Chief Executive Officer

Air Ambulances UK; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A national charity organization in the UK is seeking an experienced charity leader to manage and support their membership base. This role involves strategic thinking, influencing senior stakeholders, and building relationships within a diverse community to ensure the organization's mission is effective and impactful. Strong candidates will have experience in income generation and partnership building.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or managing membership organisations.
• Strategic thinker who can influence senior levels.
• Relational leadership with focus on consultation and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage membership organisations.
• Build trusted relationships across stakeholders.
• Secure national partnerships that deliver value.

Skills

Leading or managing membership organisations

Influencing at senior levels

Building trusted relationships

Relational leadership style

Understanding of income generation

Job description

Overview

Air Ambulances UK is the national charity and membership body supporting and championing the lifesaving work of the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities. Every day, air ambulance crews across the country deliver critical care to people when they need it most, and our role is to ensure that these services continue to thrive and grow for the benefit of patients.

Air Ambulances UK is unique. We bring together independent charities with a shared mission: to save lives. We act as their national voice, building partnerships, securing significant income, and advocating with government and other stakeholders to ensure the sector is recognised, supported and sustainable. Our role is one of leadership and service, championing the sector while ensuring the voice of every member is heard.

Role and impact

We are now looking for an experienced charity leader who understands the dynamics of membership organisations and the balance between leading and serving. You will be strategic and collaborative, able to influence at the highest levels while also building trusted relationships across a diverse community of stakeholders.

You will join a strong and committed team dedicated to delivering our mission. Low-ego and highly relational, you will place consultation and engagement at the heart of your approach, both internally and externally. Alongside this, you will bring an understanding of income generation, not necessarily as a fundraiser yourself, but as someone who knows how to secure national partnerships that deliver real value to our members and the patients they serve.

This role will suit a leader who listens as well as leads, who is motivated by making a difference for the sector rather than personal profile, and who can represent Air Ambulances UK with credibility and confidence. This is an exciting role with the opportunity to achieve significant impact across a critically important and complex sector.

What you will bring

• Experience leading or managing membership organisations and balancing governance with serving the needs of a diverse member base.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to influence at senior levels and build trusted relationships across stakeholders, including government and partner organisations.
• Relational leadership style with a focus on consultation, collaboration, and low ego.
• Understanding of income generation and experience in securing national partnerships that deliver value to members and the patients they serve.

How to apply

If you share our passion for saving lives and believe you can help us strengthen and champion this extraordinary sector, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Closing date: Friday 17th October 2025