At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic growth and partnerships for a vital mental health organisation.
- Company: Join Harmless, a pioneering Community Interest Company focused on self-harm and suicide prevention.
- Benefits: Enjoy a four-day work week, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team dedicated to transforming lives and communities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in mental health while advancing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and a passion for social impact are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40307 - 40307 £ per year.
Important dates
- Closing date: Sunday, 20th September 2026
- Interviews: Week commencing 5th October 2026
Hours
Full-time. Harmless operates a 4-day working-week model with full-time staff working 32 hours per week.
Salary
£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.
Duties And Key Responsibilities
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.
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.
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.
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.
Person Specification
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 respond to an ever-changing external environment that puts us in the best possible position to achieve our aims and objectives. (Essential)
- Forward thinking: The ability to identify and maximise opportunities and strengths to the benefit of our stakeholders both in the short term, medium-term and long-term. (Essential)
- Building Relationships: A history of building effective relationships and maintaining key stakeholder engagement up to senior level and policy level. (Essential)
- Business knowledge: A thorough understanding of Harmless CIC, including its commitment to the communities it serves. (Desirable)
Benefits
Harmless CIC values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent and supporting colleagues to have great careers. To support that, some of the benefits we offer include:
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Four-day working week as standard for all full-time staff, with an equivalent pro rata salary for part-time staff.
- 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata, on entry, increasing up to 28 days plus bank holidays, pro rata.
- Occupational sick pay up to 24 standard working days per annum.
- Employer pension contribution up to 8%.
- Other staff reward and recognition initiatives operate throughout the year.
- Access to Harmless’ CPD-accredited specialist training.
- Access to Harmless’ annual CPD-accredited national self-harm and suicide prevention conferences.
- Other outstanding CPD opportunities, including an opportunity to develop areas of special interest around self-harm, suicide prevention and suicide bereavement.
These benefits are linked to our employee loyalty programme and gradually increase based on the number of years of continuous employment. More information is available on request.
About Us
Harmless is a Community Interest Company – CIC for short. This is a company with social aims, so we operate like a charity but with a great dedication to sustainability. That means that whilst we seek grant and charitable funding, we also operate a business (our Academy department) which generates income. All the money we raise then goes straight back into the operation to fund vital and life-saving services. We have different pathways in our service, and different staff working across these pathways, and these also operate in different localities. Harmless is the registered Company responsible for managing and overseeing a variety of projects and initiatives, including: The Tomorrow Project, The Academy at Harmless and Fearless.
Chief Business Officer (CBO) in Nottingham employer: Harmless
Harmless CIC is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff, offering a unique four-day working week model that promotes work-life balance. With a strong commitment to employee growth through CPD-accredited training and a supportive work culture rooted in empathy and trauma-informed care, team members are empowered to thrive in their roles while contributing to meaningful social impact in the community. Located in a dynamic environment, Harmless provides opportunities for strategic leadership and innovation in the vital field of self-harm and suicide prevention.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Business Officer (CBO) in Nottingham
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Jumping into industry events or leadership conferences can really help boost your visibility. Not only will you meet potential employers, but you’ll also get the chance to connect with other leaders in corporate management. Look for local or even virtual events that focus on leadership—every connection counts!
✨Engage in Professional Networks
Join professional management associations relevant to your career goals. These networks often host workshops, panels, and networking events that can put you in front of hiring managers. Plus, they can give you the scoop on upcoming roles, such as the full-time positions with companies like Harmless.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
When reaching out to potential employers, particularly for leadership roles, demonstrate your leadership capabilities with real examples. Share stories from your previous positions that illustrate how you handled challenges and drove results. This will help you stand out when you apply to places like Harmless.
✨Tailor Your LinkedIn Presence
Ensure your LinkedIn profile is specifically tailored to corporate leadership. Highlight achievements, showcase relevant content and engage with posts in management groups. This not only builds your credibility but keeps you on the radar of companies looking for candidates like you as they post full-time opportunities.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Business Officer (CBO) in Nottingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to Harmless.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of Harmless. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harmless
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with Harmless, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at Harmless, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
✨Craft Your Vision for the Company
Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for Harmless could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
✨Emphasise Team Dynamics and Culture
In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at Harmless as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
