Job Title: Chief Officer
Employer: Engaging Communities South West Board of Trustees
Responsible to: Chair of Trustees, with support from Treasurer and HR lead trustee as necessary
Responsible for: Line management of Paignton Community Hub/VCSE Network Manager, Macmillan Project Manager, Finance Manager, Healthwatch Transition Lead (Administrative line management only – Lead reports on a functional basis to Healthwatch Partnership)
Hours: 21 hours flexible, Monday–Friday with occasional weekends
Salary: £29,309 (£51,640 full-time equivalent)
Location: Hybrid working from home and office based in Paignton
Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract initially, with possible extension subject to funding
DBS Check: The role is assessed as requiring a Standard DBS Check
Closing Date: 11.59pm on Thursday 11th June 2026
Interview Date: 22/23 June 2026
Back Ground:
This is an exciting opportunity to lead our charity.
Engaging Communities South West is a not-for-profit organisation which has grown from the reputation we gained as an award winning Healthwatch and in response to increasing demand for our expertise within Torbay and the wider South West Region.
While you may not have experience of the charitable sector, you must have extensive and proven management and organisational experience. Compassionate leadership and collaboration skills are essential in working together with our Trustee Board, colleagues and partners in developing new strategies and initiatives.
You will be passionate about our work, share our values, and lead by example. You will be able to balance financial management, income generation, and supporting workforce development, while promoting the continued growth of an inclusive team culture and developing a trusted community service.
We recognise the positive value of diversity, promote equality and inclusion and challenge discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We offer flexible working patterns around the 21 hours and are open to discussions about how these hours are worked
Under the umbrella of Engaging Communities South West we offer Engagement, Evaluation, Communication Support, Digital Support, and Training to the Statutory, Voluntary and Private Sector.
We currently, as part of a partnership, deliver the contract for independent Health and Social Care Healthwatch across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and oversee various projects in the community.
Job Purpose:
To lead, develop and deliver the functions and services of the organisation. The post holder will play a leadership role in all operational and management areas of the organisation.
Have an overview of the organisations budget position and financial processes and systems and be able to cover for the Finance Manager in case of unexpected absence, supported by the Treasurer.
Key Priorities:
1) Set direction and deliver the organisation’s strategy (with the Board)
2) Ensure financial sustainability and strengthen income generation
3) Lead and develop our people to deliver high-quality outcomes
4) Strengthen operational delivery, quality, and contract compliance
5) Ensure good governance, compliance, and safeguarding
Main duties and responsibilities:
Leadership
· Provide strong leadership to ensure the focus and the vision of the organisation encourages, motivates and support staff and volunteers
· Provide insight, guidance, leadership and support to the organisation
· Collaborate with colleagues to ensure that all projects maintain a consistent and strategic approach
· Provide leadership in partnership and collaborative work
· Lead and support all staff and volunteers within the team
Strategic Management:
· With the Board prepare, implement and monitor the strategic and business planning
· Ensure that the organisation operates in a manner and on a scale that is financially sustainable
· Identify suitable opportunities for further development and generate income
· Provide leadership and direction in the development of a broad range of activities and projects whilst being consistent in a strategic approach
· To collaborate effectively with all staff, key partners and external organisations to develop strong and productive relationships
· Ensure volunteers have the correct support and supervision to conduct their role
· Maintain the operational management systems in place to include appraisals and supervision of staff
· To represent the organisation as required
· Work collaboratively with the leadership team and project managers to ensure organisational projects and events are delivered effectively
Management
· Ensure that ECSW complies with GDPR, Health and Safety, Employment and Charity legislation
· Support line managers with staffing issues, sickness absence monitoring, annual leave allocations and flexible working requests
· Ensure that ECSW holds sufficient insurances, including public and employer liability, cyber security and trustee indemnity
· Be the organisational lead for DBS and safeguarding
· With the leadership team and project managers, proactively manage contracts within their required timescales, ensuring relevant targets and service delivery requirements are met, and that reporting and monitoring deadlines are achieved
· Ensure outcomes are met to a high standard
· Ensure that all operational plans are in line with strategic direction and developed and implemented
· Ensure that all systems are in place to manage, supervise, support, monitor and evaluate the work of the organisation
· Develop a Quality Framework to ensure that all quality standards are achieved
· Ensure that the organsiation has effective systems for contracts and other funding compliance
· Ensure the effective negotiation of new contracts and awards
· Ensure a robust training plan is in place for staff and volunteers to meet their objectives
· Provide support and direction to staff and volunteers to optimise their effectiveness and fulfill their potential
· Oversee the management of premises (as appropriate) including organisational office contracts
Governance
· Provide support to the Trustee Board, including setting meeting agenda, taking minutes and preparing for the Annual General Meeting
· Ensure that decisions reached by the Trustee Board are clearly recorded for auditing purposes
· Ensure that the charity Governing Document is up to date and is consistent with the aims and objectives of the charity
· To be responsible for the preparation and submission of reports to relevant regulatory and statutory bodies as required.
