Director of Services and Engagement

Are you a values-driven leader who believes that women facing domestic abuse deserve exceptional services - services not just designed for them, but truly shaped by their lived experiences?

Leeds Women's Aid (LWA) is a proudly feminist, women-centred organisation delivering life-changing support for women and girls experiencing domestic abuse. As they enter an exciting time of growth and transformation, they're looking for a visionary Director of Services & Engagement to help shape the next era of innovation and impact.

Salary: £55,000-£60,000
Location: Hybrid (50/50) split between Leeds office, home and cross-service/stakeholders
Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week FTE
Benefits: 30 days annual leave (+bank), 5% employer pension contribution, enhanced maternity/paternity policies, flexible life and family-friendly working

About the opportunity
In this newly reimagined role, you'll lead service delivery and engagement with women accessing LWA's support, ensuring services are safe, trauma-informed and inclusive - and, above all, grounded in women's lived experiences. You will create the conditions for their voices to be heard, valued and amplified, so they meaningfully shape practice and influence change.

This is a rare, career-defining opportunity at the heart of LWA's future. The organisation is building a visible, united and inspiring senior team, rooted in shared leadership, mutual accountability and collaboration.

You'll take ownership of a diverse and dynamic portfolio spanning refuge, community services, housing, engagement, impact and performance. As an ambitious organisational strategy gains momentum, you'll focus on strengthening partnerships, building emerging housing capability and ensuring survivors' voices influence every decision.

Taking the lead on

• Strategic oversight of frontline services and survivor-centred practice.
• Coaching-led leadership for managers and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Quality assurance, performance, safeguarding and operational risk.
• Innovation and service development informed by data, evidence and lived experience.
• External engagement with commissioners, statutory services and the wider sector.
• Development of a sustainable, forward-facing housing strategy.

About you
You are a confident, highly skilled operational leader with a deep commitment to women-centred, trauma-informed practice. You bring the credibility and conviction to represent an organisation rooted in women's lived experience, ensuring its values, language and decisions consistently reflect women-centred principles.

You'll also bring:

• Senior leadership experience within charity, public sector or social care settings.
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality services across complex teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify and drive innovation and change.
• Sound judgement, calm decision-making and strong relationship-building skills.
• Able to offer respectful challenge, foster reflective practice and shared ownership.
• Consistently values-led, inclusive and ethical in your leadership.

Please note, this is a women-only role under the Equality Act 2010, which is an Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Why this role matters
You'll join an organisation with courageous ambition and a commitment to collective leadership. This role gives you the platform to influence strategy, shape service excellence, elevate survivor voice and lead a talented, purpose-led workforce making a profound difference every day.

Are you ready to apply?
Please send a copy of your CV or profile to Amelia Lee at Charity People as the first step.
If your experience matches what we're looking for, then we'll be in touch with more detail about the application process.

Deadline: 9am on Wednesday 25th March
Interview dates will be confirmed soon.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.