Chief Executive

GatenbySanderson; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford Archaeology seeks a Chief Executive to provide strategic leadership across a multifaceted organisation within the heritage sector and a competitive environment.

You will work with the Board of Trustees to ensure governance, sustainable financial planning and growth, while elevating public benefit and research impact. This permanent, full-time appointment calls for a proven CEO or senior executive with strong financial acumen.

Qualifications

• Experience as a CEO or senior executive.
• Proven governance and financial stewardship.
• Ability to lead across commercial, academic and charitable contexts.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership that guides OA's charitable purpose and competitive position.
• Lead and develop the executive team to deliver high-quality operational management.
• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to ensure governance and regulatory compliance.
• Secure and diversify income to support long-term sustainability, including funding from commercial and charitable sources.
• Oversee effective financial planning, controls and reporting.
• Encourage innovation and organisational development across all teams.
• Represent OA externally, building partnerships and raising awareness of research and impact.
• Contribute to sector leadership and advancement of commercial archaeology.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance

Financial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Chief Executive Oxford Archaeology Location: Flexible within reach of Oxford, Cambridge or Lancaster Terms: Permanent appointment Salary: £120,000 - £130,000

The Role

As Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership across a multifaceted organisation operating in a competitive commercial environment and a dynamic heritage sector. You will ensure OA continues to deliver high-quality archaeological research, public benefit and sector leadership while maintaining a sustainable business model. You will work closely with the Board of Trustees and lead a capable executive team, ensuring strong governance, forward financial planning and operational excellence. Building on a consolidated financial position, you will identify areas for investment, strengthen organisational agility and champion innovation across research, community engagement, publications and professional practice. You will also act as an ambassador for OA, building relationships across the archaeological, heritage and infrastructure sectors, raising OA’s profile, and ensuring our work continues to inform and inspire public understanding of the human past.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership that supports OA's charitable purpose and competitive position.
• Lead and develop the executive team to deliver high-quality operational management.
• Work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees to ensure strong governance and regulatory compliance.
• Secure and diversify income to support long-term sustainability, including commercial and charitable funding.
• Oversee effective financial planning, controls and reporting.
• Encourage innovation, organisational development and positive cultural leadership across all teams.
• Represent OA externally, building partnerships and promoting awareness of our research and impact.
• Contribute to sector leadership and advance the practice of commercial archaeology.

About You

We are seeking an experienced organisational leader with the ability to operate confidently at executive and board level. You will bring a track record of strategic delivery, organisational development and sound financial stewardship, ideally gained in complex, multidisciplinary environments.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience as a CEO or as a senior and influential member of an executive team.
• Evidence of contributing to strong executive performance and constructive board relationships.
• Experience leading strategic change and responding to organisational challenges.
• Strong financial acumen and experience working effectively with a Finance Director.
• Successful leadership of negotiations or major partnerships.
• Ability to think strategically across commercial, academic and charitable contexts.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to motivate large specialist teams.

Experience in archaeology or heritage is desirable but not essential. Candidates from outside the sector are welcome, provided they bring strong commercial leadership experience and can demonstrate clear motivation and alignment with OA's charitable mission.

Terms

This is a permanent, full-time appointment. Salary and benefits will reflect the seniority of the role and the scale of the organisation.

Oxford Archaeology is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who share our commitment to advancing archaeological knowledge for the public good.

Closing date: Wednesday 15th April