowledge, facilitating strategic convenings that harness radical solidarity, and campaigning and community organising that builds power, further empowering people to establish their right to remain and collectively challenge injustices of the immigration and asylum system.

About the role

This role is for an experienced Communications Officer who wants to put their skills to work supporting Right to Remain to build knowledge, radical solidarity and power in the face of escalating attacks on the rights and dignity of migrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum.

You will use strategic, thoughtful communications to amplify lived experience of the asylum and immigration system, showcase grassroots organising, and promote our expert public legal education resources and training. Your work will empower more people to understand and exercise their rights, and support grassroots community groups and allies to guide, and stand in solidarity with, people navigating the hostile asylum and immigration system.

You will have experience building and engaging communities around social justice through targeted digital communications. Day to day, you will collaborate within our small team to produce email, social and web content that demystifies public legal knowledge and showcases community power. You will also co-create content with These Walls Must Fall campaigners to share their stories, and help set out the impact of political decisions in the press. 

About you

You are an experienced communicator with excellent written skills and a strong ability to develop clear, engaging messages for different audiences.

You bring a genuine commitment to migration justice and care deeply about centring the voices of people with lived experience.

This is not an entry-level role. You are confident working independently within a small, collaborative team, taking guidance while proactively identifying priorities, opportunities, and risks. We’ll give you creative freedom, and your work will have a tangible impact in helping our organisation develop at a crucial time.

This is not just recruitment – it's a revolution.

Sikh Women's Aid stands at a pivotal moment. With unprecedented support from major funders including Comic Relief, Lloyds Bank Foundation, National Lottery, Smallwood Trust, The Circle, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, and various other funders and generous donations from corporates and the community, we are scaling our impact to reach thousands more women who need our support.

Our groundbreaking Gender, Power & Abuse Report 2024 revealed the shocking truth: 61.48% of Sikh Panjabi women have experienced domestic abuse, yet 58.13% never report it. The silence ends now. We are seeking a transformational Chief Executive who will:

• Lead service delivery transformation for survivors

• Challenge harmful practices rooted in culture

• Build movements for change in communities

• Influence policy at local, regional and national levels

• Create sustainable growth from £250K to £1M+

Why Lead Us Now?

Purpose: Your leadership will literally save lives Impact: Be the architect of systemic change in the Sikh community

Growth: Lead a rapidly expanding organisation with major multi-year funding secured Innovation:

Shape pioneering approaches to culturally-specific services Legacy:

Build: an institution that will protect generations of women

Genuine Occupational Requirement: This position is restricted to Sikh Panjabi women only under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. This is essential to provide culturally specific services to women who have experienced gender-based violence and require support from those who share their cultural and faith background.

Please note that candidates who applied during our previous recruitment round are not eligible to apply again. 

We value the time and effort every candidate invests in applying and look forward to hearing from individuals who share our passion for supporting women and girls affected by domestic abuse and harmful practices.   

Ready to turn passion into action? Jesuit Missions is seeking a bold, creative campaigner to lead our advocacy and campaigns for global justice. You’ll design inspiring, people-powered campaigns rooted in the lived experience of communities in the global South, motivating people across Britain to act for real change. Working with schools, parishes, and young adult networks, you’ll spark meaningful engagement and deliver dynamic events. You’ll build strong partnerships and amplify voices from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. By mobilising faith-based and public support, you’ll challenge injustice and tackle the root causes of poverty. If you’re imaginative, driven, and ready to empower others, join us and help change the world.

The role

This is a very exciting opportunity to join our thriving organisation at a time of growth. We are seeking an experienced Head of Training, Learning and Development to provide strategic leadership of APIL’s legal training and events portfolio. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Senior Management Board, this role will shape and deliver a high-quality, commercially successful programme of conferences, accredited courses, webinars and in-house firm training. The postholder will be responsible for strengthening APIL’s position as a leading provider of legal education within personal injury and clinical negligence and ensuring our offer remains relevant, innovative and aligned with the needs of the legal profession.

The role involves leading and developing the Training, Learning and Development team, building strong relationships with law firms and stakeholders, and ensuring robust quality assurance across all training activity. You will use data, market insight and engagement with the sector to identify emerging training needs, create clear career-stage learning pathways and maximise income from training, sponsorship and events, while maintaining effective budgetary control.

