Chief Executive Officer

As one of the UK's oldest charities, we're proud to serve Bath and the surrounding area. Yet we're still facing many of the same problems today as we have throughout the centuries.

It's a dilemma that prompted us to launch our Best Start in Life initiative (formally known as the Foundation Fund) in 2020. This work focuses on making sure every child under 12 has the chance to grow up as a healthy, happy, and educated member of our community; that they have the support they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives beyond school and into older age.

Following the retirement of our previous Chief Executive, we are now seeking a new leader to take us forward into our next phase. At a time of significant change, this is an opportunity for a values-driven leader to lead our strategic growth and development, focusing on developing both our core almshouse provision and creating new opportunities for delivering impact across Bath and North East Somerset. We are mid-way through our 10-year strategy, making this an exciting time for a new chief executive to join us. We have major capital projects underway as well as plans to broaden our reach and impact with partners across the region. You will quickly establish yourself in the role, delivering existing projects and creating new opportunities to change lives for good. We are also seeking a new Chair, making this a unique opportunity for refreshed leadership of the Foundation to reconcile our distinctive heritage with the modern role we must play in the context of changing needs and pressures.

You'll bring strategic leadership experience in a not-for-profit context and a deep commitment to working with a dedicated Board and executive team to deliver social impact. We are looking for a versatile and agile leader who can bring a creative approach to our work, recognizing where the levers are for delivering change and how to create the highest quality services for our stakeholders and partners. We have two commercial ventures as well as our endowment, and you will be financially astute with a keen eye on how to deliver financial returns and maximize the impact of our resources. For 850 years, we have been known for pioneering approaches to addressing need, and we will be looking to you to continue this approach, working with like-minded charities and donors across BANES to deliver and evidence how our work truly changes lives.

Our people are critical to our success, and you will be an established leader of people who enjoys being both strategic and hands-on. We are a small, close-knit team, and you will bring exceptional interpersonal skills, able to work closely with the staff team, our Board, and our myriad of external stakeholders. Your unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive culture will be key in your ability to lead our team with integrity. The Foundation will always consider applicants who have lived or have personal experience of poverty or other challenges faced by our beneficiaries.

Download the candidate brief to find out about the role.

To make an application, please click on the apply now button below, with the following prepared:

1. your CV (no more than three sides).
2. a supporting statement (no more than two sides) that sets out why you think this role is the right move for you and how you meet the person specification for this role.

Preliminary interviews
w/c Monday 13th January 2025

Final panel interview
w/c Monday 27th January 2025