Chief Executive Officer in London

Literacy Pirates is a literacy charity working to ensure that children who are falling behind in class due to socio-economic disadvantage develop their reading and writing skills, confidence and perseverance, so they can succeed at school and beyond. Today, Literacy Pirates is a values-driven, evidence-led organisation working with around 650 children annually through a distinctive volunteer-powered model that combines rigour and joy. Our Virtual Ship now enables us to reach children beyond London, and we are working to scale nationally to reach 3,000 children annually by 2030, while maintaining impact and reducing cost per child.

We are a financially sustainable and growing organisation, with a clear long-term strategy and secure foundations. This is an exciting time to join us as we continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact for the children who need us most.

The opportunity

This is not a turnaround role, but nor is it a stewardship-only role. We are looking for a CEO to lead the next ambitious phase of Literacy Pirates' journey: building on strong foundations to deliver a disciplined, digitally enabled phase of national growth. The successful candidate will not be expected to reinvent the mission or abandon the existing strategy. They will be expected to sharpen execution, increase momentum, strengthen the growth engine, and lead the organisation through the next phase of scale.

The CEO will work closely with a strong Senior Leadership Team and Board to scale the Virtual Ship, strengthen partnerships and income, protect what is distinctive about Literacy Pirates, and ensure the organisation is operationally and financially ready for sustained growth.

Role purpose

To lead Literacy Pirates through its next phase of growth by:

• scaling the Virtual Ship nationally in line with the 2030 strategy;
• maintaining impact while improving the organisation's economics and operating model;
• building the partnerships, income and organisational capacity needed for long-term success;
• protecting and evolving the culture, values and quality that make Literacy Pirates distinctive.

Salary: £80,000–£85,000

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Location: London/hybrid, with regular in-person presence

Accountable to: Board of Trustees

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic leadership and scale
   • Lead delivery of Literacy Pirates' 2030 strategy, translating long-term ambition into a clear, disciplined growth plan.
   • Drive national scale through the digital, Virtual Ship model, ensuring growth is evidence-led, financially sustainable and operationally credible.
   • Work with the SLT and Board to identify the major choices, risks and milestones required to move from the current phase to the next.
   • Ensure the organisation remains focused on the right strategic priorities and digital development, and does not become distracted by too many competing demands.
2. Growth, partnerships and momentum
   • Build and steward the partnerships that will drive the next phase of scale, including schools, MATs, funders, corporate & digital partners and other strategic allies.
   • Strengthen the organisation's external profile and reputation as a rigorous, joyful and increasingly scalable digital literacy charity.
   • Bring energy, pace and clarity to the organisation's growth agenda.
   • Work with the team to build repeatable approaches to growth, not just one-off wins.
3. Income growth and financial sustainability
   • Lead, with the Head of Development and wider team, an ambitious income strategy across trusts and foundations, corporates and major donors.
   • Personally cultivate a small number of high-value strategic funders and partners.
   • Ensure resources are aligned to strategy and that growth improves long-term sustainability.
   • Work closely with the Director of Finance and Board to ensure robust budgeting, forecasting and decision-making. Bring discipline to the relationship between impact, scale and cost.
4. Leadership, culture and organisational development
   • Ensure young people and the communities we serve continue to shape the organisation's thinking and priorities.
   • Lead and develop the SLT, building clarity, accountability and confidence across the organisation.
   • Support the organisation through change in a way that is both empathetic and ambitious, humane and performance-oriented.
   • Protect and evolve Literacy Pirates' values-led culture as the organisation grows and changes.
   • Inspire staff, volunteers and stakeholders with a clear and compelling account of where the organisation is going and why.
5. Governance, safeguarding and risk
   • Build a strong, high-trust relationship with the Chair and Board.
   • Provide clear, timely reporting on strategy, impact, finance and risk.
   • Ensure robust safeguarding, compliance and risk management across the organisation.
   • Help the Board navigate the next stage of growth with confidence and clarity.

