ActionAid UK (AAUK) is Seeking a Chief Executive Officer

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ActionAid UK (AAUK) is seeking an exceptional leader to guide the organisation into its next chapter of impact and transformation. At this pivotal moment, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will embed the newly launched Strategy , strengthen ActionAid UK's role as a bold, values led contributor to the global ActionAid Federation, and deepen its commitment to intersectional feminist leadership.

Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will carry responsibility for ensuring that AAUK delivers on its dual purpose: to secure resources, influence, and solidarity for movement led change while also shaping and strengthening the global Federation. This requires a balance of leading a high performing UK based organisation and collaborating with colleagues across 45+ countries to deliver a shared mission.

The CEO will model feminist, anti racist, and decolonial leadership, embedding these commitments across culture, partnerships, fundraising, advocacy, and operations. The role requires vision, resilience, and a proven ability to inspire diverse stakeholders behind a shared agenda for justice and equality.

Leadership and Strategy

The CEO will inspire colleagues, trustees, and partners with a clear vision grounded in ActionAid's Theory of Change and the Federation's Action for Global Justice strategy. They will drive delivery of AAUK's new strategic plan while ensuring agility in responding to an evolving external landscape.

Key strategic priorities will include:

• Embedding resilience by diversifying income streams, strengthening financial sustainability, and promoting value for money decision making.
• Fostering collaboration across directorates so that income generation, advocacy, communications, and partnerships reinforce one another.
• Positioning AAUK as an adaptive, forward looking organisation capable of meeting both external opportunities and challenges with clarity and confidence.

Culture, Equity, and Inclusion

A core dimension of the role is championing an organisational culture rooted in equity, dignity, and justice. The CEO will lead by example, ensuring that AAUK lives its commitments to being anti racist, trans inclusive, climate conscious, and aligned with intersectional feminist behaviours.

They will:

• Model shared and distributed leadership, empowering teams while upholding accountability.
• Advance commitments to decolonisation, shifting power and resources to rights holders and partners in the Global South.
• Create safe, inclusive spaces for learning, collaboration, and bold action.

External Influence and Partnerships

The CEO will serve as the organisation's chief advocate and representative, amplifying the voices of women and girls and influencing public narratives, policy debates, and funding agendas.

Responsibilities will include:

• Strengthening partnerships with donors, INGOs, grassroots movements, governments, and private sector allies.
• Enhancing AAUK's visibility as a compelling voice for gender justice in the UK and globally.
• Contributing to the ActionAid International Leadership Forum, shaping collective decision making and Federation wide strategies.

Governance and Accountability

As head of the organisation, the CEO will ensure robust governance and accountability mechanisms are in place. They will provide the Board of Trustees with high quality insight and analysis to enable effective oversight.

The CEO will:

• Ensure compliance with UK charity law, safeguarding policies, and financial regulations.
• Safeguard long term organisational health by ensuring that AAUK's funding model is sustainable and resilient.
• Uphold the highest standards of accountability to rights holders, partners, supporters, and regulators.

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Knowledge

• A strong track record of senior strategic leadership in complex, values driven organisations.
• Evidence of organisational transformation, achieved through transparency, equity, and collaboration.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and income diversification, including securing significant, sustainable resources from diverse sources.
• Deep understanding of intersectional feminism, anti racism, decolonisation, and climate justice, with tangible examples of embedding these in practice.
• Experience working in international and partnership based contexts, with proven ability to collaborate equitably across the Global North and Global South.
• Significant experience in influencing at senior levels, including governments, donors, and multilateral agencies.
• Evidence of advancing women's and girls' rights through policy, advocacy, or programme delivery.
• Knowledge of federated or networked governance models.
• Experience of living and/or working in the Global South.
• A track record of crisis leadership in politically or financially challenging contexts.

Attributes and Skills

• A visionary and inclusive leader, capable of uniting diverse perspectives into shared action.
• Skilled communicator, credible with donors, policymakers, activists, and grassroots partners alike.
• Committed to power sharing and learning from lived experience.
• Resilient, humble, and values driven, with the ability to exercise strong judgement in complex situations.
• Passionate about AAUK's mission and steadfast in upholding feminist principles in all aspects of decision making.

Why This Role Matters

This CEO role offers an extraordinary opportunity to lead an organisation at the forefront of women's and girls' rights advocacy, ensuring that ActionAid UK continues to secure resources, influence, and solidarity for movement led change. By fostering innovation, advancing equity, and strengthening global partnerships, the CEO will play a vital role in shaping a more just and sustainable future.

Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.