Chief Executive Officer Full Time

Aston-Mansfield is a community charity with a proud legacy of over 140 years serving the people of Newham. Rooted in the heart of this vibrant borough, our work is shaped by the communities we serve. Newham is a place of opportunity and rich diversity but also faces significant challenges, such as child poverty affecting half of households and having one of the highest rates of fuel poverty in England.

Our mission is to enable children, young people, and families in Newham to live happy, healthy lives, unlock their potential, and realise their ambitions. We fulfil our mission by offering a range of early intervention, crisis support and systemic services which include wraparound childcare, holiday club provision, youth empowerment services, mental health and wellbeing programs, a food bank, and family crisis support and capacity-building of grassroots organisations.

About the role

During 11 successful years of leadership, our previous CEO has led the charity through significant changes and has laid a strong foundation for future success. Over the last two years, we have undertaken a significant strategic project to reduce the number of properties owned by Aston-Mansfield and refocus our energy on the services we deliver. We have welcomed a new Chair onto the Board and we are currently supported by an Interim CEO who is working closely with a committed management team as we enter an exciting phase of our journey. This is a pivotal moment for the charity, and we are seeking a new CEO to guide us through the next stage of our strategy development.

If you are an experienced CEO or senior leader with a passion for community-centred work, we invite you to make a difference to the lives of children, young people, adults, and families in Newham.

We are looking for:

• Senior leadership experience in leading voluntary and/or community-facing organisations with a person-centred approach.
• The ability to think big, develop partnerships, and position the charity as a key player in the sector.
• Significant experience of and track record in, securing major funding streams from a variety of sources.
• A deep understanding of safeguarding practices for children, young people, and adults.
• A passion for creating an accessible and inclusive environment for staff, service users, and partners.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.

How to Apply

Eastside People is supporting Aston-Mansfield in the recruitment of this role. Please ensure you read the full candidate information pack before applying.

Click to apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter both in Word doc. format. Please use the cover letter as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV, and ensure that you cover the following (max 2 pages):

• Why are you interested in this CEO role at Aston-Mansfield and how is the position a good fit for your skills and approach?
• How would you select, expand and develop the most effective sustainable partnerships for a community-focused charity?
• What approach would you take to develop an operationally strong staff team to enhance and grow their strategic leadership skill set?
• Key experience/knowledge concerning the other essential skills and experience specified in the job description and person specification.

If you would like a call to discuss the role in more detail, please email Paul Venning at our recruitment partners Eastside People to arrange a convenient time at p.venning@eastsidepeople.org. Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application.

Eastside People are fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and work with our clients to ensure that we recruit inclusively, seeking to address the underrepresentation of some groups of people in leadership teams.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. We are happy to discuss any assistance or adjustments to make the application process work for you.

The closing date for applications is Fri 28th March 2025, and interviews with Eastside People will take place the week after. Interviews with Aston-Mansfield will be held on either Monday 28 April or Tuesday 29 April.

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