You will be a credible senior professional with significant experience in training, learning and development, ideally within the legal sector. You will bring strong leadership and commercial skills, and be confident operating at both strategic and operational levels.

About APIL

APIL is a not-for-profit membership organisation working to improve access to justice for people who are injured through negligence. We are a values-driven organisation with a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we play a leading role in professional training and development within personal injury and clinical negligence.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

APIL is serious about equality, diversity and inclusion. We want our organisation to reflect the communities we serve and for everyone to feel valued and able to thrive. A commitment to this agenda is essential to this role.

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Contract/ Hours: 35hrs per week

Salary: £55,000

Leave entitlement: 25 days

About The People Hive

The People Hive is an ambitious local charity creating real opportunities for adults with a learning disability across Richmond and the surrounding areas. From our vibrant community hub in Twickenham, we deliver creative, social and developmental activities that help people connect, grow and thrive.

We also run a public gallery that showcases local artists, generates vital income and provides paid work experience for our clients. Our impact was recognised when we were shortlisted for the Richmond Community Heroes Awards 2025, and we are now exploring exciting opportunities for future growth and expansion.

The Role

This is a great opportunity to lead a respected, values-led charity at a pivotal moment in its journey. As Chief Executive Officer, you will set the strategic direction of The People Hive, lead a passionate team of staff and volunteers, and act as the public face of the organisation.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees and key partners, you will help shape the charity’s future, strengthen its sustainability and ensure it continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of adults with learning disabilities.

How to Apply

We recognise that talented people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every listed requirement. If this role inspires you and you believe you could be a strong fit, we encourage you to apply. Your skills, experience and perspective may be exactly what we’re looking for.

Applications close on Friday February 27th 2026.

Funders In Good was founded to support Muslim donors in the UK who want to achieve strategic, long-term impact but lack the capacity, connections, or expertise to give effectively. We provide tailored financial grants and strategic support to social ventures serving Islam and Muslims, helping them scale, strengthen systems, and increase long-term impact. Our focus is on ventures and leaders contributing to a society where commitment to God flourishes.

Since 2021, we have grown from nine seed funders to over 130 members in our invitation-only Funder Network. Members contribute financially and through skills, receive quarterly progress reports, access events, and connect with other funders. This network is part of our wider community, which includes our team and the ventures we back.

As Funder Development Manager, you will shape this network by developing a compelling value proposition, building acquisition pipelines, nurturing funders, and curating engagement programs that deepen alignment with our mission. Success relies on both fundraising expertise and emotional intelligence: you will build trust with a diverse range of donors and philanthropists, navigating conversations about values, faith, impact, and community with warmth and confidence.

This senior, outward-facing role carries responsibility for income generation, stewardship, and relationship-building.

Please read the JD to find out more, application deadline is midnight 8th March 2026.

Funders In Good is looking for a Programme Officer to join our programmes team and help deliver initiatives that support and grow social ventures.

Funders In Good provides capacity-building support, including training, diagnostics, tailored grants, and strategic support, to help social ventures enhance their growth and impact. By 2035, our goal is to help build 10 best-in-class community organisations serving Islam and Muslims in the UK. We back ventures and leaders who are contributing to our vision of a society in which commitment to God is flourishing.

As a Programme Officer, you will work closely with the existing team to develop and deliver high-quality interventions. You will support key areas of work within our programme framework, contribute to the delivery of ongoing projects, and assist in other important areas of the organisation, such as our Funder Community and core operations.

We are looking for an organised, experienced, and confident Programme Officer who is committed to our vision.

To apply for the role, please submit your CV and prepare a supporting statement (maximum 200 words per question), answering the following questions:

1. What resonates with you about Funders In Good’s God-centred mission and long-term approach?

2. How you would plan, deliver, and evaluate a cohort-based capacity-building programme.

3. How you would handle a disengaged venture leader while managing competing programme priorities.

Please read the Job Description for full details or to arrange an informal chat with the team. Please note the applicant should be UK based, as the role will require travel to London.

Chief Executive Officer - ECT Charity

Location: London (Greenford / Ealing) with regular travel to Dorset and partner sites; minimum three days per week in office
Salary: circa £80,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full-time

Are you ready to consolidate financial stability, rebuild income and lead the next phase of sustainable growth at the sector leading community transport organisation that delivers tangible impact across London and Dorset?

