Closing date: Sunday, 20th September 2026 Interviews : Week commencing 5th October 2026 Full-time. Harmless operates a 4-day working-week model with full-time staff working 32 hours per week. £40,307 per annum, pro rata, rising to £41,516 per annum, pro rata, on successful completion of a probationary period.
MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE JOB
As Harmless expands its position as a national centre of excellence for self-harm and suicide prevention, the Chief Business Officer (CBO) will join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to drive corporate growth, expand market reach, and oversee high-level strategic partnerships and business operations. As a senior executive reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CBO bridges high-level strategy and day-to-day commercial execution. Drive long-term growth and profitability for Harmless CIC through strategic partnerships, new markets, and client relationships. Sitting as an executive peer alongside specialist leads - the Chief Academy Officer, Chief Clinical Officer, Chief Service User Care & Experience Officer, and Chief HR Officer, the COO takes direct operational ownership of Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Planning, Brand Positioning and Financial and Operational Oversight.
Position in the organisation: Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
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Strategic Finance Management
- Financial Oversight: Provide primary executive oversight of overall budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, cash flow management, and long-term financial modelling in direct partnership with the Finance Manager.
- Pricing & Contract Modelling: Establish pricing structures, cost models, and profit and margin targets for public sector tenders, NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) contracts, local authority SLAs, and corporate partnerships.
- Compliance & Governance: Safeguard financial governance, risk matrices, annual audits, and statutory reporting within the Community Interest Company (CIC) framework.
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Brand Positioning, Marketing & Business Growth
- Brand Advancement: Lead national marketing, PR, and communications strategies to strengthen brand recognition for Harmless CIC and its specialised delivery arms (The Tomorrow Project and Fearless).
- Business Growth: Identify and secure diverse, multi-stream funding across public sector commissioning, corporate patrons, charitable foundations, and commercial trading.
- Cross-Departmental Commercialisation: To work alongside clinical, training, education and other areas of business to achieve commercial aims and objectives.
- Lead Generation and Client Acquisition : Identifying and qualifying potential high-value clients.
- Pitching products or services to prospective buyers and stakeholders.
- Market Research and Analysis: Researching sector trends, competitor activity, and new geographic or product markets.
- Identifying opportunities and growth potential.
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Operations, Facilities & Infrastructure
- Business Operations: Direct non-clinical central functions, including IT infrastructure, facilities, administrative workflows, and business support teams.
- Systems Optimisation: Modernise internal tools, data systems, and CRMs to eliminate operational friction and improve cross-departmental coordination.
- Multi-Site Facilities: Oversee property management, health & safety compliance, and physical logistics across central headquarters and regional operations.
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Senior Leadership Integration
- SLT Integration: Act as an active, collaborative member of the executive team, embedding commercial discipline and operational clarity into organisational decision-making.
- CEO Operational Partner: Translate the CEO's strategic vision into sustainable business infrastructure and actionable operational plans.
- Values-Led Leadership: Champion an empathetic, trauma-informed, and compassionate leadership approach that reflects Harmless 's core user-led ethos.
Skills, knowledge, and experience
- Executive Leadership: Proven track record in a senior business or operational leadership role (Essential)
- Specialism: Knowledge and Experience of working within a social enterprise, CIC, non-profit, or healthcare provider. (Desirable)
- Financial: Extensive experience overseeing complex budgets, financial compliance, and contract negotiations. (Essential)
- Marketing & Growth Vision: Successful background in brand positioning, public sector bidding/tendering, and driving top-line revenue growth across multi-faceted organisations. (Essential)
- Process & Systems Mindset: Strong understanding of IT systems, facilities management, business process optimisation, and data-informed decision-making. (Essential)
- Values Alignment: Deep commitment to trauma-informed care, empathy, equity, and user-led mental health initiatives. (Essential)
- Organisational: An alignment with Harmless CIC values, ethos, and standards, including a proven commitment to continuous improvement. (Essential)
- Resilience: The ability to identify and
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