Person Specification

Essential experience

• Significant senior executive or CEO-level experience in a scaling organisation.
• Experience leading, or being a central part of, substantial organisational growth, ideally from around £1–2m to £5m+.
• Experience growing a digitally enabled service, programme, platform or organisation.
• Strong track record of leading teams through growth, change and increasing complexity.
• Experience in a purpose-led or social impact charity or organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of building partnerships and opening up growth opportunities.
• Credible experience of income growth, strategic fundraising or commercial-style partnership development.
• Strong financial literacy, including budgets, forecasting, sustainability and value for money.
• Experience using data, insight and evidence to drive performance and decision-making.
• Experience working effectively with a board or equivalent governance body.

Essential capabilities

• Strong strategic growth instinct: able to turn ambition into practical priorities and momentum.
• Able to lead a scaling organisation with discipline, pace and judgement.
• Strong outward-facing presence: compelling with funders, partners, schools, corporates and other stakeholders. Able to inspire, align and challenge teams.
• Strong people leadership: able to build trust, clarify accountability and lead through change.
• Belief in Literacy Pirates' digital-first strategy and the judgement to evolve it rather than reset it.
• Deep mission alignment and the intellectual curiosity to understand, own and champion Literacy Pirates' model, even if not from the education sector.
• Values-led leadership with a strong commitment to inclusion, respect and diversity.

Essential personal qualities

• Warm, credible and emotionally intelligent.
• Ambitious for children and for the organisation.
• Resilient, adaptable and calm under pressure.
• Curious, thoughtful and evidence-led. Able to bring people with them while maintaining momentum.
• Comfortable being an intentionally incomplete CEO who works through and with a strong SLT.

Desirable

• Experience in education, literacy, children's services, tutoring or youth sector.
• Experience with volunteer-powered or volunteer-intensive models.
• Experience of regional or national partnership development.
• Experience working with communities affected by socio-economic disadvantage.

Benefits of Working at Literacy Pirates

• Be part of a committed, inclusive organisation that supports its team to thrive.
• We value each member of our team's professional development and provide training to make sure you have the chance to develop your skills and grow your experience as part of our team.
• Enjoy a generous annual leave allowance. 25 days annual leave (increasing with service), plus bank holidays and 3 additional days off between Christmas and New Year.
• Work in a way that fits your life. We offer flexible, hybrid and remote working where possible.
• Take time to give back. We offer paid volunteering time each year.
• Feel supported at every stage of family life. We offer enhanced maternity and adoption pay, paid paternity leave, and paid time off to care for a sick child.
• Plan for your future with a workplace pension.
• Gain 24 hour access to qualified counsellors for yourself and your immediate family.
• Access everyday health support. We reimburse the cost of annual flu vaccinations and eye tests for screen users.
• Save up to 39% on a commuter bike and accessories through Cyclescheme.

How to apply

To apply for the position, complete our online application form and upload a CV by midday Mon 20th April 2026.

Interview dates

Please consider the following dates, these are fixed and unlikely to be changeable. We will notify all candidates by Fri 24th April. Phone interviews will take place on Mon 27th April, 9am to 12pm. In-person (Dalston, London) interviews will take place on Thur 14th and Fri 15th May, 12pm to 6pm. Final interview with board of trustees Thur 21st May 6–7pm.

All employees are required to complete an Enhanced DBS check prior to starting work. If attending interviews involves a loss of earnings or childcare costs, we are happy to compensate you. Details will be shared when invited to interview.

We're committed to ensuring our recruitment practices are accessible to and inclusive for all prospective candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments to accessing our recruitment materials or attending interviews, please let us know by emailing admin@literacypirates.org.

Want to learn more about the role and Literacy Pirates?

Come along to our Open Evening held online. This is an informal chance to hear from the current CEO, trustees and senior staff. This will last no longer than 60 mins.

Email ahoy@literacypirates.org to book a place.