Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead CALM's mission against suicide, overseeing operations and strategy.
- Company: CALM is a life-saving charity focused on suicide prevention in the UK.
- Benefits: Join a passionate team, enjoy a supportive culture, and make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be part of a bold mission, driving change and saving lives with creativity and purpose.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in operations, finance, or governance is essential.
- Other info: Applications close at 9 a.m. on Monday 21st July.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Join CALM as Chief Operating Officer and lead the strategic delivery of a bold, creative, and life-saving charity — turning vision into action and helping save lives across the UK.
Who we are
We’reCampaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a suicide prevention charity on a mission to reduce the devastating impact of suicide in the UK. Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 50 and the cause of thousands of deaths every year. Each one affects around 135 people — family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances and communities. That’s why we do what we do. We take a stand against suicide in the UK — loudly, boldly and with purpose. We run a life-saving helpline and webchat service offering free, confidential support to anyone struggling or in crisis. Our website is packed with tools, guides and resources to help people take action and find support.
We run powerful, award-winning campaigns to challenge stigma, spark conversations, and shift attitudes around mental health and suicide. We use everything from sport, music and comedy to social media and street art to reach people in unexpected places and get them talking.
FromProject 84toThe Invisible OpponentandMissed Birthdays, our campaigns make headlines, drive awareness and change lives. Working with major brands and organisations, we’ve helped put suicide prevention on the national agenda, including the appointment of the UK’s first-ever Minister for Suicide Prevention.
CALM is powered by a passionate, creative and committed team. We fundraise, campaign, design, share stories, write code, organise events, build partnerships, and everything in between — all united by a shared goal: standing together against suicide.
We believe in hope, humour and human connection. We support each other, champion individuality, and work hard to make CALM a place where you can be yourself, grow, and make a real difference.
About the role
As CALM’s Chief Operating Officer, you’ll play a critical role in leading the organisation to deliver on its bold mission to stand against suicide across the UK. Reporting to the CEO, this is a key leadership position that balances operational excellence with strategic delivery, ensuring CALM’s people, services and systems are set up to deliver maximum impact, today and in the future.
You will:
- Lead the delivery of our current two-year strategy and help shape the next phase of CALM’s long-term vision
- Oversee Operations, Finance, People, and Services – ensuring each area is high-performing, values-led and impactful
- Champion CALM’s internal culture and employee experience
- Ensure strong planning, budgeting, governance and reporting across the organisation
This role is a true partnership with the CEO, complementing their creative, campaign-led leadership with strategic clarity and operational rigour. You’ll bring confidence, calm, and collaboration to everything you do, helping CALM through ambitious growth while keeping our values, people and purpose at the centre.
Who we are looking for
We’re looking for a strategic and grounded leader; someone who can bring structure to ambition, turn vision into action, and guide CALM through complexity with clarity and care, all without losing the heart, humour and hope that define who we are.
You might come from a charity, commercial, or mixed-sector background. What matters most is that you know how to run an organisation with purpose, focus, and impact. That includes understanding how to operate within a charity’s governance framework and working confidently with a CEO, board and senior stakeholders.
You will bring:
- Senior leadership experience across operations, people, finance, governance and/or delivery
- A strong track record of building effective teams, systems and processes that scale impact
- Experience in a high-growth or mission-driven organisation
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders, the board, and cross-functional teams
- A collaborative, values-led leadership style — calm under pressure and clear in decision-making
You’ll need to be strategic and hands-on, values-led and results-driven. Most of all, you’ll be passionate about CALM’s mission and culture, ready to help lead an organisation tackling urgent issues with creativity, energy and optimism.
Please click \’Apply on website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 21st July.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Chief Operating Officer employer: Peridot Partners
Contact Detail:
Peridot Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Operating Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with CALM's mission and values. Understanding their approach to suicide prevention and how they engage with the community will help you align your leadership style with their culture, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the charity sector, especially those who have experience in operational roles. This can provide insights into the challenges and opportunities within organisations like CALM, which can be beneficial during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led teams through change or growth. Highlighting your strategic thinking and operational excellence will demonstrate your capability to fulfil the role effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of governance frameworks in charities. Being able to articulate how you would navigate these structures while maintaining CALM's mission will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand CALM's Mission: Before you start writing your application, take the time to understand CALM's mission and values. Reflect on how your experience aligns with their goal of reducing suicide rates in the UK and how you can contribute to their life-saving work.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant senior leadership experience, particularly in operations, finance, and governance. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and drive impact in a mission-driven organisation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for CALM's mission and culture. Discuss how your strategic vision and hands-on leadership style can help guide the organisation through its ambitious growth while maintaining its core values.
Showcase Collaborative Leadership: Emphasise your collaborative approach to leadership in both your CV and cover letter. Provide examples of how you've successfully worked with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to achieve organisational goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Peridot Partners
✨Understand CALM's Mission
Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of CALM's mission and the impact of suicide prevention. Familiarise yourself with their campaigns and initiatives, as this will show your genuine interest in the role and alignment with their values.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles and how they relate to the responsibilities of a Chief Operating Officer. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully led teams, managed operations, or implemented strategic initiatives that align with CALM's goals.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Style
CALM values a collaborative and values-led leadership style. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked effectively with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, especially in high-pressure situations. This will demonstrate your ability to complement the CEO's creative leadership.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making process. Think about challenges you might face in this role and how you would approach them, keeping CALM's mission and values at the forefront of your decisions.
