Chief Executive Officer

RSPCA LLYS NINI; Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animal welfare charity in Wales seeks a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to drive their mission forward. The ideal candidate will lead the charity's strategic direction, manage a dedicated team, and ensure sustained operational effectiveness. This role requires strong leadership, financial expertise, and exceptional communication skills. The position offers a competitive salary between £50,000 to £60,000, with a flexible working pattern considered.

Benefits

35 days holiday including statutory holidays

Pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic leadership and organisational management.
• Experience of working with a diverse range of people.
• Experience in income generation and managing commercial operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and inspire staff and volunteers.
• Ensure sustainability and efficiency of the charity's operations.
• Develop and monitor strategies to ensure long-term viability.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Organisational management

Commercial activities

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Our ideal candidate is an individual who has a strong background in commercial and operational activities, proven experience in strategic leadership and organisational management, strong financial acumen and excellent communication skills.

About RSPCA Llys Nini

RSPCA Llys Nini (Carmarthenshire to Cardiff Branch) is affiliated with the national RSPCA but operates as an independent, self-funding charity. Over the past 25 years, thanks to the vision of its leaders and the dedication of its staff and volunteers, Llys Nini has become one of the UK’s leading animal welfare charities.

Our core mission is animal welfare, and we are proud to have rehomed more than 22,500 cats, dogs and other animals. Beyond this, we also recognise the importance of our role in the community, local economy, and environment. This wider perspective has shaped projects such as our community café, woodland trails, and low-carbon community hub.

Our Impact and Operations

• Rehoming in South Wales.
• Generating an annual income of over £2.5m, with expenditure of around £2m.
• Operating 10 shops across the branch area, which provide a vital income stream.
• Fundraising team, rental income, external grants, café and event facilities contribute significantly to sustainability.
• Managing a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who are central to our success.

The Opportunity

The Board of Trustees is seeking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead Llys Nini into the next phase of its development. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference for animals, people, and the environment across South Wales.

We face the same challenges as the wider charity sector: increasing demand for services, economic uncertainty, and the need to develop sustainable income streams. We are looking for a leader who can turn these challenges into opportunities.

The Role

The new CEO will:

• Lead, manage, and inspire our staff and volunteers to deliver the charity’s vision and strategy.
• Ensure that Llys Nini remains resilient, sustainable, and fit for the future, both structurally and financially.
• Oversee all aspects of the charity’s operations, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ones across local communities, businesses, and stakeholders.
• Support and develop current income streams while identifying and securing new funding opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking an individual who can demonstrate:

• Proven experience in strategic leadership and organisational management.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills.
• A strong background in commercial and operational activities.
• The ability to inspire, empower, and unite staff, volunteers, and supporters.

Job Title

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Responsible to

The Chair and to the Board of Trustees

Reporting line

Line Manager to all senior team - Finance Manager, Animal Centre Manager, Area Shop Manager, Fundraising Manager, Ysgubor Manager

Hours of Work

35 hours per week, flexible working pattern considered

Location

Based at Animal Centre, Penllergaer, Swansea, Hybrid working can be considered.

Remuneration and conditions of service

The salary scale is between £50,000 to £60,000 full time pro rata. (Dependent on experience)

Holiday entitlement is 35 days inclusive of Statutory Holidays.

Pension.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

Must abide with the ethics of the RSPCA.

Job purpose Summary:

To be the organisation’s lead professional, leading on strategy development and delivering the objectives of the Charity. To lead, manage and develop the staff teams in order to meet the organisation’s strategic objectives and ensure its sustainability.

Accountable to the Board of Trustees and acting as the interface between employees, volunteers, and other partners with the shared aim of delivering upon the Branch’s charitable objectives.

Main responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision, leadership, direction and management in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, employees, RSPCA, and relevant stakeholders.
• Lead on strategy development, business planning and financial planning in partnership with the Board of Trustees and Finance Manager.
• Develop and monitor strategies and policies to ensure the long term viability of the organisation, including care and maintenance of the land and buildings.

2. Governance

• Support the Board of Trustees in the responsibilities to ensure robust governance structures.
• Alongside the board, taking responsibility for the legal obligations of the organisations in accordance with the RSPCA and Charity Commission rules.

3. Financial & Resource management

• Develop a funding strategy that explores implements and maintains short- and long-term funding options.
• Develop appropriate partnerships with other local charities and organisations.
• Working with the Finance Manager, preparation and oversight of resources and investments.
• Identify and manage risks within the organisation, ensuring appropriate controls are in place.

4. Partnership relationships and management

• Build strong and strategic relationships and alliances with the RSPCA and local organisations within the community.

5. Operation Management

• Provide value driven leadership, support and professional development across the organisation, including performance review processes.
• Monitor and review the organisational structure, performance and quality of the services provided to the public in all areas.
• Ensure all policies are up to date and relevant.
• Acting as on the safeguarding leads for the Charity, manage the concerns from staff, customers and visitors, in line with the policy and procedures.
• Promote the importance of the Welsh Language and culture, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and acting as a role model for the inclusive values of the Branch.

6. People Management

• Effectively line manage the senior staff.
• Encourage a culture and ethos of consultative and collaborative working throughout the organisation.
• Position the Branch as an employer of choice.
• Maintain effective relationship with Trustees.

7. Other

• Promote the work of Llys Nini where appropriate.
• Carry out any other work or duties that are reasonably requested

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience (Essential)

Experience

• A proven record of strategic leadership and operation management (Essential)
• Experience of working with people of a wide range of backgrounds.(Essential)
• Experience in running commercial operations, managing budgets and resources, income generation. (Essential)
• An understanding of Charity Law and expectations from the Charity Commission.(Desirable)
• Experience in grant applications and funding (Desirable)
• Experience in HR (Desirable)

Essential skills:

• Financial and commercial business acumen including devising and managing income streams.
• Ability to innovate.
• Ability to lead and manage staff.
• Good communication skills to be able to work with and report to the Board of Trustees, staff and partnerships.
• A strong sense of responsibility and accountability.
• Ability to negotiate.

Desirable skills:

• Communicate through the medium of Welsh.

Values

• Compassionate – we care about the lives of animals and have empathy for people.
• Inspirational – we take the lead and speak up for others.
• Committed – we are committed to giving animals better lives and people better opportunities.
• Integrity – we are honest and trustworthy

How to apply:

Please forward your CV together with a covering letter, (no more than 2 pages of A4) highlighting your suitability for the job role.

We will interview people who can show in their covering letter that they meet the Essential qualities in the Person specification as well as considering the competencies. We will use the interview and assessment process to establish if the candidates have both the necessary essential qualities and competencies. References from suitable sources, including current employer, is essential prior to contract being issued.

The successful candidate will be dynamic, have a track record of achievements, be prepared to be hands on and be a self-starter, have a flexible approach, be passionate and ambitious for the positive impact of RSPCA Llys Nini in the local community.

Closing date for applications: 31 October 2025

Interview dates:

Online assessment via Teams - w/c 10 November 2025

In person interviews – w/c 17 November 2025