Chief Executive Officer

Full Job Description

About the role...

Caring Hands Charity

Newcastle upon Tyne

Salary c£40,000 per annum

A new and exciting leadership opportunity now exists for an inspiring, pro-active and imaginative Chief Executive to provide effective leadership and direction to the highly regarded Newcastle based Caring Hands charity.

Established in 1992 the team at Caring Hands are proud to be an established part of the community, helping older and other vulnerable people to live independently.

“We are a point of contact for many people who directly and indirectly need our support and we are very proud of what we have to offer. Our positive impact is thanks to the help of our dedicated volunteers, staff and the people we support in the local community. At the heart of the charity lies our ability to develop core projects in response to listening to vulnerable people living in Newcastle upon Tyne. Our Aim is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”

Reporting directly to the Chair of Trustees, the CEO will have overall responsibility for delivery of the charity’s goals around service delivery, fundraising, administration, compliance, and financial management.

The CEO will specifically be responsible for developing a long-term strategy, budgets, and robust business plans while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The CEO will also play a key role in motivating and engaging volunteers, staff, and partners.

Main Outcomes and Responsibilities

• Preparation of a strategic plan and annual budget for approval by the board of trustees.
• Develop the organisation’s income generation strategy, taking into account earned income, charitable and lottery grants, statutory contracts and grants, corporate, community, and individual donations.
• Write funding bids to a range of funders, including charitable foundations, the national lottery and statutory bodies, as necessity and opportunity dictate.
• Ensure that the charity has maximum visibility via the development and implementation
• of a marketing strategy to include website, social media, press, TV and radio.
• Represent the organisation at external meetings, networking events, conferences,
• and other publicity opportunities.
• Maintain awareness of risks & changes in the external environment affecting the charity.
• Set milestones, targets for the charity’s operations and keep these under review with the Chair and Trustees.
• Build relationships with partner organisations, including statutory bodies, other charities and corporates, in order to advance the charity’s aims.

Person Specification

KEY SKILLS

• Leadership Skills: to motivate staff and volunteers with sufficient personal drive and energy to successfully achieve this.
• Excellent Interpersonal Skills: to build relationships with a variety of people, from beneficiaries and staff members to partners and opinion formers.
• Financial Acumen: to set and operate a budget and work with the Treasurer to produce monthly financial reports incorporating a cash flow analysis.
• Strategic Planning Skills: primary responsibility for the production and implementation of strategic, business, fundraising, and marketing plans.
• High-level bid writing skills.
• Strong ‘self-starter’, with a track record of working proactively and independently.
• Results-oriented and a resourceful problem solver.
• Knowledge of relevant legal frameworks would be desirable e.g. employment law, charity law, safeguarding etc.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience in senior management or organisational leadership is essential.
• Experience of working in the non-profit sector.
• Experience of working with committees or boards.
• A collaborative approach to management, consulting, and engaging stakeholders in
• strategic planning.
• Experience of setting budgets and financial reporting to trustees.
• Experience of establishing rapport, credibility, and collaborative relationships with partners, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Financial / business acumen.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including presentation skills and the
• ability to build positive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• A commitment to equal opportunities and safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the sector and of the problems facing the charity’s client base -primarily this includes older people, benefit claimants, disabled people, and people living in poverty.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification.
• Fundraising skills – with commercial awareness / experience.
• Excellent IT skills including use of MS Office.
• Thorough understanding of data protection and health and safety requirements.

How to Apply

To obtain a copy of the candidate brief, or if you would like to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact Lead Consultant, Scot McHarg NRG.

If you would like to apply please send your CV and a covering letter, outlining your skills, experience, and qualities to

Closing date Tuesday May 7th 2024