Chief Executive Officer

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust seeks a CEO to lead the next stages of organisational delivery, achieving our mission of working with people and communities to take action and enable good health, resilience and opportunity.

Key information

As Chief Executive Officer you will join an organisation with a recently reviewed framework and strategy and lead the next stages of organisational development. Following an extraordinary couple of years, we are more ambitious than ever about extending our reach and expanding our services.

About the organisation

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust (MGWT) is a health and wellbeing charity, with a long established history and strong reputation within the community of Islington. 

Our mission is to help people take action to change their lives for the better, promoting mental and physical health and wellbeing programmes, whilst increasing social inclusion. You can learn more about the organisation here.

MGWT covers a broad spectrum of work, from children’s childcare and education to refugee/asylum seeker programmes, services for long term conditions including mental health, and FGM programmes.

Our income is largely generated through generated through commissioned services, grants, trusts and unrestricted rental income from our buildings. There are ambitions to grow the organisation’s reach and increase impact, offering long term and solutions focused services. 

We’re seeking a CEO to guide the next stages of strategic leadership, remaining operationally hands on to ensure delivery of our mission.

About the role

As CEO you will come in to an existing framework and strategy, leading the next stages of organisational delivery. 

Given the breadth of services the role remains operationally hands on – with opportunity to review and improve/adjust systems to find new ways of working, allowing for greater efficiency. It is the CEO’s responsibility to ensure the structure and processes are robust, continuing to position MGWT as a trusted and credible partner. 

MGWT isn’t simply an outreach/signposting organisation – there are elements of robust casework and it is viewed as a trusted provider of support and care. The early years services are Ofsted rated and hold significant external accountability, with the CEO acting as the registered person.

MGWT owns it’s main building, acting as a landlord with c.£400k annual rental income from other organisations. As CEO you will hold overall responsibility for building management, health and safety, legal matters etc., retaining core unrestricted funding through this function.

You will continue to support the organisation (incl. service users/key stakeholders) to emerge from the pandemic, recognising the changes and impact this has brought for staff and communities. By regrouping and stabilising you will address the priority needs and demands of those we support. 

In an evolving external environment you will be mindful of how the operating landscapes are changing and focused on retaining strong relationships with local authority/key partners to shape and influence services for our communities.

About you

  • Experienced and visionary senior management professional.
  • Hands on leader – balancing oversight/strategy and day to day operations.
  • Experience of service delivery – ideally from a health/wellbeing/social care/early years background. 
  • Demonstrated understanding of Ofsted/registered services
  • Ability to lead with gravitas and diplomacy. 
  • Knowledge/experience of the contract and funding cycle to ensure financial viability.  
  • Strong sector awareness/understanding of changes to external operating environments.
  • Demonstrable knowledge of the legal, governance and financial responsibilities of managing a charity.

Timeline and how to apply

Thursday 25 August – application deadline (CV and cover letter)

Week commencing 5 September – first interviews (virtual and competency based)

Week commencing 12 September – final interviews (face to face) and informal coffee chats with line reports/key stakeholders

Please get in touch with Naomi at QuarterFive for further details and to register your interest: naomi@quarterfive.co.uk or 07538576637.

QuarterFive and our clients know fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. We encourage individuals with relevant skills and experience to apply for roles regardless of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief. If you think you meet some of the criteria for a role and would like to discuss how your other experience might transfer, please ask us for a chat. We’re here to support you. Appointments will be made on merit alone and we will gladly make reasonable adjustments to always ensure a fair process.