Chief Executive Officer

Sporting Equals; Coventry; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced professional to ensure compliance with legal obligations, advise on long-term strategies, and lead financial management. The candidate will enhance community engagement initiatives and build partnerships while managing risks effectively. This role requires a collaborative spirit and a commitment to equity outcomes in all aspects of the organization's operations. Join us in fostering inclusive access and promoting diverse voices within sports and community services.

Responsibilities

• Ensure full compliance with constitutional, regulatory, and legal obligations.
• Work in partnership with the Board to advise on, draft, and recommend long-term strategy.
• Embed co-design and beneficiary voice at the heart of strategic planning.
• Maintain accountability for budgets and internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements and manage conflicts of interest.
• Lead income generation across a diverse funding portfolio.
• Lead delivery of the organisation's 5-Year Strategy with measurable equity outcomes.
• Strengthen community engagement and grassroots participation programmes.
• Expand leadership pathways promoting lived experience and inclusive recruitment.
• Build respectful relationships with stakeholders across the UK.
• Represent the organisation confidently in the media and at events.
• Actively manage the Risk Register.

Job description

• Ensure full compliance with constitutional, regulatory, and legal obligations, upholding the Nolan Principles and Charity Commission guidance.
• Work in partnership with the Board to advise on, draft, and recommend long-term strategy; provide evidence-based insights to support regular review of vision, mission, and values.
• Embed co-design and beneficiary voice at the heart of strategic planning through inclusive and accessible engagement with communities, partners, and staff.

2) Financial Management & Sustainability

• Maintain accountability for budgets, internal controls, and equitable resource allocation, providing timely and accessible management information.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements (e.g., Sport England) and manage conflicts of interest transparently.
• Lead income generation across a diverse funding portfolio-including private, statutory, local authority, philanthropic and international/European sources-building values-aligned partnerships.

3) Core Strategy Delivery & Impact

• Lead delivery of the organisation's 5-Year Strategy with measurable equity outcomes, reasonable adjustments, and accessible communications.
• Strengthen community engagement and grassroots participation programmes that foster belonging, inclusive access, and (where relevant) targeted diversionary activity.
• Expand leadership pathways through, for example, the LeaderBoard Academy, promoting lived experience, inclusive recruitment, and leadership development.
• Lead, refine and grow Sporting Equals' Charter offer as a core mechanism for sector support, knowledge transfer and systemic leadership on race equity.

4) External Affairs & Communications

• Build respectful, reciprocal relationships with stakeholders across the UK, amplifying community evidence and beneficiary voice.
• Represent the organisation confidently in the media and at events, modelling inclusive language, behaviours, and values.

5) Risk, Compliance & People

• Actively manage the Risk Register, identifying and mitigating risks including governance failure, discrimination, and safeguarding, with clear escalation routes and accountability mechanisms, including safe recruitment and ongoing staff/volunteer training.