· To update Charities Commission and Companies House data.
· Ensure that Trustees are kept up to date with charitable and organisational legislation
· Ensure the publication of the annual report and compliance with charity law including submission of the Annual Returns and Annual General Meeting
· Work with the board to support the recruitment of Trustees and ensure Trustees are aware of their roles and responsibilities
· Maintain the charity risk register, and ensure the Board regularly reviews the risks faced by the organisation
· Advise the board on recommendations, actions on issues related to strategy, policy, HR, H & S and financial management
Partnerships and External relationships
· Develop and maintain external relationships through effective marketing and media communication.
· Networking and influencing
· Ensure that the organsiation maintains a high public profile and good reputation
· Maintain, identify, and develop new and existing partnerships with a range of potential partners, such as the Local Authority, local/regional NHS, community groups and other stakeholders
· Ensure that partnership development activities are mindful of the potential for any conflicts of interest with existing partnership arrangements
Finance
· Maintain an overview of the organisations budget position and financial processes and systems and be able to cover for the Finance Manager in case of unexpected absence, supported by the Treasurer.
· Approve and authorise expenditure in line with the Finance Policy
· Ask as an authorised person in relation to banking and second authorisation
Professional Development
· With the Chair of Trustees be responsible for maintaining your own personal and professional development
· Be subject to an annual appraisal and regular support, supervision and guidance
General responsibilities
· Ensure that all staff and volunteers adhere to safeguarding policy and procedures, and other organisational policies approved by the Board of Trustees
· Undertake appropriate training and personal development as required
· Portray a positive image internally and externally of the organisation and high standards of personal and professionalism leading by example
· To undertake such duties consistent with the nature of the grade and post
Person Specification:
1. Experience of senior strategic leadership in an organisation, including business development and income generation
2. Evidence of leadership and inspiring diverse teams to a high level of achievement
3. Managing multiple projects in a complex and busy environment
4. A commitment to Equality and Diversity
5. Be an effective networker
6. Evidence of understanding of working with a Board of Trustees and other governing bodies
7. Be able to demonstrate developing and implementing strategies and plans to obtain outcomes and impact
8. Experience of development and implementation of key strategies
9. Experience of developing and implementing policies and procedures
10. Diligent, with attention to detail and able to respond autonomously when required
11. Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers
12. Excellent interpersonal skills with a range of people and situations
13. Experience of setting and monitoring budgets
14. Working knowledge of relevant legislation including legal and financial of a charitable organisation
15. Knowledge and understanding of the health and social care sector
16. Analysing and reporting ability appropriate to the role
17. Excellent communication skills at all levels
18. Ability to manage change
19. Understanding of safeguarding principles for vulnerable adults and children
20. IT, organisational and administrative skills appropriate to the role
21. Ability to work on own initiative and to deadlines
22. Managing and prioritising own workload
23. To be able to travel around the Devon wide area and on occasion further afield if required
Pay: £29,309.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person
