Chief Executive

Kaleidoscope Plus Group; West Bromwich; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working - 3 days in the office

35 days per year (pro-rata) plus time 

Wellbeing break every week

2 volunteering days per year

Free on-site car parking

Enhanced pension contribution

Job summary

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group in West Bromwich invites applications for a senior leadership role responsible for delivering the charity's strategy and ensuring financial sustainability. You will report to the Board, lead a senior team, and act as the external face with commissioners, funders and partners.

This hands-on position requires strong change leadership, governance experience, and a track record in securing income and partnerships.

Qualifications

• a track record of winning new income and partnerships, particularly in the corporate, education or public sectors
• budget and P&L responsibility, including hard choices about services, contracts or costs
• experience of leading teams through change and restructuring while protecting service quality
• experience of working with a board and building relationships with commissioners and funders
• Experience of CQC-regulated or clinical services, neurodevelopmental services, or selling wellbeing services to employers would be a real advantage. No degree or professional qualification is required. We'll judge you on your experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the delivery of the strategy from day 1 and lead a senior team of five; report to the Board and be the main external face with commissioners, funders and employers.
• Turn the strategy into operating plans, keep a close grip on the finances, launch new services and lead staff through change.
• Some decisions will be hard, and you'll need to explain them honestly and ensure delivery.

Job description

Salary: up to £80,000

Location: Hope Place, West Bromwich

Closing date: November 13 2026

Interviews: Weeks commencing 23 November 2026 & 30 November 2026

About us

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group (KPG) has championed mental health and wellbeing since 1973. Our vision is to improve emotional health and transform lives across the UK.

We want everyone to have access to the emotional wellbeing support they need to lead a healthy and rewarding life. We support people living in our residential services and in the community, and we provide counselling, training and workplace wellbeing programmes. We work with individuals and organisations, and many of our services run 24/7.

Why now

Like many charities, we're working in a tough funding environment. NHS and local authority contracts are under real financial pressure, while more people than ever need mental health and wellbeing support.

Our Board has approved a three-year strategy that takes KPG in directions it has never been before. We're building a new autism and ADHD assessment service and growing our workplace wellbeing and training work with employers. We're also refocusing our counselling offer and stepping back from work that doesn't cover its costs.

The plan returns the charity to breakeven within 18 months and to surplus by year 3. We now need the right person to deliver it.

The role

You'll own the delivery of that strategy from day 1. You'll report to the Board, lead a senior team of five, and be the main external face of KPG with commissioners, funders, partners and employers.

It's a hands-on job. You'll turn the strategy into operating plans, keep a close grip on the finances, launch new services and lead staff through change. Some decisions will be hard, and you'll need to make them well and explain them honestly.

Our Chair, Dave Rogers, has been acting CEO while we developed the strategy. He'll work with you before you start and complete a full handover during your first month in the role.

About you

You'll be a senior leader (chief executive, deputy, director or equivalent) who has taken an organisation or business unit through financial pressure and back to sustainability, and can show the results. You don't have to come from the charity sector, but you'll need to understand it and care about the people we support.

We'll also be looking for:

• a track record of winning new income and partnerships, particularly in the corporate, education or public sectors
• budget and P&L responsibility, including hard choices about services, contracts or costs
• experience of leading teams through change and restructuring while protecting service quality
• experience of working with a board and building relationships with commissioners and funders
• Experience of CQC-regulated or clinical services, neurodevelopmental services, or selling wellbeing services to employers would be a real advantage. No degree or professional qualification is required. We'll judge you on your experience.

Working arrangements & benefits

• 37.5 hours a week – occasional weekend work
• Hybrid Working - 3 days in the office
• Employee Benefit Schemes
• 35 days per year (pro-rata) plus time off for your birthday
• Enhanced company pension contribution (5%)
• Wellbeing break every week to focus on your health and happiness
• Length of service holidays (up to 3 extra days)
• 2 volunteering days per year to help a cause of your choice
• Free on-site car parking
• Free suicide awareness & mental health first aid qualification

Right to Work

Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship, either now or in the future.

Disability Confident Employer

The Kaleidoscope Plus Group is a Disability Confident Committed employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know so we can support you.

Further Information

Please read the full CEO job description