Chief Executive Officer

The Hive Avon Limited; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hive Avon Limited is seeking an ambitious and experienced Chief Executive Officer to lead our small, community-focused charity in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. You will work closely with the Board to shape strategy, strengthen partnerships and grow sustainable income.

You will balance hands-on leadership with strategic oversight, guiding staff and over 40 volunteers to deliver practical outcomes for autistic and learning disabled people, families and carers.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience at a senior level in a charitable or social sector.
• Experience building partnerships with funders, partners and Trustees.
• Track record of developing income streams and sustainable funding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation and execute the strategy with the Board.
• Grow and diversify income through funding relationships and partnerships.
• Oversee staff and volunteers and ensure effective governance and impact.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Fundraising

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

For over five decades The Hive Avon has been working across Bristol and South Gloucestershire towards achieving our vision that all people with a learning disability and autism should be included, valued and lead great lives.

We do this by providing social and educational opportunities to autistic and learning disabled adults, their families and carers, helping to reduce isolation, build new skills and promote independence.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with relevant experience of management and leadership to take our organisation forward. You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a team approach.

We believe that ethics and attitude are equally as important as knowledge and we are looking for someone who wants to make a real difference to people's lives.

This is an opportunity to lead a small, local organisation with tangible human impact. Working with a small, committed staff team and over 40 volunteers, you will build on strong foundations while helping The Hive Avon become more ambitious, sustainable and influential.

You will work with the Board to shape and deliver our strategy, lead and develop the organisation, strengthen our partnerships and profile and, importantly, grow and diversify our income. Developing a more consistent and sustainable funding base will be central to our next chapter.

This is a genuinely hands‑on CEO role. We are looking for someone who thrives in a small, organisation and is comfortable moving between the strategic and practical. You might be working with Trustees on future direction, developing a funding relationship, building partnerships or helping colleagues resolve an operational challenge. You will enjoy being close to the work, taking ownership and making things happen.

You may already be a CEO or be a senior leader ready to take that step. You will bring leadership experience alongside a demonstrable ability to generate income, develop partnerships and make a compelling case for support. Above all, we are looking for someone who is ambitious for our impact rather than the size of the organisation, a leader who can see what is possible and help us make it happen.