Chief Executive

Overview:

Stema (Charity No 1204510) is seeking an experienced CEO for our charity pioneering disruptive approaches to global health and sustainable development. The CEO will report directly to our trustees, growing our small and dynamic global team, driving Stema forwards by expanding and diversifying our funding sources, and developing innovative research and products.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation, with:

• Experience as a charity CEO; or

• Experience at a director-level position in global health or related field, with fundraising experience and professional qualifications such as an MBA. 

About Stema:

Stema is a small Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) founded to advance the education of the public in the field of global health. Our research centres upon community health, positive health, participatory methods and agentic approaches. Our mission is to catalyse positive disruptions in the field of global health through publishing research and developing tools and partnerships. We are a small, international team of academics, entrepreneurs and development professionals. 

Our focus over the last year has been developing alternative approaches to community health and sustainable development, leading to the development of the concept of community positive health and creation of an index to measure community positive health. Our approach is informed by extensive participatory fieldwork in low-resource settings around the world, for example Kenya, Peru and Sierra Leone. Our work is supported by rigorous scientific research in partnership with leading academic institutions, NGOs and in-country research institutions, for example University College London, Oregon State University, and Safe Water and Aids Project. 

Stema has been backed by a single funding source to date. We are now looking to expand and diversify our revenue streams, providing an exciting opportunity for the CEO to develop and implement a sustainable fundraising strategy. We envisage that: (i) fundraising and (ii) the potential development and commercialisation of tools and technologies linked to our research may be pathways towards a sustainable business model that is consistent with our charitable objectives - but the ultimate strategy will be formed by the CEO.

As part of a fundraising strategy, the successful candidate will develop impact metrics that communicate the value of Stema’s work to potential donors - for example, by tying our impact to the Sustainable Development Goals, which will be familiar to funders. We might communicate our impact in relation to the following goals, but the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape, adapt and refine these goals.

• Improving health and concepts of health in developing and underserved settings

• Improving education and livelihoods in developing and underserved settings

• Facilitating technologies and positive disruptions 

• Protecting and restoring biodiversity

These contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals: Goals 3 (Good health and wellbeing), 10 (Reduce inequalities), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), 13 (Climate action), 15 (Life on the land), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong institutions). Stema aims to complement these existing paradigms while pushing the boundaries with novel approaches to leverage positive disruptions in global health. 

Stema is an equal opportunities employer, and encourages all candidates who are passionate about driving positive change and possess the necessary skills and experience to apply for this exciting opportunity to join our team.

Key Objectives:

• Secure fundraising and revenue streams to ensure financial sustainability and resilience.

• Produce innovative outputs, for example, technology competitions / AI hackathons for global health; or digital tools based on the application of Stema research / concepts.

Responsibilities:

• Formulate a sustainable business strategy to guide the charity’s growth and impact.

• Cultivate innovative partnerships with other NGOs, academic institutions, and key stakeholders.

• Lead and manage our small international team of academics, researchers, and innovators.

• Enhance Stema's visibility across various platforms, with a focus on academic publications and a strengthened presence on social media.

• Cultivate a positive, supportive, and dynamic work environment.

• Ensure strict adherence to all reporting requirements mandated by the Charity Commission.

• Provide comprehensive reports to the charity's trustees and collaborate closely with them to uphold Stema's good governance standards.

Essential Skills:

• Experience as a CEO, ideally at a charity or not-for-profit, with commercial and fundraising experience and a strong interest in global health or research; or

•  Extensive experience at a director-level position in global health or a related field, with client-facing and fundraising experience and professional qualifications such as an MBA. 

• 5 years fundraising experience and a track record of successful resource mobilisation for social impact.

• A minimum of 5 years of experience managing teams at a senior level.

• Ability to build and maintain relationships with potential partners, donors and investors.

• Familiarity with global health, development, and sustainability research and experience working in diverse community contexts globally.

Why Join Us?

• You agree with the intention of the SDGs but believe they could be disrupted too.

• You believe in research and action; academia that can be leveraged with technology and scaled in competitive environments.

• You want to take on a leadership role where your decisions and actions directly shape the charity's success and impact.

• You want to make a tangible difference by shaping an organisation that is driving positive change in low-resource communities around the world.

• You thrive in a creative and dynamic work environment and want to join a passionate international team dedicated to making a difference and fostering innovation.

Salary: 

• £70,000 per year 

• Learning and development allowance of £1,500 per year 

Location: 

• London preferred 

• We support a hybrid working style, with most of the team working in the office, based in Holborn, 2-3 days per week