About ECT Charity

ECT Charity is a leading specialist community transport organisation enabling mobility and social inclusion across London and Dorset. We deliver essential door-to-door transport and influence sector policy with partners such as TfL and the GLA, including through the use of our pioneering CT Social Value Toolkit. Facing reduced statutory income, operations changes, lease negotiations and contract retendering, we need to stabilise cashflow and protect services. Significant opportunities include leveraging our network and resources to develop our training and consultancy, build strategic partnerships to generate earned income, and using Dorset as a demonstrator site to pilot sustainable, mission-aligned commercial models.

Role priorities (first 12–18 months)

• Deliver a sustainable financial model and restore reserves.

• Redesign operations for the new scale.

• Leverage our networks and resources to develop commercial opportunities (partnerships, training, consultancy).

• Rebuild business development capability and secure partnership income.

Who you are

• Senior leader with experience of multi-site operations or similar scale.

• Strong partnership, commercialisation and Board reporting skills.

• Proven track record of strong financial management, contract negotiation and estate management.

• Commitment to inclusive leadership; willing to be office-based (min three days/week) and travel; driving licence preferred.

• Desirable: Experience in community transport, social enterprise or productisation/licensing.

Why ECT?

• Lead a sector-recognised charity with a strong social value toolkit and immediate partnership routes.

• Combine financial rigour with mission-aligned commercial innovation.

• Shape ECT’s stabilisation and long-term sustainability.

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence. We advise reading the full brief first.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 23rd March 2026.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Be the spark that turns creativity into impact.

​Help Age Exchange grow arts & heritage programmes that change lives in social care.

Age Exchange—embedded in social care and powered by the arts—is hiring a Business Development Manager to ignite partnerships and funding that deliver innovative programmes across the UK. If you come from museums, galleries, archives or cultural organisations and can spot opportunities, craft compelling bids and open doors fast, this is your stage. Lead the growth of projects that boost health, wellbeing, learning and social connection—so creativity reaches the people who need it most.

The role will require someone who can work from our head office in Blackheath and the role will include some national travel as and when required so the ideal candidate will be based within an hours commute of the Community Hub in Blackheath, London. 

What is The Deal for you?

• Flexibility! You will be working 35 hours per week over 5 days with some weekend work.
• Location: You need to be based within a commutable distance to our Community Hub in Blackheath, London.
• Benefits: retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app
• Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award winning charity who is passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible 
• Development: We'll work with you to develop your career or to learn and experience new things. We're passionate about developing our people!
• Support: From our Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7), financial support options, and wellbeing fund you'll have the support available to lead an easier (financial) life

This role will design and secure a portfolio of national and local strategically aligned, market-relevant and impactful programmes which use arts, culture and creativity to achieve a positive impact on our target audiences. These programmes will empower the health, wellbeing, learning, social mobility and social connection of people supported by Age Exchange and Community Integrated Care. The role holder will play an essential role in leading the growth, reach and sustainability of Age Exchange by generating funding and commercial revenue and new partnerships.

​What You'll do (list not exhaustive):

• Win funding & partnerships that fuel our programmes and core costs—trusts & foundations, corporates/sponsorships, individual giving, and earned income.
• Build and manage a high-quality pipeline—prospect, cultivate, write compelling bids/proposals, negotiate, and steward partners.
• Collaborate across the delivery team—aligning with colleagues so proposed projects and tenders are fundable, impactful, and on-brand.
• Report outcomes & learn—own quarterly KPI reporting and iterate approaches to hit clear income and partnership targets.

Our ideal Candidate:​

• Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
• Proven success in bid writing and securing projects/tenders of £250k+.
• Strong experience in fundraising, commercial development, and project management within a funded environment.
• Creative thinker with the ability to design innovative programmes aligned to strategic objectives.
• Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience engaging stakeholders at senior levels.
• Skilled communicator and presenter, able to craft compelling proposals and pitches.
• Proficiency in MS Office and project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet).
• Bring proven success in the arts or heritage sector (e.g., museums, galleries, performing arts, creative health, community arts) with a track record of securing grants and/or sponsorships.
• Are a confident storyteller and bid writer who can turn creative ideas into fundable, strategically aligned propositions.

