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- Tasks: Lead the sanctuary's strategy, drive revenue growth, and ensure operational excellence.
- Company: Join the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, a beloved community hub for donkey care and education.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, health schemes, discounts, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in animal welfare while working in a unique environment with over 100 donkeys.
- Qualifications: Proven senior leadership experience, strong financial skills, and a commitment to animal welfare required.
- Other info: Be an ambassador for the sanctuary and engage with the local community.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Chief Executive Officer
Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time
Location: Lower Winstone Farm, Wroxall, Isle of Wight
Salary: Competitive
Reporting structure: Reports to Board of Trustees
About Us
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is a growing and cherished part of our community, dedicated to providing a safe haven for donkeys and educating the public on their care and welfare. Our vision extends beyond equine welfare to creating an environment where our team, volunteers, and visitors can feel welcomed and enriched.
About the role
The CEO is responsible for both developing the sanctuary’s overall strategy and ensuring its effective implementation. This includes driving revenue growth, developing operational excellence, delivering exceptional visitor experiences, and fostering a high-performance culture across the organisation.
The CEO will oversee the operational functions including finance, HR, marketing, fundraising, visitor services and facilities, ensuring alignment with the sanctuary’s vision and goals.
Role Responsibilities
- Strategic revenue growth – develop strategy with clear, measurable goals to drive sustainable growth. Lead the operational execution of the sanctuary’s overall strategy, ensuring that all departments are aligned with the charity’s long-term goals. Drive profitability and growth in the shop and café operations.
- Develop operational excellence – oversee daily operations including facilities and grounds management to ensure the efficient delivery of all sanctuary operations. Lead safety initiatives and ensure that a highly skilled team is trained in safety protocols, providing a secure environment for staff, volunteers, visitors and the 100+ donkeys and ponies in our care.
- Drive strong financial management – oversee the sanctuary’s financial performance, working with the Finance team to develop and manage budgets, set targets and ensure cost control, budget discipline and accountability across all departments, to keep the sanctuary on track to meet its financial goals maintaining the sanctuary’s long term financial sustainability and stability.
- People resources management – overall responsibility for end-to-end employee life cycle activities including delivering on recruitment and retention strategies. Developing high performance teams in collaboration with HR. Work closely with the Operations Manager and Volunteer Coordinator in the development of the volunteer management strategy, ensuring that recruitment, engagement and retention efforts align with the sanctuary’s operational needs.
Other responsibilities
- Engage the community – work with the Community Engagement Manager to deliver impactful outreach initiatives, ensuring they meet the objectives set out by the grant funding. Set and review targets to foster stronger connections with the local community and align programmes with the sanctuary’s vision and goals.
- Report to the Board – provide regular reports to the Board of Trustees on operational performance, financial results, revenue generation activities and visitor experience.
- Ensure regulatory compliance – ensure that all operations comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including health and safety standards, employment law and charity sector regulations.
- Work closely with the Director of Animal Welfare – to ensure that resources, facilities and operational support are aligned with animal care needs.
- Act as an ambassador for the sanctuary – representing the charity professionally and promoting its mission, vision and values both internally and externally.
About you
- Proven experience in senior leadership
- Strong business acumen with a track record of driving revenue growth and operational success.
- Demonstrated financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis.
- Experience in developing high-performing teams and creating a positive organisational culture.
- Excellent communication, collaboration and negotiation skills.
- Strong ethical commitment to animal welfare, demonstrated through previous work or personal advocacy.
For you
- Cash plan health scheme
- Employee assistance program
- Tenured holiday allowance
- Staff discounts in our shop and café.
- Charitable discounts
- Additional local discounts
- Opportunities for professional development and growth.
- Free parking
This is an incredible opportunity to work in a totally unique environment amongst over 100 donkeys and ponies. As part of our sanctuary team, you’ll have the rewarding experience of interacting with these wonderful animals, adding an inspiring dimension to your role while directly contributing to their care and well-being.
To apply, please upload your CV and covering letter.
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Chief Executive Officer - Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary employer: Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
Contact Detail:
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Executive Officer - Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to animal welfare and community engagement will help you align your vision with theirs during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with individuals in the animal welfare sector or local community organizations. Building relationships can provide insights into the sanctuary's operations and challenges, which can be beneficial in your role as CEO.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific strategies for revenue growth and operational excellence. Think about innovative ideas that could enhance visitor experiences and drive profitability in the shop and café operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership style and how you foster a high-performance culture. Be ready to share examples of how you've developed teams and engaged communities in previous roles, as this aligns closely with the responsibilities of the CEO.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Executive Officer - Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and expectations of the CEO position at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in strategic leadership, financial management, and community engagement.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your passion for animal welfare and your vision for the sanctuary. Discuss how your previous experiences align with the role's requirements, particularly in driving revenue growth and developing high-performing teams.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, emphasize your proven experience in senior leadership roles, showcasing specific examples of how you've successfully driven operational success and financial sustainability in past positions.
Showcase Your Values: Make sure to convey your strong ethical commitment to animal welfare in both your CV and cover letter. This will resonate with the sanctuary's mission and demonstrate that you are a good cultural fit for the organization.
How to prepare for a job interview at Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
✨Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine commitment to animal welfare during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or advocacy work that highlights your dedication to the cause, as this aligns closely with the sanctuary's mission.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss your approach to developing and implementing strategies that drive revenue growth and operational excellence. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully led similar initiatives in previous roles.
✨Highlight Financial Management Skills
Since financial oversight is a key responsibility, be prepared to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Bring specific examples of how you've managed financial performance in past positions.
✨Emphasize Team Development Experience
Talk about your experience in building high-performing teams and fostering a positive organizational culture. Share specific strategies you've used to recruit, retain, and develop talent, especially in a non-profit or community-focused environment.
