Chief Executive Officer

The Organisation

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the leading charity for over 110,000 people in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions.

We connect our community of people living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions, and all the people around them, friends and family, healthcare professionals and scientists, so that everyone can get the healthcare, support and treatments needed to feel good, both mentally and physically.

We support people through every stage of their life, from the point of diagnosis to living the best life possible.

• We share expert advice and support people to live well now.
• We fund ground-breaking research to understand the different conditions better and lead us to new treatments.
• We work with the NHS towards universal access to specialist healthcare.
• Together, we campaign for people’s rights, better understanding, accessibility, and access to treatments.

The Role

With financial stability, diverse income streams, strong external networks and a high-quality, supportive, and constructive Senior Leadership Team, trustee board and Chair, Muscular Dystrophy UK presents a truly excellent opportunity for an experienced leader to build on the solid foundations and outstanding achievements of the organisation to date.

The Chief Executive provides overall leadership in terms of the strategic development and operational management of Muscular Dystrophy UK. The key purpose of the Chief Executive role is to inspire and lead the charity to support ground breaking research to drive the development of effective treatments and cures, to ensure access to specialist NHS care and support, to provide excellent direct services and promote opportunities to enable individuals and their families to live independently with the best possible quality of life.

The Chief Executive will ensure the charity is a high performing organisation with clear strategic objectives that engages widely and works effectively through partnerships to achieve its goals. The Chief Executive oversees and develops the financial performance of the charity which underpins the pace of strategic developments.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate should possess a multifaceted skill set with a demonstrable commitment to the vision and values of Muscular Dystrophy UK.

You must be a strategic thinker, capable of collaborating with the Board to define a clear organisational vision and effectively communicate it both internally and externally.

You should also demonstrate a mature understanding of charity governance, ensuring effective financial planning, tight controls, and risk management. You must possess high financial acumen to monitor income trends, identify areas for efficiency, and reduce costs while inspiring, motivating, and managing staff and volunteers to ensure coordinated activities across the organisation.

Additionally, you need to be an empathetic listener, with high levels of emotional intelligence, engaging a diverse group of stakeholders. You should demonstrate strong communication skills, resilience in problem-solving, and a coaching/mentoring style at all levels, while maintaining clarity, openness, and determination to achieve agreed objectives.

Experience:

• Significant leadership experience gained at senior level in a complex environment, ideally with good, first-hand knowledge of the research or health sectors, working with patients, families or vulnerable people.
• Evidence of leading the development and delivery of organisational strategy, key targets, service improvements and management of change.
• Solid track record of effectively managing resources and budgets, with experience of delivering long term financial sustainability and stewardship of valuable resources.
• Ability to forge and nurture effective partnerships and collaborative relationships with a range of organisations both inside and outside the research, healthcare and/or charitable sectors and also with patients and their families.
• Demonstrable evidence of strategic development and leading and inspiring people / organisations and developing effective partnerships.

Additional Information

For comprehensive information about Muscular Dystrophy UK, and for the complete Role Description and Person Specification, please download the Candidate Information Pack.

How to Apply

If you are interested in the opportunity to lead this amazing organisation and build on the fantastic achievements to date, please provide the following with your application:

• An up to date CV with details of two referees (we will not contact them without your prior permission)
• A support statement (no longer than two A4 sides) which addresses how you meet the main criteria and explains your motivations for applying

The next steps:

Closing date for applications: Monday 3rd June 2024
Preliminary interviews with Russam: Thursday 13th & Friday 14th June 2024
Interviews with Muscular Dystrophy UK (in London): 8th, 15th, 16th July 2024 (dates TBC