Why join us ?

• Be part of a nationally recognised charity making a real difference in people’s lives.
• Lead ground-breaking projects that combine creativity and social impact.
• Work in a collaborative, values-driven environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Success in this role means:​

• Meeting funding and growth targets.
• Delivering a diverse portfolio of innovative programmes.
• Enhancing the charity’s profile through impactful projects and partnerships.

Ready to make a difference ?
Apply now and help us shape a future where arts and creativity empower communities across the UK.

​Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible! Depending on the volume of applications received, the vacancy may be closed before the expected advertising end date.

​We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.

In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34.

The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations.

About MAAC

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) funds and delivers a pre-hospital emergency helicopter-led service across the Midlands region (serving six counties). As well as being a charity, we are an independent health care provider that is rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).  Our mission is to deliver exceptional pre-hospital care and lifesaving interventions through our helicopter-led emergency medical services. With more than 80,000 missions since 1991, we are among the busiest air ambulance services in the UK.

The Opportunity

As MAAC prepares for the planned departure of its current postholder, the organisation is seeking an exceptional Director of Finance to join the Executive Team. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Finance Director is a key member of the Charity’s Leadership Team, providing strategic financial direction across the Group (the parent charity and its trading subsidiary). This role ensures the organisation remains financially resilient, well‑governed, and strongly positioned to deliver its mission for the long term – through working collaboratively with the Chief Executive, Leadership Team and Board members.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Play a key role as part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), contributing to organisational strategy and fostering strong cross‑department collaboration.  Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive and SLT to develop and maintain the three-year strategic plan, ensuring financial projections, assumptions, and scenario planning are based on accurate data and sound forecasting.
• Provide strategic financial leadership that supports long‑term sustainability, future growth, and the delivery of critical services.
• Build strong, transparent, and trusting relationships with Board members by delivering clear, relevant financial reporting and assurance (supporting Board members to carry out their governance responsibilities effectively).  Manage the Audit and Risk Committee’s activities in conjunction with the Committee Chair
• Lead a high‑quality financial management function for the Charity and its subsidiary, ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements, governance requirements and accounting standards.
• Manage the full year-end audit cycle, ensuring schedules, reconciliations, and working papers are prepared to a high standard and delivered within agreed timescales.
• Oversee the timely preparation of monthly Group Management Accounts, ensuring high-quality financial reporting is supported by meaningful commentary, variance analysis, trend interpretation, and insights that enable informed strategic decision-making by the SLT and Trustees. 
• Manage the relationship with the Charity’s external investment portfolio fund manager and independent investment advisors - ensuring the Charity receives high-quality professional advice on investment strategy, shareholdings, and cash allocation, and that all recommendations align with organisational objectives, ethical considerations, and risk appetite.

About You

You will be a professionally qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA or equivalent) with substantial senior‑level experience and the credibility to operate confidently at Board level. Most importantly, you will embody strong values, show high emotional intelligence, and be genuinely motivated to contribute to MAAC’s mission. Charity sector experience is essential -  with a thorough understanding of what it takes to promote financial best practice, control spend and assist with income generation in sizable Not-for-Profit environments. Critically, you will lead through expert technical skillsets and collaborative working —shaping direction, offering robust assurance, and operating as a trusted strategic partner to senior colleagues and Trustees/ Directors.

Reward & Benefits

• Salary of £90,000 - £95,000 p.a. dependant on experience
• Part time working a consideration (4 days per week; days of the week as per organisational need).
• Flexible working (with the option to work from home 1–2 days per week post probation, subject to organisational need).
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Pension scheme (after 3 months) – matched up to 6%
• Paycare Health Cash Plan
• Gym on-site (free access)
• Death in service benefit x 2 salary
• Access to range of charity discount cards

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact our retained recruitment partner Paul Robinson at RM Recruit Ltd

Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) is an international non-governmental organisation which works to amplify the voices of rural women globally.  We are looking for an Executive Director for our small Central Office team which works with member organisations and individuals in the UK and around the world to ensure that rural women are represented, recognised for their critical importance in society, and have a platform to influence policy makers.  We combine advocacy and small-scale, women-led development projects designed by the local women who will implement them for the benefit of their communities.

