Chief Executive Officer

We are recruiting for a new Chief Executive Officer

Full time role – based out of our Lewes office, with travel across Sussex.
Opportunities for flexible working.

The Role

We are looking for a new CEO with the experience and motivation to lead our strategic development across Sussex, design business plans for growth and bring together collaborative partnerships. This is a serious opportunity to lead an established charity working to enhance community life across rural Sussex, particularly in the many places that are overlooked and underserved.

AirS was established in 1931 to help rural communities within East and West Sussex. Our work was diverse: from giving assistance with childcare, tuberculosis prevention and care, ageing people’s welfare, establishing conferences and drama festivals, organising grants for village halls, providing advice on rural industries and setting up citizens’ advice bureaux. We also had a strong presence in shaping in planning and preservation. Many of these activities are still actively performed.  Today, as an active member of National ACRE (England’s largest network of rural community support charities) we support community-led change to build resilience in rural Sussex. We believe in the potential for local action to meet local needs and aspirations. We celebrate the benefits of community participation and decision making.

Our community development work ranges from projects to explore fragments of remaining ancient woodland, helping kindle networks of social groups with activities and small enterprises, building affordable homes run by their community, developing community-led plans and providing advice to hurdle the multiple administrative challenges that come with running community buildings, assets and groups.

We are seeking an ideas person with an enthusiastic understanding of community development, a keen interest in rural Sussex, engaging communication skills and sound financial expertise. You will report to the Chair of Trustees, work collaboratively with the board, and lead by example using the experience of our management and staff teams to ensure AirS is a place where people can thrive and do their best work.

YOUR BACKGROUND

We are seeking an energetic ‘all-rounder’ – a proven leadership professional who will roll their sleeves up and deliver.  You will have a demonstrable track record of successful delivery as a Chief Executive Officer, or similar senior leadership and strategic roles, ideally in a not for profit/charity/third sector environment. The work AirS does will appeal to applicants with a genuine interest in sustainable community development.

You will have outstanding communication and liaison skills, along with sound financial and contract management expertise. Drawing from your previous experience you will help to design and deliver our strategic, operational and financial objectives.  Highly self-motivated, you will possess the abilities to collaboratively create and implement impactful services for rural Sussex.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

The opportunity to recognise our achievements to date is to coordinate, grow and engage. Leading AirS will require an instinct for community development and ideas and opinions. AirS has the potential to work with every parish in Sussex. The task is challenging, yet the possibilities to increase our impact and support across the communities of rural Sussex will be seriously interesting and rewarding.

In addition to a meaningful opportunity to really make a difference, we are offering:

• Circa £60,000 per annum
• 28 days paid holiday, plus public holidays
• Flexible working
• Contributory pension

How to apply

If you are a serious advocate for sustainable development with relevant leadership experience, please download our applicant prospectus HERE before applying.

This prospectus sets out an explanation of our context, a summary of our work, an appendix of case studies, strategic statements, a job description and person specification.

If the work and character of AirS described in the following pages appeals to you, please email us your CV and a cover letter outlining why this is the role for you and what experience you have to date to ruth@thehrconsultancy.uk

The closing date for applications is 0900 Monday 19^th August 2024.

Action in rural Sussex is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. To help us honour this commitment we would ask you to complete the following two surveys:

Equal Opportunities Survey (just over 1 minute to complete)

Recruitment Survey (Less than 1 minute to complete)

Registered name: Sussex Rural Community Council, Charity No: 1035401