ACCM: Chief Executive Director

Please note this role is not with OAHA. OAHA is supporting ACCM with their recruitment of this post.

The job is in Bedford, however Linkedin does not recognise Bedford UK as a location

ACCM (UK) is a Bedford-based charity established in 2008. We work to improve health, wellbeing, safety and equality for ethnic minority, disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Our particular expertise includes harmful practices and abuse, including female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and honour-based abuse, alongside wider work addressing health inequality, isolation and barriers to opportunity.

Our services are rooted in community relationships, cultural understanding and partnership. From the Cauldwell Community Centre, and with partners across Bedfordshire and beyond, our work includes:

• health and wellbeing activities, one-to-one support, information and signposting;
• education and skills provision, including English language, digital skills, confidence and employability support;
• advocacy, awareness and safeguarding work relating to harmful practices and abuse;
• community outreach, partnership development and professional training; and
• activities and events that help the Cauldwell Community Centre serve as a welcoming local hub.

The Chief Executive is the Charity’s senior employee and is accountable to the Board of Trustees through the Chair. You will lead the organisation, advise the Board and ensure that agreed strategy is translated into safe, effective and financially sustainable delivery.

The first year is about purposeful consolidation as well as ambition. You will be expected to listen, prioritise and build strong foundations before deciding where the Charity should grow.

Your first-year priorities

• Build confidence and clarity across the staff team, volunteers, Trustees and key partners.
• Turn the Charity’s 2026–2029 plan into a focused, costed delivery plan with clear outcomes and ownership.
• Protect current funder relationships and create a realistic pipeline of grants, contracts, partnerships and earned income.
• Work with colleagues and Trustees to strengthen proportionate systems for finance, people, safeguarding, risk, impact and Board reporting.
• Work with the Board and relevant stakeholders to agree a viable plan for the Cauldwell Community Centre.
• Keep community voice central to decisions about services, partnerships and future development.

What you will be accountable for

Strategy, impact and community

• Lead delivery and periodic review of the Charity’s strategy and annual plans.
• Use community insight, service data and partner intelligence to inform priorities.
• Maintain a clear view of outcomes and impact, reporting honestly on progress and learning.
• Act as a credible ambassador and spokesperson for ACCM (UK).

Income and financial sustainability

• Lead a proportionate income strategy and maintain an active funding pipeline.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, commissioners, donors and partners.
• Work with finance support and the Treasurer to prepare budgets, forecasts and timely management information.
• Ensure resources are controlled, risks are understood and the Board receives early warning of material concerns.

People, culture and operations

• Lead and support staff and volunteers through clear objectives, regular supervision and an inclusive culture.
• Ensure the Charity has practical, proportionate policies, processes and systems.
• Maintain robust safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and employment practice.
• Oversee service quality and operational performance while keeping an organisation-wide leadership focus.

Governance and Board partnership

• Provide the Board with concise, accurate information and professional advice.
• Support effective meetings, risk management, compliance and statutory reporting.
• Operate within delegated authority and implement Board decisions.
• Build a constructive, professional relationship in which the Board governs and the Chief Executive leads day-to-day delivery.

Partnerships and the community centre

• Strengthen relationships with communities, local authorities, the NHS, schools, voluntary organisations and specialist services.
• Oversee the Centre’s safe and effective operation within the Charity’s agreed responsibilities.
• Develop a practical plan for use of the Centre, community benefit and income, working with the relevant management arrangements.
• Identify when collaboration or referral will achieve better outcomes than the Charity acting alone.

Who we are looking for

We are interested in what you have achieved, how you work with others and the perspective you would bring. You do not need to have been a chief executive before, but you should be ready to take organisation-wide responsibility and work constructively with a Trustee Board.

We know that capable candidates do not always meet every criterion. If the role interests you and you can demonstrate most of the essential criteria, we encourage you to apply.

1. Experience of leading and managing people, services and budgets in a charity, community organisation, public service, social enterprise or another relevant setting, including leading through change.
2. Evidence of turning strategic objectives into practical priorities and delivery within limited resources, balancing immediate needs with longer-term sustainability.
3. Experience of contributing to income generation or financial sustainability through fundraising, contracts, partnerships, donations or earned income.
4. An understanding of charity governance and safeguarding, with the judgement to seek specialist advice when needed.
5. The ability to build trusted relationships and communicate clearly with communities, colleagues, Trustees, funders and partners.
6. Cultural humility and the ability to work safely and respectfully with diverse communities, including people who have experienced inequality, trauma, abuse or exclusion.

• Work with ethnic minority communities, women, families or young people, including in health inequalities, domestic abuse, community development or culturally responsive services.
• Knowledge of harmful practices and abuse, including FGM, forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
• Oversight of a community venue, facilities, capital improvements or earned-income activity.
• Experience of organisational transition from founder-led leadership.

How we will support you

• A structured induction and time-limited handover covering current priorities, key relationships and organisational knowledge.
• Clear delegated authority from the Board and regular support from the Chair.
• Introductions to funders, partners and community stakeholders.
• Agreed objectives and monthly review conversations during the first six months.
• Access to appropriate professional advice and development within available resources.

Our commitments to you

Reasonable adjustments and flexible working

We will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process. Please tell us at recruitment email address what would help you take part fully. We will also consider flexible working patterns, including how the 28 hours are arranged across the week.

Safer recruitment and inclusion

ACCM (UK) is committed to safer recruitment and an inclusive, accessible process. We particularly welcome candidates whose lived, community, voluntary or professional experience brings insight into the people we serve. Because of the nature of our work, appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Equal opportunities monitoring

We ask all applicants to complete the short equal opportunities monitoring form, which is provided with this pack as a separate document, and return it separately to monitoring form email address (to be confirmed), with the subject line “Chief Executive – monitoring form”. Completing it is voluntary. The form is kept separate from your application, is not seen by anyone shortlisting or interviewing, and is used only to help us check that our recruitment is fair and inclusive.

How we use your information

We will use the information you provide only to manage this recruitment process, in line with UK data protection law. It will be seen only by those involved in the recruitment. If you are not appointed, we will securely delete your information six months after the process closes. If you have any questions about how your data is handled, please contact us at the recruitment email address.

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