Chief Executive Officer

Castlefield Recruitment Limited; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

William Merritt Disabled Living Centre in Leeds seeks a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next phase of development and growth. The role reports to the Board of Trustees and shapes strategy, governance, and impact for service users.

You will oversee financial sustainability, income generation, partnerships with NHS and local authorities, and drive innovation while maintaining a client-centred approach.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience within charity, social enterprise, health, or related sectors.
• Track record of growth, sustainability and transformation.
• Experience working with Boards/Trustees and governance understanding.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen with responsibility for budgets and income generation.
• Commitment to inclusion and improving outcomes for people with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible, values-led leadership across the organisation.
• Develop and deliver the organisation's vision, mission and strategic objectives.
• Ensure governance, compliance and risk management.
• Lead financial sustainability, commercial development and income generation.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture.
• Strengthen relationships with commissioners, funders and stakeholders.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across services.
• Act as ambassador for the organisation locally, regionally and nationally.
• Support and develop the Senior Management Team to deliver outcomes.
• Ensure services remain client-centred and accessible.

Skills

Senior leadership

Governance

Financial acumen

Partnerships

Job description

William Merritt Disabled Living Centre is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next phase of development and growth.

For more than 40 years, William Merritt Disabled Living Centre has been helping people with a disability or long-term condition achieve greater independence and improve their quality of life. As a registered charity and social enterprise, the organisation combines a strong social purpose with a commercially minded approach, ensuring that every pound generated is reinvested into supporting the people and communities it serves.

The William Merritt Centre has built an outstanding reputation through its specialist mobility and driving assessment services, independent living assessments, Shopmobility provision and innovative use of assistive technology. Working in partnership with the NHS, local authorities, the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility and other key stakeholders, the Centre continues to make a lasting difference to the lives of people with disabilities across the region and beyond.

Following a period of significant growth, expanded services and increased reach, the new CEO will be someone who can build on these strong foundations and lead the organisation through its next phase of development.

The Opportunity

As Chief Executive Officer, you will work closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team to provide strategic leadership, ensure long-term sustainability and deliver meaningful impact for service users.

You will inherit an organisation with a proud history, an outstanding reputation, established services and ambitious plans for the future. The next chapter will focus on strengthening governance and organisational infrastructure, enhancing commercial and income generation capability, making effective use of technology and data, and ensuring the organisation has the people, systems and processes required to support a sustainable and ambitious future.

As CEO, you will be accountable to the Board of Trustees for the leadership, strategic direction, financial sustainability, governance and performance of the organisation. You will provide visible, values-led leadership, ensuring services remain high quality, inclusive and client-centred, while helping to develop the leadership capacity, organisational resilience and commercial capability needed for the future.

This is an opportunity not only to lead a successful charity and social enterprise, but to shape its future direction and influence the lives of thousands of people who rely on its services.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visible, values-led leadership across the organisation.
• Develop and deliver the organisation's vision, mission and strategic objectives.
• Ensure the highest standards of governance, compliance and risk management.
• Lead financial sustainability, commercial development and income generation.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative organisational culture.
• Strengthen relationships with commissioners, funders, partners and stakeholders.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across all services.
• Act as the principal ambassador for the organisation locally, regionally and nationally.
• Support and develop the Senior Management Team to deliver exceptional outcomes.
• Ensure services remain client-centred, accessible and focused on improving independence and quality of life.

About You

We are seeking an inspiring and commercially minded leader who combines strategic vision with operational excellence.

You will likely bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within the charity, social enterprise, health, social care, public or related sectors.
• A track record of delivering organisational growth, sustainability and transformation.
• Experience working with Boards or Trustees and a strong understanding of governance.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with responsibility for budgets, income generation and organisational sustainability.
• Experience developing productive partnerships with public sector bodies, funders and external stakeholders.
• A commitment to inclusion, equality and improving outcomes for people with disabilities and long-term conditions.
• The credibility, resilience and leadership capability to guide a complex and purpose-driven organisation through its next stage of development.

Further Information

For more information about the role, the organisation and the recruitment process, please visit our dedicated recruitment microsite:

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 11th November 2026.

Early conversations are encouraged. William Merritt Disabled Living Centre reserves the right to close the recruitment process earlier should a sufficient number of suitable applications be received.