CEO

Spider; Essex; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

6 weeks annual leave (pro rata)

Pension

Job summary

Lighthouse Women’s Aid, based in Suffolk, is seeking a part-time Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic leadership and manage the charity's mission to support women and families affected by domestic abuse. The role reports to the Board of Trustees and is based in Ipswich, Suffolk.

You will oversee finances, governance, safeguarding, and service delivery while guiding fundraising and stakeholder engagement to sustain impact. This is a 28-hour-per-week role with flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership or CEO-level experience.
• Understanding of domestic abuse, safeguarding and trauma-informed approaches.
• Experience in strategic planning, financial management, and organisational development.
• Experience in fundraising and income generation.
• Experience supporting vulnerable people and policy influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the charity's strategy and business plan with the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee financial performance, budgets, funding, reserves and risk management.
• Ensure governance, safeguarding, GDPR and health & safety compliance.
• Lead and empower management, staff and volunteers.
• Develop relationships with funders, commissioners and partners.
• Drive fundraising through grants, partnerships and community activity.
• Represent Lighthouse publicly and advocate for survivors.
• Ensure services remain inclusive, empowering and trauma-informed.

Skills

Senior leadership

CEO experience

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Advocacy & partnerships

Experience with safeguarding

Trauma-informed approaches

Fundraising & funding

Job description

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Spider is advertising on behalf of Lighthouse Women s Aid, who are seeking an inspirational and strategic leader to guide the charity through its next chapter. This is a permanent, part-time role based in Ipswich, Suffolk.

Salary:

£55,000 per annum, pro rato

Benefits:

• 6 weeks annual leave (pro rato) plus pension

Hours:

28 hours per week, with flexible working depending on the needs of the organisation

About the role

As CEO, reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will provide strategic leadership, direction and management, ensuring Lighthouse achieves its mission to support women and families affected by domestic abuse.

You will be accountable for the charity s overall performance, financial sustainability and impact, maintaining the highest standards of governance, safeguarding and service delivery.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the charity s strategy and business plan alongside the Board of Trustees
• Overseeing financial performance, budgets, funding, reserves and risk management
• Ensuring strong governance, regulatory compliance, safeguarding, GDPR and Health & Safety
• Leading and empowering the Management Team, staff and volunteers
• Developing relationships with funders, commissioners, statutory bodies and partner organisations
• Driving fundraising and income generation through grants, contracts, corporate partnerships and community fundraising
• Representing Lighthouse publicly, advocating for survivors and influencing policy
• Ensuring services remain inclusive, empowering and trauma-informed

Women only need apply under schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010. This post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

About you:

You will have proven senior leadership or CEO-level experience, ideally within the charity or public sector, alongside a strong understanding of domestic abuse, safeguarding and trauma-informed approaches.

You ll bring demonstrable experience in strategic planning, financial management, organisational development, fundraising and income generation, with excellent communication, advocacy and partnership-building skills.

Experience supporting vulnerable people, influencing policy or working within government frameworks, and knowledge of relevant domestic abuse, housing and support legislation would be advantageous.

About Lighthouse Women s Aid:

Based in Suffolk, Lighthouse Women s Aid (Registered Charity No (phone number removed has supported victims and survivors of domestic abuse for 50 years. Its specialist team supports around 1,000 women, young people and children each year.

With an annual turnover of approximately £700,000, funded through grants, statutory funding, individual giving and corporate partnerships, Lighthouse provides preventative and therapeutic services within a safe and supportive environment. Lighthouse welcomes diversity in the workplace.

Spider is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates.

Please advise us of any reasonable adjustments required during recruitment.