This is a broad and varied job spanning organisational leadership, cause advocacy, and systems change. We are not expecting you to have heavy-weight experience in every area, especially as we are open to a first-time Chief Executive as much as an experienced one, but it will important that over time you succeed in all aspects of the role.
We are looking for a passionate, resilient Chief Executive with high levels of emotional intelligence and a particular appreciation of the nuances of leading a progressive campaigning and research organisation. It is essential for us not just to produce policy or campaign on lived experience but that we genuinely ground our values in a culture where diversity, inclusion, and equity are enshrined and modelled.
Essential Experience, Abilities, and Characteristics:
- Outstanding people management skills grounded in collaboration and participation, with the ability to create the conditions for colleagues to excel and develop to their full potential.
- A demonstrable track record of placing diversity, equity, inclusion and lived experience at the heart of an organisation, and an appreciation for what this might mean for NEF, our people, and our programmes.
- Experience at senior leadership level or equivalent, particularly leading or contributing to corporate strategy.
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of new economics or a closely related field like housing, disability rights, climate justice, or democracy.
- A demonstrable track record of delivering positive social change through policy, advocacy, or campaigning.
- A natural ability to cross institutional boundaries, with excellent stakeholder skills across audiences from local volunteers to high-level politicians.
- High levels of emotional intelligence with excellent relationship building skills, both internally and externally.
- An ability to balance and promote NEF’s mission at local, regional and national levels.
- A clear understanding of campaigning organisations and their role in creating positive change in society.
- A demonstrable commitment to staff wellbeing.
Valuable Experience, Abilities and Characteristics:
Each of the following would be a valuable asset for the role and you’ll need several to do it well, but individually these aren’t essential requirements:
- Experience of building an organisation’s profile, working with the media as a compelling spokesperson and championing a joined-up approach to external awareness of NEF.
- Experience of leading a function or organisation through strategic change.
- Experience of working positively with a voluntary Board of Trustees.
- Experience of political campaigning would be advantageous.
- Experience of working with a unionised workforce.
- A strategic understanding of stakeholder engagement to deliver strategic, policy, and/or funding outcomes.
- Experience of working with grassroots communities and cross-sector partnerships at the local level, including community groups, councils, and community wealth builders.