Chief Executive Officer

Community Energy England; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A vibrant non-profit organization in the UK is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead its mission of community empowerment and sustainable energy transition. The ideal candidate will have significant senior leadership experience within a mission-driven organization, strong relationship-building skills, and a track record of generating income through grants and partnerships. This role offers the chance to shape the future of community-led action across the UK, with flexible home-based arrangements and the opportunity to travel for client meetings.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience within a mission-led, non-profit organization.
• Proven success generating income through grants, partnerships, or fundraising.
• Experience influencing policy at regional or national level.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational direction for the organization.
• Grow and engage the membership base.
• Lead fundraising efforts and securing income streams.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Financial management

Relationship-building

Public representation

Job description

Chief Executive Officer – Community Energy England

Closing Date for applications : Friday 19 December 2025

Disrupt Recruitment & Search are proud to have been retained by Community Energy England (CEE) to lead on this exciting Executive Search mandate to secure their next CEO!

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead Community Energy England (CEE) forward with a renewed vison & strategy that will engage and Impact current and future members, society and the planet!

About CEE

Community Energy England (CEE) is a membership association for and created by the community energy sector. We are a UK based, Not-for-Profit business and are looking to hire an inspiring, values-driven Leader to step into this transformative CEO role.

Our mission is to create the conditions within which community energy is able to thrive and scale.

We have a growing network of over 320 member organisations, including community energy enterprises and other supportive organisations from the private and public sectors, and we work with a wide range of other associations and networks.

We are a small team but with an increasingly big reach and growing impact as we work with our members and key stakeholders to enable the growth of the sector. With this small core size comes flexibility and the opportunity for all team members to shape the direction of the organisation and get involved in all levels of delivery.

We have four outcomes that we are working towards

• Enable: Community energy organisations across England have access to the resources, support and skills needed to grow in capacity, scale and impact
• Influence: The policy and regulatory environment supports significant growth of community energy
• Collaborate: There is increased demand, both regionally and nationally, for collaborating and investing in community energy
• Thrive: Community Energy England is a strong and sustainable organisation that can serve the community energy sector into the future

Whether you're an experienced Chief Executive looking for your next meaningful challenge, or a senior leader ready to take the step into your first CEO position, this is your chance to shape the future of a high-impact, mission-led organisation driving community-led action across the UK.

This organisation sits at the heart of a growing national membership movement and as CEO, you will lead that movement—strengthening the organisation, amplifying its influence, and unlocking greater opportunities for communities to take the lead in local solutions.

If you want to use your leadership to create a legacy and deliver real change; this role offers the platform, purpose, and autonomy to do exactly that!

The Role

The CEO will provide strategic leadership, operational direction, and national representation for the organisation. You will steer the delivery of a new multi-year strategy, grow and engage the membership base, strengthen financial sustainability, and ensure the organisation has the influence and credibility to champion itself at the highest levels.

This is a role with genuine purpose, impact, and visibility requiring:

Strategic Leadership (Business & Culture)

• Drive the organisation’s strategic direction, ensuring clear priorities and measurable impact
• Build a thriving, collaborative, empowered culture
• Work closely with the Board to ensure strong governance, compliance, and long-term stability

Membership Growth & Engagement

• Enhance value for members and strengthen their collective voice
• Lead initiatives to expand, diversify, and deepen sector engagement
• Oversee communications, insights, events, and community-building activities

Policy, Advocacy & External Affairs

• Be a credible, influential voice nationally and regionally
• Lead policy engagement, briefings, and evidence-based advocacy
• Build strong relationships with government, regulators, industry, and partner organisations

Fundraising & Financial Leadership

• Develop long-term financial plans and income streams
• Secure funding through grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and membership income
• Build relationships with trusts, foundations, and philanthropic partners

Operational Excellence

• Oversee organisational finances, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting
• Ensure operational systems are efficient, scalable, and fit for the future
• Lead performance monitoring and project delivery

Essential Skills & Experience

• Energy, enthusiasm, engagement and influence to achieve something amazing!
• Significant senior leadership experience within a mission-led, non-profit, membership, or community-focused organisation
• Proven success generating income through grants, partnerships, or fundraising
• Confidence in representing an organisation publicly including media, speaking engagements, and policy environments
• Strong financial and operational management capability
• Experience leading and developing small teams with an empowering, inclusive style
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to turn plans into action
• Relationship-building skills across government, industry, partners, and community groups
• Experience influencing policy at a regional or national level (desirable)
• Understanding of energy, sustainability, community empowerment, or social enterprise (desirable but not essential)

Personal Qualities

• Dynamic, proactive, and comfortable leading in a fast-moving environment
• Collaborative and relational, able to bring people together around a shared mission
• Credible and confident in public, policy, and partnership settings
• Passionate about community empowerment, climate action, and social justice
• Resilient, resourceful, and solutions-focused

Values & Behaviours

• We value diverse perspectives and believe that ideas and solutions are best achieved through cooperation among community members, stakeholders, and experts.
• Our work is informed by the insight and experience of our members and we aim to use our knowledge in the most efficient way.
• We remain open to new opportunities, to being bold, and to leading the way, ensuring that we set our direction to best enable the growth of Community Energy England.
• We thrive by working with other UK associations and networks across the Energy, Climate, Co-operative and Social Enterprise sectors.
• We are committed to finding the best person with the ability to deliver the needs of this role, our employees, our communities and our members, regardless of any protected characteristic, disability or learning difference.
• We are proud to provide an inclusive selection process and encourage you to disclose any reasonable adjustments needed with your application.

Key Details

• Role : Chief Executive Officer
• Location : UK Home based with willingness and flexibility to travel / attend client meetings (Major Cities including London)
• Contract : Permanent
• Hours : Full-time Monday to Friday

Why This Role Matters

This is more than a CEO job.

It’s a chance to shape the future of a national movement, strengthen community power, and accelerate the transition to a fairer system.

You will be leading an organisation with purpose at its core and huge potential for growth, impact, and influence.

All enquiries / Interest to be directed to our Retained Search Partner :

Paul Baker -Director at Disrupt Search

Email : [e-mail]