Chief Executive Officer - ECT Charity

Location: London (Greenford / Ealing) with regular travel to Dorset, Cheshire and partner sites; minimum three days per week in office
Salary: circa £80,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full-time

Are you ready to deliver a pragmatic financial reset, rebuild income and scale at the sector leading community transport organisation that delivers tangible impact across London, Dorset and Cheshire?

About ECT Charity

ECT Charity is a leading specialist community transport organisation enabling mobility and social inclusion across London, Dorset and Cheshire. We deliver essential door-to-door transport and influence sector policy with partners such as TfL and the GLA, including through the use of our pioneering CT Social Value Toolkit. Facing reduced statutory income, operations changes, lease negotiations and contract retendering, we need to stabilise cashflow and protect services. Significant opportunities include leveraging our network and resources to develop our training and consultancy, build strategic partnerships to generate earned income, and using Dorset as a demonstrator site to pilot sustainable, mission-aligned commercial models.

Role priorities (first 12–18 months)

• Deliver a sustainable financial model and restore reserves.
• Redesign operations for the new scale (depot footprint and operations strategy).
• Leverage our networks and resources to develop commercial opportunities (partnerships, training, consultancy).
• Rebuild business development capability and secure partnership income.
• Strengthen governance, compliance and staff retention.

Who you are

• Senior leader with experience of multi-site operations or similar scale.
• Proven track record of financial turnaround, contract negotiation and estate management.
• Strong partnership, commercialisation and Board reporting skills.
• Commitment to inclusive leadership; willing to be office-based (min three days/week) and travel; driving licence preferred.
• (Desirable) Experience in community transport, social enterprise or productisation/licensing.

Why ECT?

• Lead a sector-recognised charity with a marketable toolkit and immediate partnership routes.
• Combine financial rigour with mission-aligned commercial innovation.
• Shape ECT’s recovery and long-term sustainability.

For full details, please contact Jenny Hills at executive@harrishill.co.uk to request the full appointment brief that covers both the interim and permanent positions.

How to apply (permanent):

Email executive@harrishill.co.uk with Permanent CEO – ECT Charity in the subject line. Please attach an up-to-date CV and a Supporting Statement (max 2 x A4) demonstrating how you meet the Person Specification (in the appointment brief) and your interest.

As you can read in the full appointment brief, we welcome applications for both the interim and permanent positions if you are interested in both roles. Please download and read the full brief for details. The deadline for applications for the interim position is 9am, Monday 8th December 2025

For an informal and confidential conversation contact Jenny Hills at the same address with suitable times.

Closing date for applications — Permanent CEO role: 9am, Monday 12th January 2026.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.