Background to the post of Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
This section should be read in conjunction with the Job Description.
The CEO is the senior staff member of Age UK Camden (reporting to a Board of Trustees) and the Company Secretary. Age UK Camden is the largest local Age UK in London, is co-located with, affiliated to but legally independent from national Age UK.
Age UK Camden (AUC) has a group structure – total turnover c £3.2mil - with:
- A main charity (with a turnover of c. £2.6 mil);
- A subsidiary LGBT older people’s charity Opening Doors London (£0.3mil and growing);
- A subsidiary disability charity Personalisation Support in Camden (c. £0.3mil).
Within the main charity, about £0.6mil of activity is AUC’s programme management role for Ageing Better in Camden.
The charity:
- Delivers services such as day care, counselling, befriending, advice, computer training, dementia support, nailcare and much more;
- Supports about 9,000 older people each year and several hundred disabled people (through PSIC);
- Has nearly 500 volunteers and 60 FTE staff;
- Has important partnerships with Camden Council, NHS organisations, VCS organisations, corporates (on employer supported volunteering), Age UK and Age UK London;
- Has a developed policy infrastructure and quality marks (ISO, Age UK CQS, Advice).
More details are at:
- (including the 2017-2020 Development Plan);
- and
- The Charity Commission website.
Following a long serving CEO stepping down, Age UK Camden seeks a new dynamic leader.
With a developed internal infrastructure of senior managers running the charity day-to-day, the CEO’s role is currently mostly focussed externally (on building partnerships), on strategy and on fundraising. However, in an organisation of its size and reach, opportunities for organisational direction and management are never far away.
Key financial challenges for the organisation are:
- Ongoing cuts in public expenditure;
- A move away from block contracts towards personal budgets and charges;
- Tendering for services including across boroughs or client groups – making partnerships and structures important;
- Competition for charitable and lottery funds;
- Costing and pricing for charged services;
- Attracting donations and legacies;
- Dealing with a deficit on a part-closed final salary pension scheme;
- The intention of PSIC to merge with another charity (subject to due diligence), ODL’s potential to become an independent charity, and ABC’s Lottery funding ending in 2021.
The charity’s governance is strong (but currently being refreshed with trustee recruitment) consisting of:
- AUC’s Board of 11 trustees, led by Mary Burd a clinical psychologist and retired senior NHS Manager;
- ODL’s Board of 9 trustees, led by a retired sociology professor, author and activist;
- PSIC’s Board, led by a former councillor and social work lecturer;
- ABC’s Partnership Board, led by a retired senior social work manager.
If you support our values, can add value, offer fresh energy and ideas, do apply to join and lead our staff and volunteer team.
Summary of Terms and Conditions
Remuneration – £60 to £65,000 pa, incremental Scale (increments based on length of service), pay day is 15th of month
6 months probationaryperiod
35 Hour Week
Annual Leave - 26 days leave plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
Pension – Defined Contributions via Pensions Trust - Employer pays 6% if employee pays minimum 6%
Sick Pay – contractual sick pay starts after 6 months qualifying period and is based on length of service
Interest free season ticket & bike loans – available subject to maxima with repayment via salary deductions