Job Purpose
The Chief Executive will provide strategic, visible and values-led leadership to Clinks. Working closely with the Chair and Board, they will set and deliver the organisation’s strategic direction and ensure it continues to serve as a trusted, independent and inclusive voice for the voluntary sector in criminal justice. They will uphold Clinks’ independence while fostering constructive collaboration with government, funders and sector partners. They will act as an ambassador for Clinks’ mission, modelling integrity, empathy and courage, and will nurture a positive and cohesive culture within a small but highly capable team
1. Duties and key responsibilities
Vision, Strategy and leadership
• Lead the implementation of Clinks’ Strategy to 2030, ensuring the organisation remains focused on its purpose and impact.
• Lead Clinks’ continued evolution as a trusted national backbone for the criminal justice voluntary sector, strengthening partnerships and developing a sustainable regional presence across England and Wales.
• Provide clarity on Clinks’ role as both a membership body and an advocate for the wider sector, balancing the needs of members with those of the broader criminal justice community.
• Lead with authenticity, empathy and determination, creating a culture of openness, trust and shared purpose.
• Maintain an awareness of emerging trends, risks and opportunities affecting the voluntary sector and the criminal justice system.
Governance
• Work in partnership with the Chair to ensure that the Board of Trustees fulfils its governance responsibilities effectively.
• Provide timely, accurate and insightful information to the Board to support decision making.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and best practice requirements, and uphold the highest standards of governance and integrity.
Organisational Management
• Lead a cohesive, motivated and high-performing team, promoting a culture of trust, accountability and care.
• Maintain and develop Clinks’ inclusive culture, where lived experience is valued and represented at every level, and where people can grow and thrive whatever their background or conviction history.
• Ensure effective income generation and financial management, including diversification of income streams to build long-term sustainability.
• Champion innovation in income generation, exploring new funding models, partnerships and commercial opportunities that align with Clinks’ mission and values.
• Oversee robust systems of risk management, performance and governance.
• Provide visible, empowering leadership that supports staff wellbeing and professional development.
External Relations and Public Affairs
• Act as a credible, respected and independent ambassador for Clinks and the wider voluntary sector in criminal justice.
• Build and maintain relationships with Ministers, civil servants, funders and senior leaders across the sector.
• Represent Clinks with confidence and integrity in politically complex environments, sustaining productive relationships with the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS while protecting Clinks’ independence and voice.
• Strengthen sector trust and visibility by communicating Clinks’ impact with transparency and confidence.
• Represent Clinks through the media, in policy forums and at sector events.
Sector Development
• Foster collaboration and partnerships that strengthen the voluntary sector’s voice and capacity.
• Ensure that small, specialist and underrepresented organisations, including those led by racially minoritised people and people with lived experience, are meaningfully included in shaping policy and practice.
• Promote Clinks’ work as a trusted convener and advocate for equity and inclusion within the criminal justice system.
• Support the collection and sharing of evidence that demonstrates the sector’s impact and value.
2. General Responsibilities
• Represent and be an ambassador for Clinks.
• Work to support the mission, ethos and values of Clinks.
• Carry out other duties as may reasonably arise in line with the broad remit of the position.
• Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity in all aspects of Clinks’ work and continue our work towards realising our ambition to be an antiracist organisation.
• Collaborate effectively with staff, trustees, members and partners.
3. Person Specification
Essential Experience
• Senior leadership experience in the not-for-profit or public sector, ideally within or adjacent to the criminal justice or wider social justice field.
• UK experience of influencing policy or systems change at a national or regional level.
• Experience of leading organisations or networks through change, building unity, trust and purpose.
• Proven success in developing strategic relationships across government, funders, civil society and community organisations.
• Experience of developing or leading partnerships that generate income or social value, such as joint ventures, consultancy or accreditation models.
• Experience of diversifying income and ensuring financial sustainability in a mission-led organisation.
• Understanding of infrastructure or membership bodies and the challenges of representing a diverse sector.
• Commitment to and experience of advancing equity, inclusion and lived experience leadership.
• Track record of strategically centring race equity across all of your approach as a leader .
Skills and Abilities
• Strategic thinker able to translate vision into practical and measurable outcomes.
• Politically astute, with sound judgement and the ability to balance independence and collaboration.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with credibility across government, funders and grassroots organisations.
• Skilled in relationship-building, consensus development and conflict resolution.
• Emotionally intelligent leader who builds confidence, fosters inclusion and motivates others.
• Business acumen and ability to identify sustainable income opportunities.
• Capable of managing complexity and competing priorities with clarity and integrity.
Knowledge
• Understanding of the voluntary sector’s contribution to the criminal justice system.
• Awareness of the systemic inequalities that shape outcomes within the justice system, particularly around race, gender and lived experience.
• Knowledge of good governance, charity regulation and effective organisational management.
• Understanding of the policy and funding landscape for infrastructure and membership organisations.
Personal Attributes
• Authentic, principled and values-led.
• Empathetic and approachable, with the ability to build trust across differences.
• Personally committed to inclusion, equity and the belief that people can change.
• Creates psychological safety and belonging for colleagues with lived experience.
• Resilient, pragmatic and adaptable.
• Committed to Clinks’ belief in people’s capacity for change and in the power of the voluntary sector.
• Collaborative and optimistic, inspiring confidence in others.
• Reflective and self-aware, open to learning and growth.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Clinks is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and we want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of their age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We acknowledge that people from some backgrounds are under-represented in senior leadership in charities and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. As such, we are particularly keen to receive applications from people from Black and racialised minority backgrounds; disabled people and people who have long term health conditions; LGBT+ people; and people who identify as working class now or in the past. We particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. We want our team to reflect the communities and causes we serve, and we value the insight that comes from personal experience. We also offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria in the person specification for the role. If you require any adjustments or additional support to take part in this process, please let us know when applying.
How to Apply
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Closing date: 26th November
Please mention ACEVOJobs when applying.