Chief Executive Officer

The Brilliant Club; England; Hybrid; GBP 101,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in England is looking for a Chief Executive Officer to lead its next strategic phase. The ideal candidate should have exceptional ambassadorial skills, strong charity governance, and management experience. This role demands empathetic leadership to drive the mission of providing equal opportunities for every child, regardless of background. The salary ranges from £101,514 to £114,854 plus London weighting for London-based candidates. The closing date for applications is 23rd January 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience in charity governance and management.
• Exceptional ambassadorial skills.
• Empathetic and decisive leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Guide the organization into the next strategic period.
• Identify new funding and partnership opportunities.
• Inspire others to unite behind a shared vision.

Skills

Ambassadorial skills

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership style

Charity governance

Management experience

Job description

Chief Executive Officer

Location: Hybrid; London

Salary: £101,514 - £114,854 (plus £2,000 London weighting for those living in London and
within the M25)

Closing Date: Friday 23rd January 2026

In the UK today, where you are born and your family income are still the strongest predictors of the career you will have, how much you will earn and your future health and happiness. Attending a leading university is the most effective way of opening up opportunity, but it is a route too often out of reach. This is fundamentally unfair to young people and detrimental to society as a whole.

At The Brilliant Club, we are mobilising the PhD community to create a society where every child has a fair chance to unlock their brilliance, regardless of where or how they grow up, and where positions of influence are open to everyone, not just the most advantaged. As we approach the end of our five‑year strategy, Join the Club, we are seeking a bold, insightful, and committed CEO to guide us into our next strategic period as we look to significantly expand our reach and impact.

The ideal candidate will bring fresh vision and constructive challenge, with an enterprising mindset and ability to identify new funding and partnership opportunities. You will have exceptional ambassadorial and stakeholder engagement skills, underpinned by strong charity governance and management experience. You will also bring an authentic, empathetic, and decisive leadership style that inspires others to unite behind a shared vision and purpose.

Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our commitment to creating a society in which every child has a fair chance to unlock their brilliance, regardless of background. While an understanding of education policy and the social mobility landscape would be valuable, we warmly welcome leaders who bring transferable skills, energy, and drive from across the wider sector.

If you think that you have the skills and expertise to work alongside an experienced Executive Leadership Team and Board of Trustees, building on the charity's reputation and commitment to evaluation, we look forward to receiving your application.

We are supported by Tall Roots for the search for our new CEO. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact . To download a full candidate pack and to apply, please visit Tall Roots.