Chief Executive Officer

IRIS RECRUITMENT; Bangor; Hybrid; GBP 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional wildlife conservation charity in North Wales seeks a Chief Executive Officer to lead strategic initiatives and operational oversight. The successful candidate will enhance organizational effectiveness and community engagement, requiring strong leadership skills, financial acumen, and an understanding of environmental issues. The role offers a competitive salary and a relocation package.

Benefits

Discretionary relocation package

Bonus scheme up to 10%

32 days of holiday

Salary Exchange Pension

Life Assurance

Learn Welsh support

Qualifications

• Experienced senior manager with proven leadership in a financial accountable organization.
• Ability to generate and manage diverse income streams.
• Strong data and IT capabilities.
• Good public speaker with solid presentation skills.
• Understanding of ecological, conservation, and climate change issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the trust.
• Shape and implement the strategic plan and manage resources.
• Ensure governance and fundraising are effective.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and the community.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Project Management

Public speaking

Stakeholder management

Financial management

Data analysis

Understand ecological issues

Education

Degree or degree-equivalent qualification

Job description

Overview

Chief Executive Officer

Salary: Circa £75,000 + Relocation Package & Bonus

North Wales (Bangor or Aberduna office locations) – hybrid

Full time, Permanent

Closing Date: 30thSeptember 2025

Are you a visionary leader? Would you be able to enhance a compelling future for the North Wales Wildlife Trust?

These are exciting times, and we’re looking for a new CEO to join us!

We\'re keen to hear from those who can provide strategic and operational leadership that ensures the Trust fulfils its charitable objectives and delivers its mission effectively and sustainably while continuing to grow.

This includes shaping and implementing the strategic plan, managing people and resources, maintaining financial health, and building strong relationships with its membership, other stakeholders, funders, and the wider community.

You'll be ultimately responsible for the governance, fundraising, public trust and social impact of the North Wales Wildlife Trust. An important part of this role is to ensure we play our part as an active member of the federation of Wildlife Trusts to help secure wins for wildlife beyond our border.

The role will be hybrid (after settling in period) and ideally you will be based in North Wales as we office facilities available in Bangor or Aberduna. There will be regular travel to off-site meetings.

Who we are looking for

• An experienced senior manager with degree (or degree-equivalent qualification).
• Experience of organisational leadership within a financially accountable organisation, whether in the charitable, public, or private sector.
• Proven commercial strategy / business experience, with the ability to generate and manage diverse income streams, including through partnerships, grants, trading, or other business related activities.
• Experience with a wide range of stakeholders and partners and working with them to achieve programme aims.
• Strong data and IT abilities
• Good public speaker with strong presentational skills
• Excellent Project Management experience
• A strong understanding of environmental issues, with a broad overview of key aspects of ecology, conservation, agriculture, fishing, climate change and other environmental pressures.

Welsh language skills are not essential for this role but are highly desirable. We expect the successful candidate, if not already fluent, to be committed to learning Welsh and to demonstrate a strong understanding of and support for Welsh culture, which is integral to our work in land management and nature recovery.

Benefits

• Discretionary relocation package up to £10k reimbursement against receipts for moving expenses.
• Discretionary bonus scheme of up to 10% of salary per annum, based on achieving agreed long-term performance targets.
• 32 days of holiday per year, including statutory Bank Holidays, which increase by one day for each fully completed year of service up to a maximum of 38 days.
• Salary Exchange Pension (6% ER contributions – 6% EE contributions)
• Life Assurance (2x salary)
• Learn Welsh on us

Who we are:

North Wales Wildlife Trust is an independent charity and one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK to protect wildlife for the future. We are always looking for passionate, dedicated and resourceful people to join us. If you have an interest in nature conservation issues and a passion for the values of The Wildlife Trusts, we would love to hear from you!

With the support of our members and volunteers, and our funders and partners, we work to restore nature, to empower people to take action for nature, and to create a society where nature matters.

We do this by managing natural landscapes in North Wales, including over 750 hectares of land, both on and beyond our 35 nature reserves. We also work to raise awareness of and protect the important coastal waters of North Wales.

We value the connection of natural habitats, wildlife and people, and work with landholders, businesses, organisations and individuals to create, improve and connect habitats in North Wales. We also provide planning and other professional services to local authorities, businesses and individuals.