This an exciting time to join ACWW in the lead up to our centenary and planning for the 32nd Triennial World Conference in 2029.  We are looking to appoint an Executive Director as our current Executive Director will be retiring this summer.

The successful candidate will be reporting to the Board of Trustees and working with colleagues and trustees to foster relationships, partnerships and collaborations with individuals, funders and networks in line with the Association’s objectives, priorities and values. You will have an important contribution to make in all aspects of the Association.

We are an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and are dedicated to achieving the highest standards of diversity, equity and inclusion.  We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions and ways of life including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

This role is offered as full-time.  If you have successful charity sector experience, ability to build and maintain positive relationships and are looking to work for a charity focused on championing women’s empowerment and advocating for change, we’d like to hear from you. Please see application pack for further details and to apply.

CamRARE is on a mission to make life with a rare condition easier through connection, collaboration and community.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Monday 9th March 2026

Location: Hybrid (with in person meetings in Cambridge and across the UK)

Who we are

CamRARE are a well-established, well-respected charity with a strong track record of impact over the past decade. We exist, as there are over 10,000 rare conditions that affect 400 million people globally. Receiving a diagnosis can take years. Most rare diseases have no treatment and often poorly coordinated care.

Our goal is to have a strong collective voice in improving services and influencing policy so that families affected by rare conditions can access good healthcare, find a diagnosis, reach the right treatment or support.

We are now at a pivotal point of growth. We are investing in the next phase of our development, supported by a strong budget and a healthy level of unrestricted reserves. This growth brings opportunity, but also responsibility.

We need a Chief Executive who can lead our fundraising strategy, build a sustainable business plan and grow our reach and visibility so that more families can access support.

A distinctive feature of our work is that we connect two pillars that are often kept separate: community and research. Through our unique in-person community, we bring families together in a way that is rare in this field. In parallel, we are building an ambitious research focus, including an emerging platform designed to connect patients and researchers, support new ideas, and strengthen patient-led research. We believe families and researchers achieve more when they work together, and we are proud to be a trusted connector with a broad network.

Leading CamRARE

As Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership for the charity, oversee governance and operations, develop and execute the strategy set by the Board of Trustees, and build key external partnerships. This role leads fundraising efforts and develops high-level external stakeholder relationships with Government bodies, including healthcare organisations/departments, Industry, patient and charity organisations, and Research Institutions involved in rare disease.

This is a key role to build, strengthen and nurture the charity's connection with the rare disease community, empowering them and fostering an inclusive and supportive network.

We are looking for someone who can:

• Lead the next chapter of our strategy with the Board, translating ambition into clear priorities and a deliverable plan
• Develop and drive a compelling fundraising and income generation strategy, including exploring novel and commercial routes where appropriate
• Be the public face and voice of the charity, with the ability to listen deeply to families and communicate their needs with clarity and credibility
• Sustain, enhance and grow community support, including improving reach into underserved areas and strengthening what we offer across key life stages
• Strengthen and stabilise funding for our research work, including the next phase of our research network platform and services that can generate income from research partners
• Build confident, values-led leadership across the staff team, with strong emotional intelligence and a people-first approach

About you

We are open-minded about background, but we expect you to bring:

• A strong track record of revenue generation, fundraising, and building sustainable income
• Strategic leadership capability, with the creativity and judgement to stay focused and avoid diluting impact
• Confidence in representing an organisation externally, including public speaking and partnership-building
• High emotional intelligence and a leadership style that puts people first
• Comfort working in a flexible pattern, with regular in-person presence at events in Cambridge, London and across the UK (and occasionally Europe)

Working pattern and accessibility

The role is flexible, with an expectation of roughly 60% remote working and 40% in person, including travel for events and meetings.

We are also open to discussing options such as compressed hours or an 0.8 FTE arrangement, depending on the candidate and what will set the role up for success.

We are committed to inclusion and accessibility and can offer adjustments throughout the process. We also have experience supporting colleagues through Access to Work.

Why this opportunity?

This is a CEO role with genuine scope to shape the next five years. You will inherit a strong foundation, a committed Board, and a team that cares deeply about families and impact. If you are motivated by growth, visibility, and meaningful change, you will find huge purpose here.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 9th March 2026