Chief Executive Officer

Charity People; Ferring; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Safe in Sussex is seeking a transformational Chief Executive to lead a West Sussex charity through an important transition. The role is hybrid (3 days onsite) in Ferring, with a salary in the region of £55,000 and a 37-hour week.

You will provide strategic, compassionate leadership to staff, trustees and partners, shape the organisation's next chapter, and ensure services remain safe, trauma-informed and survivor-centred while guiding financial planning and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a charity, public service or values-led organisation.
• Experience of leading organisational change, development or cultural transformation.
• Strong safeguarding, risk management and trauma-informed leadership knowledge.
• Financial leadership experience, including budgeting, planning and sustainability.
• Understanding of income generation, commissioning, funding or fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Shape the next organisational chapter.
• Strengthen leadership capacity and create sustainable structures for the future.
• Ensure services remain safe, trauma-informed and survivor-centred.
• Oversee financial planning, income generation and long-term sustainability.
• Lead with empathy, accountability and external representation.
• Represent the charity externally and strengthen relationships.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Organisational change

Trauma-informed leadership

Financial leadership

Fundraising / income generation

Job description

Chief Executive Officer – Safe in Sussex

Location: Ferring, West Sussex | Hybrid – 3 days onsite
Salary: In the region of £55,000
Hours: 37 hours per week (a nine-day fortnight may be considered)
Type: Full-time

About Safe in Sussex

Safe in Sussex is a specialist domestic abuse charity helping its service users live free from abuse and fear. For almost 50 years, the organisation has provided refuge accommodation, community-based support and trauma-informed services across West Sussex. The charity operates within the wider Women's Aid network and remains committed to providing a safe space for those in need.

As the charity approaches its 50th anniversary and prepares for the retirement of its long-serving CEO, Safe in Sussex is entering an important new chapter. Financially stable, with strong local partnerships, the organisation is well positioned for its next phase of development and impact.

This is a chance to lead a respected organisation during a period of transition, helping to shape its future while building on a legacy of compassion, resilience and life-changing support.

What You Can Look Forward To

As Chief Executive, you will provide strategic, compassionate and accountable leadership to the charity while working closely with staff, trustees, service users, partners, funders and commissioners.

You will:

• Shape the next organisational chapter
• Strengthen leadership capacity, support cultural evolution and create sustainable structures for the future.
• Ensure services remain safe, trauma-informed, survivor-centred and responsive to need.
• Oversee financial planning, income generation and long-term sustainability.
• Lead with empathy and accountability
• Represent the charity externally and strengthen relationships

About You

We are seeking a strong and values-led leader who combines emotional intelligence, strategic thinking and operational credibility.

Skills and Experience

• Senior leadership experience in a charity, public service or other values-led organisation
• Experience of leading organisational change, development or cultural transformation.
• Strong safeguarding, risk management and trauma-informed leadership knowledge.
• Financial leadership experience, including budgeting, planning and organisational sustainability.
• Understanding of income generation, commissioning, funding or fundraising.

Personal Attributes

• Deep commitment to the safety and empowerment of service users.
• Compassionate, resilient and emotionally intelligent.
• Able to balance empathy with challenge and accountability.
• Strategic, thoughtful and future-focused.
• A strong communicator with credibility across diverse audiences.
• Comfortable operating through complexity, ambiguity and change.
• Committed to visible, long-term leadership within West Sussex and the surrounding area.

You May Not Tick Every Box

If this opportunity excites you, but you are not sure that you meet every criterion, we would still love to hear from you. We are interested in your potential, experience, perspective and commitment to our mission, not simply a perfect match against a checklist.

Occupational Requirement

Because of the nature and context of the role and, as some of Safe in Sussex's safe spaces are women-only, this post is only open to women. This is an occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Recruitment Timeline

To ensure equitable access to information and support an inclusive recruitment process, Safe in Sussex will host a candidate Q&A webinar in place of individual informal discussions. We encourage all interested candidates to submit questions in advance, which will be addressed during the session. Please register your interest in attending this webinar on Tuesday 22nd September 2026 6-7pm and we will send you a link.

Application Deadline: 5pm, Friday 2 October 2026
First interview: w/c 2nd November
Second Interview: w/c 9th November

Safe in Sussex welcomes applications from women of all backgrounds and particularly encourages applications from those whose perspectives are currently underrepresented in charity leadership.