Chief Executive Officer (Off The Record Bristol)

Job Advert

Are you a visionary leader passionate about empowering young people?

Who we are

OTR isn’t just a charity providing mental health services, it’s a mental health movement mobilised to support, promote and defend the mental health, rights and social position of young people!

We support young people aged 11-25 in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. Our beliefs, collectively developed across the organisation, underpin our work as a mental health social movement. At all times, OTR strives to give a choice and a voice to young people.

We offer a wide range of services, which are designed and delivered in participation with young people, as well as in partnership with organisations across the region. These include group work, projects exploring arts, sports, nature and activism, support around gender and sexuality identity, targeted work with young people of colour, and one-to-one therapies. OTR is free and self-referral, meaning young people don’t need a diagnosis, professional referral or a parent/carer’s permission to access our services.

The role

We are seeking a new CEO who shares our passion for the work we do and who can provide strategic leadership, and inspire staff, trustees, and stakeholders to achieve our ambitious goals. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will ensure the charity is well-positioned to meet the needs of the young people we serve while maintaining financial sustainability and operational excellence.

We are very proud of the growth and increased impact we have achieved over recent years, but we know that our infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with the services we now offer. We need to consolidate so that we can increase our impact and we are looking for a CEO who will lead us through this next stage and who will also relish the challenge. We seek an individual with passion, energy, and the ability to collaborate to springboard OTR upwards and onward for the next phase of its evolution.

Key responsibilities:

1. To provide OTR with an over-arching leadership and strategic focus.
2. To develop the overall capacity and operational capability of the leadership team.
3. To establish and manage key relationships, partnerships and contracts with various stakeholders across the voluntary and public sectors.
4. To ensure and oversee a strategy for diverse and sustainable income generation that supports OTR’s strategic plan.
5. To ensure and oversee robust financial management of resources.
6. Reports to: Board of Trustees.

What you will bring

We are looking for an experienced Senior Manager, with a good understanding of services for children and young people services and mental health, with effective internal and external communication and relationship building skills and of course, you must be aligned with our strong values base. This is an immensely rewarding role which would perfectly suit a person of vision, positivity and proven delivery. Please see the person specification for further information on skills/knowledge required.

This is an opportunity to lead a respected charity at an exciting time in its journey. You’ll work with a passionate team and a supportive board, making a tangible difference in the lives of young people in Bristol.

At OTR, whatever your role or professional background, you will be expected to work in a way that is anti-oppressive and inclusive. A key focus for OTR is to develop an organisation that is inclusive for all. We do not claim to be experts in this, but we are committed to continuous learning and improvement in these areas and invite you to join us on this journey.

OTR recognises the benefits to individual practice and organisational credibility of having a diverse community of staff and volunteers and to this end, is continually working towards building and maintaining an environment which values and pursues diversity accordingly.

We recognise that tackling systemic inequality, prejudice, racism and oppressive practice requires each of us to actively engage, self-examine and make changes where necessary, in order to improve access and ensure an equitable experience for all in society, and all of those who come through our doors at OTR.

How to Apply

Eastside People is supporting Off The Record Bristol in the recruitment for this role. Please ensure you read the full candidate information pack before applying.

Please apply by submitting a CV and a cover letter. Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following:

1. Why you are interested in the CEO role at OTR and how the position is a good fit for your skills and approach.
2. Your experience of working at a strategic level and leading an organisation or large team.
3. Key experience/knowledge in relation to the other skills and experience specified in the job description and person specification.

If you would like a call to discuss the role in more detail, please email Paul at to arrange a convenient time. Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can make the application process work for you.

The closing date for applications is Friday 10th Jan.

Preliminary interviews with Eastside People – Ongoing and in the week commencing 13th Jan.

First panel interview – week commencing 20th or 27th Jan.

Final assessment day – week commencing 27th Jan or 3rd Feb.

And finally, we understand AI can be a helpful tool, but please use with caution and ensure your application is personalised and accurate.

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