Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)

This appointment is for a 5-year fixed term, with the potential to extend for an agreed-upon further term. We have offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, London, and Manchester.

Our preference is for the postholder to be based at our Manchester or London office; however, we may also consider applications for our Glasgow or Cardiff office. Wherever you are based, you will be expected to spend a reasonable amount of time in each location.

The role

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) seeks an exceptional leader as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

As Britain’s national equality body and a United Nations-accredited National Human Rights Institution, the EHRC protects and promotes equality and human rights across England, Scotland, and Wales. It was set up by the Equality Act 2006 as a statutory non-departmental public body and operates independently of governments.

Our role is to make these rights and freedoms a reality for everyone. We use a range of powers to do so, including providing advice and guidance to individuals, employers, governments, parliament, and other organisations, reviewing the effectiveness of the law, and taking legal enforcement action to clarify the law and address significant breaches of rights. We are an expert and authoritative organisation recognised as a centre of excellence for equality and human rights law, evidence, and analysis.

There are exciting challenges ahead as we reach the final year of our current strategic plan and begin scoping our work for the next strategic plan period. Our new CEO will be responsible for the success of the EHRC, with delegated responsibility from the Board for leadership, management, and day-to-day operations. They will embrace the Board’s vision for challenge and change and be a more effective regulator. They will lead and develop the Senior Leadership team and act as the primary advisor to the Chair and Board to ensure that it delivers its statutory duties.

What you will need

The successful candidate will need a track record of operational leadership experience at a senior level, either as a CEO in the Public, Private, or Not-for-profit sectors or working in a senior leadership role within a larger organisation, with accountability for leading a significant function. 

You will need to be an impactful, resilient, and determined leader, with experience of building, leading, and managing senior teams through periods of transformational change, and be able to work collaboratively with the Board to make difficult decisions to secure the Commission’s future.

As Accounting Officer for the Commission, you will be able to demonstrate strong financial and planning leadership skills and experience in delivering high-quality financial, risk and operational management in line with public sector accounting standards.

Policy experience within the field of equality and human rights is not essential, but an understanding of the political environment within which the EHRC operates will be an advantage.

How to apply

Please view the attached Appointment Brief for full details and apply with a CV, statement of suitability and completed Recruitment Information Pack to Kerry Lucas, Head of People, at Kerry.Lucas@equalityhumanrights.com.

The closing date for applications is 11.55pm 12 April 2024.