An opportunity to lead an ambitious charity, shape its future and make a lasting difference to people’s lives.
Are you an inspiring and values-led leader who wants to make a tangible difference to people and communities?
Do you have the strategic vision, leadership experience and commercial acumen to build on the success of an established charity while creating new opportunities for growth and impact?
About us
Compassion Acts is a leading poverty reduction charity based in Southport that works alongside local people and communities. Our services include food support, welfare advice, and mental health and wellbeing support, helping people facing financial hardship, disadvantage and other challenges to build greater stability and improve their quality of life.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader with a strong track record of combining strategic vision with practical delivery. You will be passionate about tackling poverty, improving lives and strengthening communities, with the leadership skills to turn that commitment into meaningful and sustainable action.
Reporting to the Chair of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic, operational and cultural leadership, ensuring the delivery of services to meet community while securing the organisation’s financial resilience and future growth.
You will lead a committed team of staff and volunteers, build influential partnerships and act as a passionate ambassador for poverty reduction, shaping the future of services and develop and deliver services to meet local needs.
If you are an ambitious, compassionate and collaborative leader who is ready to take Compassion Acts into its next chapter, we would love to hear from you.
Closing Date 5pm, Thursday 5th November 2026
Salary ranges from £48-£56 per annum depending on experience
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Vision
- Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s strategic plan, business plan, and annual objectives, as the lead accountable officer for the organisation
- Ensure all activities and services align with the charity’s mission, vision, and values.
- Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and new service development. Lead the development of new projects, including planning, resourcing, and monitoring delivery timescales.
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders on common aims and to make a difference to the local area. .
Governance and Board Relations
- Act as the primary link between the Board of Trustees and the organisation’s staff and volunteers.
- Provide regular, accurate, and timely reports to the Board on performance, finances, risks, and impact.
- Ensure compliance with Charity Commission guidance and all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
- Work closely with the Chair of Trustees to maintain effective governance structures and decision-making processes.
- Support Trustees in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.
Financial Management and Sustainability
- Take overall responsibility for the financial health and sustainability of the organisation providing assurance to the board of trustees.
- Lead and oversee the development of the fundraising strategy, including making grant applications, developing corporate partnerships and maintaining and increasing donations.
- Set and manage the annual budget in collaboration with the Finance Manager and Board.
- Monitor financial performance, including cash flow and reserves.
- Ensure effective and responsible allocation of resources in line with organisational priorities.
Leadership, People and Culture
- Provide leadership and management to the staff and volunteer teams.
- Foster a positive, inclusive organisational culture centred on compassion, wellbeing, and professional development.
- Provide visible leadership and model personal behaviour, in order to empower, equip and inspire all staff and volunteers to deliver impact and outcomes to individuals and community
- Promote continuous learning and development across the organisation.
- Lead by example in embedding organisational values and behaviours.
Safeguarding and Organisational Responsibility
- Ensure a strong organisational culture of safeguarding, safety, and accountability.
- Maintain oversight of organisational risk, current safeguarding cases and ensure mitigation strategies are in place.
Advocacy and External Relations
- Act as the public face and ambassador of Compassion Acts.
- Represent the organisation with key stakeholders, including funders, partner organisations, churches, community groups and government bodies.
- Build and maintain strong relationships to enhance the organisation’s reach, impact, and reputation.
- Promote the charity’s work and advocate on issues relating to poverty and inequality.
- Develop partnerships, including relationships with local community organisations and faith organisations.
- Develop corporate partnerships to ensure long term funding and ownership of the work.
- Work with other antipoverty organisations locally and nationally including Trussell.
Operational Oversight
- Work closely with Operations Manager to ensure effective delivery of all projects and services across the organisation.
- Oversight of performance, outcomes, and impact across all operational areas holding staff and volunteers to account where appropriate.
- Manage and support senior staff in delivering high-quality services and achieving organisational objectives.
- Ensure systems, processes, and resources are in place to support efficient operations.
General Organisational Duties
- Uphold and promote the mission, vision, and values of Compassion Acts.
- Ensure compliance with all organisational policies and procedures.
- Maintain strong communication across staff, volunteers, trustees, and stakeholders.
- Comply with all organisational policies, including GDPR and safeguarding requirements.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues, volunteers, stakeholders, and service users.
- Work collaboratively to support high-quality service delivery.
- Contribute to team meetings, supervision, and organisational planning.
- Maintain accurate records and work towards agreed targets.
- Engage in ongoing professional development.
- Represent the organisation positively at all times, including at events and community activities.
- Support fundraising, campaigns, and other organisational events.
- Undertake any other duties reasonably required.
Additional Duties
Lead, develop and deliver on specific funded projects for external organisations as agreed by the board trustees from time to time.
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