Chief Executive Officer | York St John Students’ Union

Lead York St John Students' Union through its next chapter, strengthening student voice, organisational sustainability and a vital University partnership.

• Location: York campus, with travel to the London campus as required

York St John Students' Union is looking for a Chief Executive Officer to lead the charity through an important period of renewal. Working with students, staff, trustees and York St John University, you will strengthen the Union’s voice, build a constructive partnership and help shape a clear direction for the future.

We are looking for an experienced and collaborative leader with strong judgement, financial confidence and the ability to bring people with them through change. You will be comfortable moving between strategic leadership and the practical realities of a lean organisation.

It will also be important to bring a sense of fun into the workplace as the Union rebuilds its confidence and creates opportunities for students to connect and thrive.

Who we are

York St John Students' Union (YSJSU) is an independent, student-led charity.

Its mission is to empower students at York St John University to challenge and change the world around them. Through representation, activities, societies, commercial services and opportunities to connect, the Union helps students to belong, have an effective voice and make the most of their time at university.

The Union serves a diverse and changing student community across York and London, working alongside the University while retaining its own charitable purpose and independent student voice.

About the role

This is a significant opportunity to guide YSJSU through its next phase. You will work with Trustees, elected Presidents, staff and the University to refresh the Union’s direction, strengthen organisational foundations and demonstrate the value of its work for students.

Your priorities will include:

• Building an open, constructive and effective relationship with York St John University, while safeguarding the Union’s autonomy.
• Embedding equality, diversity and inclusion, removing barriers to engagement and access to services.
• Working closely with the Chair, trustees and elected Presidents to agree a clear strategy and measurable delivery plan.
• Supporting staff through change and building an inclusive, confident organisational culture.
• Strengthening financial sustainability and developing income that supports student priorities.

Who we are looking for

You will be a credible, thoughtful leader who can build trust, make sound decisions and bring clarity during change.

You will have led teams and managed complex relationships, ideally where you needed to influence across organisational boundaries. You will bring financial understanding and the confidence to oversee budgets, risk and organisational sustainability.

Experience in a Students' Union or higher education is welcome, but we will also consider candidates from other charities, member-led organisations or complex purpose-driven settings. Most importantly, you will be committed to student voice, inclusive participation and helping an organisation make a practical difference to its community.

The core skills we are seeking are:

• Senior leadership experience and a record of guiding teams through change.
• Strong relationship‑building, communication and influencing skills.
• Financial acumen and experience of sound organisational stewardship.
• Using data and student insight to improve services and demonstrate impact.
• Championing inclusive representation and responding to the needs of a diverse student community.

For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

York St John Students' Union is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 1136905).

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Bill Yuksel

Welcome from the Board and Vice‑Chancellor

A message from the Board of Trustees.

Thank you for your interest in joining York St John Students' Union as our next Chief Executive Officer. This is an exciting moment for the Students' Union. With a refreshed organisational structure and a commitment to enhancing the student experience, the foundations are in place for a CEO to shape the future of the organisation, strengthen our impact, and ensure we continue to deliver outstanding opportunities, representation and support for York St John students.

As CEO, you will have the opportunity to lead a talented team, influence the student experience at a thriving university, and help us realise our ambition of being a bold, values‑led Students' Union at the heart of student life.

York itself is a fantastic place to live and work. As one of the UK’s most vibrant student cities, it offers a unique blend of history, culture, creativity and community, providing an outstanding environment for students and staff alike.

We are looking for an exceptional leader who can inspire others, build strong partnerships, and champion students in everything we do.

If you are excited by the opportunity to shape the future of York St John Students' Union, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The Board of Trustees
York St John Students' Union

A message from the Vice‑Chancellor.

Thank you for your interest in becoming the next Chief Executive of York St John Students' Union.

At York St John University, our commitment to social justice shapes our ambition to widen opportunity and enable students from all backgrounds to thrive. Our Students' Union is a vital partner in that work, providing independent representation, creating opportunities and helping students develop a sense of belonging.

Our student community across York and London brings a rich diversity of backgrounds, experiences and aspirations. This appointment offers an important opportunity to develop a Students' Union that understands those changing needs and responds with creativity, sound judgement and sustainable services.

We look forward to working with a Chief Executive who builds trusted relationships, empowers elected student leaders, supports colleagues, and turns ambition into meaningful outcomes for students. We value an open and constructive relationship with the Union, grounded in mutual respect, honest dialogue and a shared commitment to students.

I hope you will be inspired by the opportunity to help shape the Student Union’s next chapter and contribute to our University community.

About us

York St John Students' Union is an independent charity and the representative body for students at York St John University. Its purpose is to empower students to challenge and change the world around them. The Union supports student representation, societies, activities and services that help students connect, develop and make the most of their time at university.

York St John University enrolled 13,857 students across its York and London campuses in 2024/25, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research programmes - 69% of students come from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education.

The University’s London campus is based at East India Dock, close to Canary Wharf. The Students' Union supports London students through independent advice, course representation and opportunities to join or establish student-led societies, working with campus partners to promote activities and engagement.

Working alongside the University while retaining its own charitable governance and independent student voice, YSJSU helps students across both locations influence decisions, access support and build a sense of belonging

Following a period of organisational change, the Union is looking to strengthen its foundations and shape a clear direction for the future. The new CEO will work with students, staff and trustees to build a more responsive and inclusive Union across York and London, strengthening representation, participation and belonging.

Priorities include developing services around students’ differing needs, demonstrating how their feedback leads to meaningful change and building the financial sustainability and University partnership needed to support this ambition.

Our values

• Inclusive: Provide activities and spaces that make students feel that they belong.
• Transformative: Positively change lives through opportunities and experiences- Provide activities and spaces that make students feel that they belong.
• Challenging: Ensure that we are always striving to act in the best interests of students.
• Empowering: Equip students with skills, opportunities and experiences to enable their success.
• Fun: Make student life at York St John University enjoyable and rewarding

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 25th November 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: By Wednesday 2nd December 2026
First stage interviews (virtual): Monday 7th or Tuesday 8th December 2026
Second stage interviews (in person): Monday 14th December 2026

Peridot and York St John Students' Union are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions.We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.

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