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SalaryAbout the role
Aspire is a dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking organisation, at the forefront of tackling some of the most complex social issues that our community is facing, including the cost-of-living crisis.
We are seeking to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to take over from Paul Roberts, who, after for seven years leading Aspire Oxfordshire is moving to a national role in another organisation.
To achieve our social mission in these challenging times, we are looking for a leader who will work closely and collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Board of Trustees (Board). An excellent communicator and relationship builder, your leadership will shape our strategic direction, ensuring our services remain person-centred and responsive to the evolving needs of our community. You will also be a strong people leader who can navigate organisational change, nurture and develop relationships with our many stakeholders and partners, and inspire and empower our team to deliver excellence, every day.
To thrive in this role, you'll need a demonstrable track record of senior leadership in an employment development, supported housing & homelessness or directly comparable field.
Main Purpose of the Job
The CEO is responsible for providing leadership for Aspire’s continuing success and to improve its organisational resilience, working closely and collaboratively with the Board and the SLT. You will lead the strategic planning and delivery, general management and performance of Aspire, with a team of c. 60 employees and an estimated annual turnover of £2.8m, ensuring the organisation can provide effective, holistic person-centred support to people facing significant barriers or disadvantage to securing employment and independent living, including through strong partnerships with like-minded organisations.
Key tasks
Key tasks are intended to be a guide to the range and level of work expected of the job holder. This is not an exhaustive list of all tasks and the post holder will be expected to carry out such other reasonable duties which may be required from time to time.
Strategic leadership & development
Work with the Board and Senior Leadership Team to develop then lead on the delivery of the Aspire multi-year strategy, including the ongoing co-production during 2024 of a new multi-year strategy to 2027. Horizon scan for external environmental challenges and forward plan for responsive delivery scenarios.
Deliver the Aspire strategy effectively with a two-fold approach: empower a capable, resilient senior leadership team (C-suite) and further develop and empower senior and middle managers at Aspire; and oversee investment to enhance systems so that the team is better able to support clients and staff and responsibility can be delegated as appropriate within fit-for-purpose infrastructure.
Lead Aspire to respond effectively to the environmental sustainability and inclusive economy agendas and to continue embedding equity, equality, diversity and inclusion approaches into its workplace.
Develop further Aspire’s delivery role to help realise ‘system change’ upstream, of a more inclusive and sustainable economy, including through encouraging community wealth building and a more regenerative and distributive local economy model.
Maintain regular contact with the Chair and the wider Board of Trustees to facilitate full engagement of the Board and derive maximum benefit from individual and collective Trustees’ experience and connections.
Effective people leadership
Support leadership team and senior fundraiser colleagues to set and meet their professional development & personal objectives, aligned with Aspire’s organisational strategy, contractual requirements and commitment to flexible working and maintaining a healthy work/life balance while delivering against business need.
Effective delivery of charitable programmes
Forge strong, positive relationships – including through alliances and partnerships and alongside our Senior Fundraiser and Chief Programmes Officer (CPO) – with representatives from our service commissioners, statutory partners, key donors/trusts and senior stakeholders for the effective delivery of our charitable programmes, including meeting stipulated funding commitments and performance targets.
Work with the CPO and Senior Managers to build the capacity, range and quality of Aspire’s charitable programmes provision in our strategic priority areas to help ensure we retain contracts in coming years and make the most of emerging opportunities, whilst ensuring our activities focus around our core mission. Support the CPO to strengthen our charitable project data insight, opportunity assessment, lived experience participation and management framework.
Embedding new funding streams and priority project development areas
Identify and develop income-generating activities to strengthen the charity’s financial resilience and carry forward the business development for Aspire’s expanded housing activity, including evaluating and, if appropriate, securing Registered Provider status for Aspire.
Work with the Senior Fundraiser proactively to seek out continuity and expansion funding for our strategic priority charitable programmes.
Compliance
With the Board and SLT, particularly the Chief Operating Officer (COO), ensure Aspire meets all its organisational compliance requirements with respect to existing, and new programmes.
External relationships and brand
Leverage external relationships and brand to support our fundraising strategy, notably any matched fundraising campaign, keeping abreast of stakeholder perceptions and ensure it links to our strategic objectives.
Protect and grow Aspire’s brand and reputation including as an innovative, enterprising, problem-solving organisation including through articulating and implementing a strategic communications plan, representing Aspire at high profile events and initiatives.
Please email your CV and covering letter to William Powlett Smith, Chair of Trustees, to the email address provided by Fridat 28th June 2024.
