Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

WILDERNESS FOUNDATION; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity organization in Chelmsford seeks a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to transform lives through nature. The ideal candidate will provide inspiring leadership, drive organizational growth, and act as the charity’s public voice. Responsibilities include strategic oversight, financial planning, and building relationships with stakeholders. Candidates should have extensive leadership experience and a passion for nature-based initiatives. This pivotal role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the realm of wellbeing, education, and conservation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at Chief Executive or equivalent senior leadership level.
• Strong strategic leadership with the ability to inspire trust and commitment.
• Demonstrable success in leading and developing organizations, ideally within the charity or social impact sector.

Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership and a clear vision aligned with the charity’s mission.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and performance to ensure long-term viability.
• Act as the principal ambassador and spokesperson for Wilderness Foundation UK.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Communication

Relationship-building

Financial acumen

Organizational development

Job description

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

About Wilderness Foundation UK

Wilderness Foundation UK is an award-winning charity dedicated to transforming lives through nature. We work with young people and adults using nature-based education, wilderness and nature-based therapy, and the conservation of wild places to support wellbeing, resilience, leadership, and long-term social change.

Rooted in evidence-based practice and delivered by experienced practitioners, our programmes reconnect people to nature and to themselves, while actively protecting wild environments for future generations. We believe that when people encounter wild nature meaningfully, lives shift and landscapes are safeguarded.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead Wilderness Foundation UK into its next chapter of impact, influence, and sustainability.

This is a pivotal leadership role for a values-driven, visionary CEO who can inspire people, shape strategy, and steward the charity’s mission with integrity and ambition. You will work closely with the Board of Trustees, senior leadership team, staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters to ensure the organisation thrives operationally, financially, and culturally.

The CEO is both the strategic compass and the public voice of the charity, holding the big picture while remaining deeply connected to the people and places at the heart of our work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision

Provide inspirational leadership and a clear, compelling vision aligned with the charity’s mission and values. Develop and deliver a long-term strategy that strengthens impact, reach, and sustainability. Lead organisational growth while safeguarding programme quality and ethos.

Organisational Leadership

Lead, motivate, and support a skilled and passionate staff team. Foster a healthy, inclusive, and high-performing organisational culture. Ensure robust governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Finance & Sustainability

Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and performance to ensure long-term viability. Drive income diversification through fundraising, partnerships, grants, and trading activity. Work closely with the Board on financial strategy and accountability.

External Relations & Advocacy

Act as the principal ambassador and spokesperson for Wilderness Foundation UK. Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, partners, commissioners, and stakeholders. Represent the charity within the nature, conservation, wellbeing, and youth sectors.

Programme & Impact Oversight

Ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based nature and wilderness programmes. Champion innovation in nature-based education and therapy. Uphold strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning to demonstrate impact.

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

Proven experience at Chief Executive or equivalent senior leadership level. Strong strategic leadership with the ability to inspire trust and commitment. Demonstrable success in leading and developing organisations, ideally within the charity or social impact sector. Sound financial acumen, including budgeting and income generation. Experience working with or alongside Boards of Trustees. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Desirable Experience

Experience in nature-based education, wilderness or nature-based therapy, conservation, wellbeing, youth work, or related fields. Fundraising and partnership development experience. Understanding of safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, or therapeutic environments.

Personal Attributes

Purpose-led, authentic, and values-driven. Visionary yet grounded, able to balance inspiration with delivery. Comfortable leading in complexity and change. Deep respect for people, nature, and the transformative power of wild places.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected and impactful organisation where nature is not a backdrop, but the catalyst for change. As CEO, you will shape lives, protect wild places, and guide a charity that stands at the intersection of wellbeing, education, and conservation.

If you are a leader who believes that nature can heal people and people can protect nature, we would love to hear from you. Contact us through Oxford HR :