Chief Executive Officer

The Advonet Group is looking for a new CEO……

We are looking for a values-led, person centred and dynamic leader to become our CEO. You will be ambitious to help the organisation conduct its mission and passionate about driving the organisation to fulfil its vision of enabling previously marginalised individuals to take greater control over their lives.

Salary: £53,000 to £57,000 per annum, dependent upon experience (up to £59,000 for an exceptional candidate)

We are The Advonet Group

An independent advocacy charity based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, we provide a mix of advocacy services and inclusion projects in our region. Our 85-strong team are committed to making a lasting impact. As a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer, we value diversity and strive to create an inclusive working environment.

What we are looking for

A powerful advocate for advocacy, you’ll lead our organisation and shape our strategy and vision with the Board, while championing diversity. We want you to collaborate with our experienced team, steward and grow our resources, assure our quality, and ensure we have a transformative impact on the lives of the people who use our services.

You will need:

• Leadership Skills: Strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities as well as the ability to inspire others, in a positive, collaborative environment.
• Strategic Ability: The skills to set out an engaging vision plus the capacity to adapt to changing landscapes and identify opportunities for growth.
• Engagement & Reputation Management Skills: The ability to develop relationships with stakeholders, including citizens and communities in need of our services, staff, volunteers, funders, and partners.
• Financial Acumen: A solid understanding of financial management, how to build sustainability, plus a proven ability to secure funding and manage resources effectively.
• Deep Rooted Values A strong match with The Advonet Group’s vision, mission, values, and behaviours https://advonet.org.uk/join-us/careers/why-work-with-us/

Why work with us

The Advonet Group is a dynamic organisation, with a proven track record of innovatively addressing unmet need. The charity was founded in 2003 and expanded quickly after a merger of four local advocacy organisations in 2015. It is its people.

Earlier this year, we asked colleagues to sum up working for The Advonet Group in three words:

Typical responses were: 

• Understanding, Inclusive, Kind Inclusive, diverse, authentic. Warmth, values, commitment.

Benefits:

• Auto-enrolment Pension scheme with 5% contribution from the organisation (which employees are expected to match)
• Opportunities for flexible working
• Opportunities for hybrid working after an initial embedding period
• Training and development opportunities
• Wellbeing support, including Westfield’s Employee Assistance Programme with cashback health benefits
• 27 days annual leave rising to 31 days a year within 5 years
• Free parking close to Leeds City Centre

How to apply:

To apply for this role please complete The Advonet Group Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, which can be found on the links on this page, along with a detailed job description and person specification.

Please return applications by an email.

(CVs will not be accepted).

The closing date for applications is Monday 22nd July 2024.

Interviews for this post are planned for Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st July for shortlisted applicants. If you are shortlisted, you may be invited for recruitment exercises/ interviews on both days, although we will try to avoid this.. 

If you would like more information or an informal chat about the post, please email our current Chief Executive, Philip Bramson, who has been in the role for around 10 years and is stepping down due to his relocation to Manchester.

To get in touch, please email Philip at Philip.Bramson@advonet.org.uk or call 0113 244 0606 and ask for Philip.

Advonet highly value the importance diversity (e.g., cultural, linguistic, LGBTQ+, neurodiversity).  All identities are respected and celebrated. If there is anything that the organisation can do to make this opportunity and the application process for it more accessible, please let Philip know.