Chief Executive Officer

The West House; United States; Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

West House, a respected Cumbria-based social care organisation, seeks a Chief Executive Officer to lead strategy and governance for adults and children with learning disabilities across Cumbria. With 400+ staff and ~£15 million annual income, you will shape services, partnerships and overall impact.

You will work with the Board, regulators and commissioners to drive growth, quality and sustainability, balancing commercial acumen with social purpose. Hybrid working offered.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience at Director or CEO level in a complex organisation.
• Proven track record leading growth, change or transformation.
• Experience with regulated services or income generation is advantageous.
• Ability to work effectively with boards, regulators and partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to ensure outstanding outcomes and financial sustainability.
• Engage with the Board, regulators, commissioners and external partners.
• Lead organisational growth, quality improvements and system leadership.
• Attract, develop and retain a high-performing workforce across sites.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Board liaison

Regulated care knowledge

Job description

Chief Executive Officer

Job Reference: 00001516-1

Date posted: 17 September 2026

Recruiter: West House

Location: Workington, Cumbria

Remote Working: Temporarily remote

Salary: £100,000

Sector: Children & Young People, Community Care & Hospices, Physical/Sensory Disability

Job type: Permanent

Work hours: Full Time

Job description

Chief Executive Officer

Organisation: West House

Location: Workington, Cumbria (hybrid working)

Salary: Circa £100,000 plus benefits

Relocation Support: Available for exceptional candidates

Closing Date: 14 October 2026

Requirement: Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across multiple sites

Lead one of Cumbria's most respected social care organisations.

West House is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next chapter. Supporting adults and children with learning disabilities across Cumbria, West House combines a proud 40-year history with ambitious plans for the future. With more than 400 colleagues, an annual income of approximately £15 million and a diverse portfolio of regulated services and social enterprises, this is an opportunity to lead an organisation that changes lives every day.

Working closely with the Board, you will provide strategic leadership to ensure West House continues to deliver outstanding outcomes for the people it supports while strengthening organisational performance, quality, sustainability and growth. This is a role for a visible and authentic leader who can balance commercial acumen with a deep commitment to social impact.

We are looking for an accomplished executive with significant leadership experience at Director or CEO level within a complex, CQC and Ofsted-regulated, human-centred organisation. You will have a proven track record of leading through growth, change or transformation, engaging and developing high-performing teams, and delivering sustainable improvements in quality, efficiency and organisational performance.

You will be a strategic thinker with excellent relationship-building skills, capable of working effectively with boards, regulators, commissioners, colleagues and external partners. Experience of delivering contracted regulated services, or generating unrestricted income would be advantageous, as would a strong track record of partnership working and system leadership.

In return, West House offers the opportunity to lead a highly regarded organisation with a strong reputation, committed workforce and clear sense of purpose. For the right individual, this is a chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of the people, families and communities West House serves while shaping the future of one of the region's leading care providers.

West House is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.