Interim Chief Executive Officer

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer for Feed the Minds

Location: The Foundry 17 Oval Way, London SE11 5 RR

Start date: Wednesday 29th May

Salary: £60,000 per year (pro-rata for the period worked)

Application deadline: Monday 13th May

Could this be the job for you?

Feed the Minds (FTM) is a small to medium international development charity with a Christian foundation. We have been operational for 60 years and over the last 15 years or so we have developed our founders’ remit of feeding minds to using literacy as a tool for developing livelihoods in communities, especially through empowerment of women.

Our current CEO is moving on to a new post after nearly four years with Feed the Minds (FTM), during which time she has strengthened our operations with robust systems while working under the constraints that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed, plus with significant changes to government funding for charities such as FTM.

We are looking for someone who will lead the organisation for up to six months while the Trustees work on the next three-year strategy and while we recruit a permanent CEO. Your role will be to lead the organisation reporting directly to the Trustees through the Board Chair.

We are ideally looking for someone with experience of working in the developing world with local partners, however for the interim post knowledge of the international sector is key.

The interim post working hours can be negotiated with a minimum of 24 hours per week, although our preference is full-time. If shorter hours are negotiated, they will be paid pro-rata.

Job Description

Responsible to: Board of Trustees, Feed the Minds

Line Manager: Executive Administrator, Senior Programmes and Partnership Manager, Fundraising Manager, Communications Manager, Finance Manager

Purpose of the Job

The Chief Executive Officer provides leadership of the organisation and ensures the effective management of Feed the Minds within carrying overall responsibility for the implementation of the strategy as set by the Trustees. To lead the staff team and enable Feed the Minds to deliver the organisation’s vision Act as Company Secretary, United Society for Christian Literature (USCL) Working closely with the board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer will develop the organisation’s long-term strategy, budget, and business plan to secure organisational sustainability and compliance.

Visionary and Strategic leadership

• Refine and articulate a compelling organisational vision and purpose - lead, inspire and develop the work of Feed the Minds as it seeks to be true to its ethos and Christian roots.
• Work with the Trustees to maintain, review and develop the Strategic Plan.
• Work with staff to develop and recommend to the Trustees programme, fundraising, communications, and other policies consistent with, and in implementation of, the Strategic Plan.
• Cultivate, lead, and inspire a high-performing team.
• Develop and cultivate key partnerships.
• Stay abreast on sector trends and how they relate to the work of Feed The Minds.
• Navigate uncertainties with a solution-oriented mindset.

Implementation of policy

• Deliver fulfilment of the Strategic Plan, reporting regularly to the Trustees on progress.
• Hold the organisation to the highest ethical and professional standards in its operational and fund-raising activities, including safeguarding.

Income generation, Fundraising and Communications

• Contribute to the formulation of effective income generation, fundraising and communications strategies.
• Ensure income generation and fundraising targets are met.
• Engage with funders, supporting the organisation to secure support for Feed the Minds programmes.

Management

• Lead and inspire the Feed the Minds team and Feed the Minds partner network, leading the ongoing development of the organisation, its identity, and its external profile.
• Manage the staff team, ensuring the efficient deployment of staff.
• Ensure that staff have the necessary resources to undertake their work effectively and efficiently and thoroughly understand and own the policies governing their work and work in accordance with them.

Financial and legal responsibility

• Ensure that both Feed the Minds and USCL comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements and advise the Trustees accordingly.
• Ensure the effective management of the financial resources of the organisation, ensuring compliance and avoiding unnecessary financial risk.
• Ensure reports are prepared and issued as required by Charity and Company Law and specific donor requirements.

Relationship with partners

• Take principal responsibility for maintaining good and effective relationships with Feed the Minds’ stakeholders and partner organisations.

Governance

• Report regularly to the Trustees in such manner as they may require.
• Act as Company Secretary of the United Society for Christian Literature.
• Ensure the organisation has good human resources policies and practices supporting staff welfare and well-being.

Other

• Undertake any other reasonable instructions from the Chair or Trustee Body.

Person Specification

This role carries a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the post-holder is a practicing Christian (this is not a requirement for the interim post)

Experience and Qualifications

• Significant experience of working in the developing world with local partners and in the international development sector.
• Extensive experience in senior management, strategic leadership, organisational planning, and review.
• Graduate level education.
• Further qualification in international development, education, theology, or other relevant discipline.
• Experience of adult literacy would be an advantage.
• Experience of fundraising and communication with supporters.

Please send a CV plus a covering letter indicating your interest and availability.