Associate Director Charity Services

Royal Air Forces Association; Leicester; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance

RAFA membership

Salary sacrifice car

Health cashback plan

Free virtual GP

Mental health support

Discounted gym

Cycle to work

Subsidised breaks

Senior leadership role

National welfare expansion

Board exposure

Career development

Job summary

Royal Air Forces Association is recruiting a senior leader to shape national welfare, wellbeing and community-based support services. You will lead and develop high-performing teams, ensuring personalised services deliver exceptional outcomes.

You will act as safeguarding lead, drive performance measurement, and partner with external networks while contributing to governance and strategic direction, including budget stewardship.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading large, high-performing teams and delivering organisational change.
• Experience developing and implementing service delivery strategies focused on positive outcomes.
• Strong project and programme leadership skills, managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Expertise in performance management, service improvement and impact measurement.
• Experience managing substantial budgets, ideally in excess of £2m.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Analytical decision-making using research, insight and data to drive improvement.
• Passion for delivering meaningful social impact and improving outcomes for service users.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for welfare, wellbeing and community-based support services.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the design, delivery and enhancement of personalised support services with strong outcomes.
• Act as organisational lead for safeguarding across delivery, governance and risk management.
• Develop robust performance and impact measurement frameworks driven by insight and data.
• Champion innovation, service integration and best practice to enhance beneficiary outcomes.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with external partners and networks.
• Contribute to organisational strategy and governance as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Manage significant operational budgets and ensure efficient deployment of resources.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Service design

Project management

Performance measurement

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Impact focus

Job description

• Lead and shape national welfare services with genuine strategic influence.
• Join a senior leadership role driving innovation and measurable impact

About Our Client

The Royal Air Forces Association is a well-established national charity with a significant presence across the UK, dedicated to delivering practical support, welfare services and wellbeing initiatives to a large beneficiary community. The organisation combines direct support, volunteer-led services and strategic partnerships to create meaningful, long-term impact, and is embarking on an ambitious phase of service development and continuous improvement.

Job Description

• Provide strategic leadership for welfare, wellbeing and community-based support services.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the design, delivery and ongoing enhancement of personalised support services, ensuring exceptional service outcomes.
• Act as the organisational lead for safeguarding across service delivery, governance and risk management.
• Develop robust performance and impact measurement frameworks, ensuring decisions are driven by insight, evidence and high-quality data.
• Champion innovation, service integration and best practice to enhance beneficiary outcomes.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with external partners, stakeholders and strategic networks.
• Contribute to wider organisational strategy, governance and leadership as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Manage significant operational budgets and ensure the effective deployment of resources

The Successful Applicant

The successful candidate will bring substantial senior leadership experience within welfare, wellbeing, volunteering, social impact or related service environments.You will be able to demonstrate:

• A track record of leading large, high-performing teams and delivering organisational change.
• Experience developing and implementing service delivery strategies focused on positive outcomes.
• Strong project and programme leadership skills, managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Expertise in performance management, service improvement and impact measurement.
• Experience managing substantial budgets, ideally in excess of £2m.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build partnerships at senior levels.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities, using research, insight and data to drive improvement.
• A passion for delivering meaningful social impact and improving outcomes for service users.
• Experience gained within a charity, not-for-profit or social enterprise environment would be advantageous but is not essential

What's on Offer

• A salary of £81,200
• Up to 42 days' annual leave (including Bank Holidays)
• Life assurance
• RAFA membership
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Health cashback plan and free virtual GP service
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Discounted gym membership
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Subsidised short breaks at selected RAFA accommodation
• Senior leadership position with strategic influence across the organisation
• Opportunity to shape and develop nationally delivered welfare and wellbeing services
• Exposure to board-level and executive decision-making
• Opportunity to lead organisational transformation and service innovation programmes
• Clear opportunity to make a measurable impact on beneficiary outcomes
• Long-term career development within a complex, purpose-driven organisation

As an inclusive recruiter we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.