Chief Executive

Are you an experienced senior leader looking to guide a values-led charity improving the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants across the Northeast?

Action Foundation is partnering with Charity People to find our next Chief Executive; someone who will lead with heart, vision, and integrity as the organisation enters its next chapter.

Salary: £53,162 to £58,965 dependent on experience
Contract: Permanent, full-time (open to flexible working patterns)
Location: Hybrid, based between home and office in central Newcastle
Benefits: 35-hour work week, 36 days annual leave, 6% employer pension contribution, EAP & welfare support, enhanced sick leave & compassionate leave, hybrid working and flexible hours
Culture: Flexible, supportive, able to work with autonomy 

About the charity 

Founded nearly 20 years ago, Action Foundation is a values-led charity supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants across the Northeast. From our first housing project in 2007, we have grown into a trusted regional provider of:

• Supported accommodation
• Learning and Skills programmes
• Casework and community connections
• Youth and family support

Rooted in our values of Compassion, Courage, Inclusion and Integrity, our mission is to support and empower refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum in the Northeast to overcome immediate barriers, integrate with the community and build skills for the future.

About the role

This is a strategic and relational leadership role. You’ll work closely with an experienced Senior Leadership Team and a supportive Board of Trustees to:

• Champion the charity’s mission, values and culture
• Lead organisational strategy and development
• Oversee governance, financial sustainability and operational delivery
• Build partnerships and represent Action Foundation externally
• Secure income through grants, contracts and community fundraising

You’ll be joining at a pivotal moment, with the current five-year plan concluding in 2027 and exciting opportunities ahead, deepening impact across the region.

About you 

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated, strategic leader with a passion for and track record of supporting and empowering those on the margins to achieve their full potential.

We’re looking for someone with experience in the following areas:

• Leadership: Demonstrable track record of leadership, ideally where support services are provided to vulnerable groups
• Strategy: Proven success in developing and implementing an organisational strategy
• People Development: Experience of developing staff and nurturing talent
• Relationship Building: Experience of fostering new partnerships and working collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Income Generation: Experience of identifying new income opportunities and developing relationships with funders
• Finance: Experience of budget setting and financial management

Action Foundation is an inclusive organisation where people are trusted, supported and empowered. The team is settled, and the culture is one of transparency, wellbeing and flexibility.

If you are motivated by impact, and if you bring both the leadership skills and the empathy needed to guide a values-led charity, please send a copy of your profile or CV to Ellen Drummond at Charity People in the first instance at ellen@charitypeople.co.uk.

Deadline: 9am Tuesday 25th November
First stage Interviews: 1st or 2nd December (online)
Second stage Interviews: 10th December (in person)

IMPORTANT: Unless a UK based job advert states otherwise, all applicants for UK roles must already have a right to work in the UK.