Chief Executive Officer

Closing date: Monday 2 December 2024
Salary: £70,000 to £80,000 depending on experience, plus contribution to pension auto-enrolment and other benefits
Contract type: Permanent / Working hours: Full time
Location: Grebe House, St Michael's Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4SN

We have a fantastic opportunity to join Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust as our Chief Executive Officer.

This is ideal for someone who really wants to make a difference, build on our achievements and lead nature’s recovery in Hertfordshire and Middlesex.

The Chief Executive benefits from a strong and happy team of dedicated staff and the support of our committed and talented Trustees.

Job reference: CEO1

The role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, as Chief Executive you will oversee the Trust’s operations, champion its mission and ensure its influence and impact. You will provide inspirational leadership and clear direction, engaging members, supporters, staff, stakeholders, and volunteers for the effective delivery of the Trust's charitable objectives whilst ensuring that all Trust activities are legally compliant and executed to the highest standard.

As Chief Executive, you will develop and oversee our Strategy, setting long-term goals and ensuring that activities align with the Trust's vision and values. You will prioritise being impactful, collaborative, united, and proactive in all aspects of the Trust's work. Through the Senior Management Team and dedicated combined workforce of employees and volunteers, you will ensure that the Trust's vision and goals are achieved through a culture that enables a high-performing, high-impact workforce that inspires passion and commitment towards wildlife conservation.

Advocacy is a key aspect of your role, building and nurturing relationships with external stakeholders, such as landowners, local authorities, businesses, and government agencies, to promote wildlife-friendly policies and establish meaningful partnerships.

Our ideal candidate

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference, build on our achievements, and lead nature’s recovery in Hertfordshire and Middlesex. Personal attributes include integrity, resilience, adaptability, and the ability to inspire and support a diverse team of staff, volunteers, and other supporters.

We are looking for a candidate who offers:

• Inspirational leadership and motivational management at a senior level.
• Proven ability in strategic planning, translation into operational delivery, and monitoring of outcomes.
• Strong organisational management skills, able to prioritise, set budgets, innovate, evaluate information logically and thoughtfully, and make rational high-level judgements and decisions.
• Adept at developing and building relationships and partnerships.
• Strong advocacy skills and political astuteness.
• Persuasive and passionate communication skills.
• Ability to build and develop partnerships with a range of stakeholders internally and externally.

Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust wants everyone to feel valued and empowered to contribute to our vision and is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible.

How to apply

To apply, once you have read our full recruitment pack please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter setting out how you meet the role’s criteria. We are especially interested to hear why you would like to play a leading role at Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and what you would particularly bring to the role. In addition, please ensure you include in your covering letter, confirmation of the following:

• Your eligibility to work in the UK.
• That you hold a current driving licence.
• Your current salary and salary expectations.
• Your notice period.

The application deadline is 9am on Monday 2nd December 2024.

About the Trust

We are the leading conservation charity in our area, committed to protecting and standing up for wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature. Our strategy for a wilder Hertfordshire and Middlesex is ambitious, with a target of 30% of land in recovery for nature by 2030.

With 50 members of staff and 1100 volunteers, the Trust owns and cares for 700 hectares of nature reserves and works with farmers and other landowners to offer advice to support nature’s recovery.

Through our engagement and communications programmes, we are driving a step change in the number of people taking action for wildlife.

How do we support you?

The Trust strives to be a positive employer supporting our staff through flexible and hybrid working, and training and development. We recognise the importance of our staff team and looking after their health and wellbeing. Our values and expected behaviours reflect the culture which the Trust seeks to maintain to ensure productive, efficient, effective and pleasant workplaces and roles.

In support of this, we offer an excellent benefits package, ranging from office perks, generous leave entitlements, and financial benefits.