People, culture and operations

• Lead and support staff and volunteers through clear objectives, regular supervision and an inclusive culture.
• Ensure the Charity has practical, proportionate policies, processes and systems.
• Maintain robust safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and employment practice.
• Oversee service quality and operational performance while keeping an organisation-wide leadership focus.

Governance and Board partnership

• Provide the Board with concise, accurate information and professional advice.
• Support effective meetings, risk management, compliance and statutory reporting.
• Operate within delegated authority and implement Board decisions.
• Build a constructive, professional relationship in which the Board governs and the Chief Executive leads day-to-day delivery.

Partnerships and the community centre

• Strengthen relationships with communities, local authorities, the NHS, schools, voluntary organisations and specialist services.
• Oversee the Centre’s safe and effective operation within the Charity’s agreed responsibilities.
• Develop a practical plan for use of the Centre, community benefit and income, working with the relevant management arrangements.
• Identify when collaboration or referral will achieve better outcomes than the Charity acting alone.

Who we are looking for

We are interested in what you have achieved, how you work with others and the perspective you would bring. You do not need to have been a chief executive before, but you should be ready to take organisation-wide responsibility and work constructively with a Trustee Board.

We know that capable candidates do not always meet every criterion. If the role interests you and you can demonstrate most of the essential criteria, we encourage you to apply.

Essential

1. Experience of leading and managing people, services and budgets in a charity, community organisation, public service, social enterprise or another relevant setting, including leading through change.
2. Evidence of turning strategic objectives into practical priorities and delivery within limited resources, balancing immediate needs with longer-term sustainability.
3. Experience of contributing to income generation or financial sustainability through fundraising, contracts, partnerships, donations or earned income.
4. An understanding of charity governance and safeguarding, with the judgement to seek specialist advice when needed.
5. The ability to build trusted relationships and communicate clearly with communities, colleagues, Trustees, funders and partners.
6. Cultural humility and the ability to work safely and respectfully with diverse communities, including people who have experienced inequality, trauma, abuse or exclusion.

Desirable

• Work with ethnic minority communities, women, families or young people, including in health inequalities, domestic abuse, community development or culturally responsive services.
• Knowledge of harmful practices and abuse, including FGM, forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
• Oversight of a community venue, facilities, capital improvements or earned-income activity.
• Experience of organisational transition from founder-led leadership.

How we will support you

• A structured induction and time-limited handover covering current priorities, key relationships and organisational knowledge.
• Clear delegated authority from the Board and regular support from the Chair.
• Introductions to funders, partners and community stakeholders.
• Agreed objectives and monthly review conversations during the first six months.
• Access to appropriate professional advice and development within available resources.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages to recruitment@accmuk.com. Your statement should answer the following questions:

1. Why do you want to lead ACCM (UK) at this stage in its development?
2. What is your strongest example of leading people and priorities through change?
3. How have you secured income or improved financial sustainability?
4. How would you approach your first 90 days in a small, community-rooted charity?

Our commitments to you

Reasonable adjustments and flexible working

We will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process. Please tell us at recruitment email address what would help you take part fully. We will also consider flexible working patterns, including how the 28 hours are arranged across the week.

Safer recruitment and inclusion

ACCM (UK) is committed to safer recruitment and an inclusive, accessible process. We particularly welcome candidates whose lived, community, voluntary or professional experience brings insight into the people we serve. Because of the nature of our work, appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Equal opportunities monitoring

We ask all applicants to complete the short equal opportunities monitoring form, which is provided with this pack as a separate document, and return it separately to monitoring form email address (to be confirmed), with the subject line “Chief Executive – monitoring form”. Completing it is voluntary. The form is kept separate from your application, is not seen by anyone shortlisting or interviewing, and is used only to help us check that our recruitment is fair and inclusive.

How we use your information

We will use the information you provide only to manage this recruitment process, in line with UK data protection law. It will be seen only by those involved in the recruitment. If you are not appointed, we will securely delete your information six months after the process closes. If you have any questions about how your data is handled, please contact us at the recruitment email address.