Chief Officer

Esteem Charity; Shoreham-by-Sea; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Esteem Charity seeks a Chief Officer to lead a dynamic, youth-driven organization. The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership in participatory contexts, champion youth agency, and possess strong governance and strategic capabilities. This unique opportunity calls for a visionary leader to guide Esteem into its next chapter.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in participatory, values-driven organizations.
• Experience working within a safeguarding framework.
• Demonstrated success in building strategic relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead participatory and values-driven initiatives.
• Enable board to fulfill governance responsibilities.
• Manage operations within strategic frameworks.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Decision-making

Problem-solving

Financial management

Job description

Big News from Esteem!

After 17 incredible years of growing and leading Esteem, our inspiring Chief Officer is stepping aside

Now, we're on the lookout for a bold new leader to guide us into our next chapter.

Are you someone who believes in the power of young people?

Are you ready to lead a youth-led, values-driven organisation with energy, empathy, and vision?

This is your chance to shape the future of a truly special organisation that puts youth voice and agency at the heart of everything we do.

We're recruiting our next Chief Officer – someone passionate, participatory, and ready to back young people as leaders.

Job title- Chief Officer

Accountable to- Chair of Trustees

Based at- Esteem office, Old School House, Shoreham-by-sea, with some options for flexible/hybrid working

Contract- Permanent

Hours- 37.5 hours per week (30 to 37.5 hrs per week negotiable)

Pay- £50,000 to £55,000 per annum (FTE)(Depending on experience)

ApplicationDeadline - 9am - Friday 15th August 2025

Interview date- Friday 12th September 2025

Start Date- To be confirmed

At Esteem we’re powered by young adults’ voices and ideas.

When you apply, we’ll be looking first at how your story meets the qualities in our Person Specification and Recruitment Pack.

The everyday Chief-Officer duties set out by the Charity Commission and NCVO still matter; we’ve adapted them below so you can see exactly how they translate into Esteem’s participatory, values-driven context.

If you’re excited by collaborative leadership, shared power and championing youth agency, we’d love to hear from you.

The incoming Chief Officer will be joining Esteem at a pivotal time of consolidation and potential growth, with opportunities and challenges that require both visionary and pragmatic leadership.

What success looks like

• Dynamic, inspiring, and truly participatory leadership, nurturing Esteem's unique ethos and facilitating young adults and staff as co-creators in the organisation's mission and future, while upholding the strategic and governance frameworks set by the board of trustees.
• Together with the chair, enable the board of trustees to fulfil its duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of Esteem and to ensure that the board receives timely advice and appropriate information on all relevant matters

How you’ll make it happen

To provide facilitative leadership to Esteem, working collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team, and to be responsible for the management and administration of Esteem within the strategic and accountability frameworks laid down by the board of trustees and the Charity Commission.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Lead with purpose and a strengths-based approach
• Make things work day-to-day
• Steward our resources and risk
• Connect our community, inside and out
• Safeguard Esteem’s integrity
• Shape the future together
• Champion good governance
• Board Collaboration

Full Job description is available at https://esteem.org.uk/esteem-jobs-board/

Person Specification

Esteem is a special organisation and we need a special individual to help us take it forward into the future. The role requires a deep respect for youth agency and a commitment to enabling young people as leaders within Esteem.

This person specification outlines the essential qualities we require for the Chief Officer role. We will use these criteria at different stages of the recruitment process on your completed Application (A);at Interview (I) and in some instances through an Exercise (E) or Presentation (P).

Essential Criteria

Experience:

1. Proven leadership experience within a participatory, values-driven organisation. (A, I)
2. Demonstrated success in building and maintaining high-quality strategic relationships with funders, stakeholders, and partners, including high-net-worth individuals. (A, I)
3. Experience of working within a safeguarding framework, with a thorough understanding of best practices and legislative requirements as part of a contextual safeguarding approach. (A)
4. Experience leading or managing a multidisciplinary team of staff and volunteers. (A)

Skills and Abilities:

1. Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, combined with strategic thinking (A, I, E).
2. Ability to lead collaboratively, enabling young adults and staff to exercise agency and co-create solutions and contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s mission. (A, I)
3. Knowledge of organisational governance and collaborative strategic planning in a small-to-medium-sized organisation. (A, I)
4. Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and foster an intentional environment which promotes a work-life balance. (A)
5. Skilled in managing transitions and change, ensuring stability while fostering collective agility, innovation and growth. (A)
6. Strong financial management and analytical skills, understands the income & expenditures statement, balance sheet, forecasting and cashflow (A, I, E).
7. Values and Leadership Style:
8. A fundamental commitment to Esteem’s values and participatory approach. (A, I)
9. A strong commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and to promoting an organisational culture of trust, respect and belonging. (A, I)
10. A foundational understanding of the importance of wellbeing for all in the organisation.(A, I)
11. Open to feedback and reflective practice, with a strong commitment to personal and organisational learning. (A)
12. A collaborative and facilitative leadership style that builds consensus and nurtures relationships across the organisation.(A, I)

Desirable

1. Familiarity with a range of program delivery methods, digital engagement strategies and online platforms that promote inclusion and remove barriers to participation for young adults, and foster community building and organisational strengthening. (A)
2. Knowledge of diverse impact measurement and evaluation methodologies, particularly relevant to young adult development programs.(A)
3. Advanced facilitation skills for engaging diverse groups, including young adults, in co-creative processes and discussions.(A, E)
4. Experience in writing successful grant applications and developing compelling funding proposals. (A)
5. Experience of challenges faced by young people and underrepresented groups is highly valued (A,I)

How to apply - If you would like to apply for this position, please visit our jobs page https://esteem.org.uk/esteem-jobs-board/ to view the full Recruitment Pack.

Contained within the recruitment pack is a downloadable application form, job description and person specification. Send the completed application with your CV to [e-mail]

Please let us know if you would prefer to submit your application in another way, such as a video presentation.

When you apply, we’ll be looking first at how your story meets the qualities in our Person Specification and Recruitment Pack