This is an exciting renewal time for Citizens Advice services in East Berkshire. The charities Citizens Advice Bracknell & District and Citizens Advice Maidenhead & Windsor are merging to create a stronger and more resilient organisation to grow our vital services for our communities. In April 2021, we will become Citizens Advice East Berkshire and we are seeking our first ever CEO for this new charity.
As our two organisations have done for many years, Citizens Advice East Berkshire will provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on social welfare (debt, benefits, housing, employment and family issues) that will help people get their lives back on track, as well as using on-the-ground knowledge to improve local and national social policy.
We know more people want our help and we need to create more capacity to meet this efficiently to make the best use of our resources. Both existing charities are merging from a position of operational and financial strength. Our aim is to take the best of both organisations, forging a positive common culture, simplifying operations and investing in front line services to reach more clients.
Both of our organisations have a strong track record of delivery and adapting fast when we need to. When Covid-19 restrictions meant that we could no longer meet clients face-to-face, our teams of ingenious staff and volunteers turned our offer around virtually overnight to telephone and email services. That kind of dedication is a hallmark of our two existing services.
With our current operational changes and investment plans and the exciting plans for merger, it can feel like all change. Our future CEO will be a leader who can embrace the whole change vision whilst laying out a clear roadmap for our staff and volunteers that engages and empowers but does not overwhelm them.
Organisation: Citizens Advice East Berkshire Job Title: Chief Executive Officer Salary: up to £55,000 Hours: Full time, with occasional weekend and evening work Location: East Berkshire (Bracknell & Maidenhead)
This is a new role in a refreshed organisation. It presents a genuine opportunity to shape the service to meet our clients' future needs. The CEO will take a large share of the credit for establishing a robust, innovative and responsive organisation.
The successful candidate will have:
Demonstrable experience of providing inspirational leadership to an organisation going through extensive change, ideally gained at an organisation of comparable scale and complexity (c.30 staff &120 volunteers and a turnover of over 0.5 million).
A proven track record of successful income generation and business development.
Demonstrable track record of financial management and budgetary control, and ability to manage a budget under the guidance of the treasurer.
Experience of leading and managing staff, motivating teams at all levels, building working relationships with colleagues, demonstrating personal commitment to organisational and staff development.
Proven experience of building and maintaining partnerships within and across organisations and sectors.
We value having a diverse pool of applicants to find the best candidate. To achieve this, we are open to candidates from any sector who can demonstrate their transferable experience and alignment with out work and values, and we encourage applicants who are from underrepresented groups with protected characteristics.
If you would like to receive an Information Pack for this role with details on how to apply, please send an expression of interest and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile in confidence to our consultant, Jenny Hills at executive@harrishill.co.uk
For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny at the above address with your number and suitable times to speak. You can also call her on 0207 820 7321 but please be aware the line can be busy so a pre-arranged call is the best way to ensure availability.
Please note: responding to this advertisement will not in itself be considered an application. We will need a CV and a supporting statement addressing the full person specification in the information pack.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th February 2021
