Salary:£38,000–£48,000 (full-time equivalent, 37.5 hours). Pro rata based on contracted hours.
Initial:22.5 hours per week (0.6FTE)
Increasing to:37.5 hours per week (FTE)
We are committed to transparency in pay. The figures above show both the full-time equivalent salary and the actual salary based on contracted hours.
Line Manager (Following Transition):Chair of Trustees
Hours:22.5 (increasing to 37.5 within 3 months, subject to agreement)
Contract:Permanent (with intention to confirm as substantive Chief Executive role subject to Board review, organisational sustainability and satisfactory performance)
Line Management Responsibilities:Debt Team Coordinator, Income Maximisation Team Coordinator, Finance Lead, Development Lead
Main Stakeholders:Internal staff and volunteers, Trustees, Funding partners and commissioners, Liverpool-based advice networks, Local Authority Officers, Regulatory Bodies
About the role
The CEO Designate is appointed as part of a planned and structured leadership succession process.
The postholder will work alongside the current CEO during an agreed transition period, progressively assuming executive leadership responsibility. Subject to Trustee completion of a successful 3-month probationary period, the role is expected to transition into the substantive Chief Executive position.
This phased model ensures:
Continuity of governance
Orderly transfer of executive authority
Financial and operational stability
Proportionate leadership aligned to organisational scale
The appointment reflects the charity’s commitment to sustainable leadership and robust oversight as its service model continues to evolve.
Organisational Context
St Andrew’s Community Network delivers services addressing financial hardship and poverty, including:
Debt advice
Welfare benefits support
The development of North Liverpool Foodbank
The charity operates within a dynamic operating environment in Liverpool, working alongside organisations such as:
Citizens Advice Liverpool
Vauxhall Law Centre
Liverpool City Council
The local environment is shaped by:
Increased demand linked to Universal Credit migration and cost-of-living pressures
Greater emphasis on commissioning and contract-based income
Strong regulatory frameworks including AQS and FCA oversight
Heightened scrutiny on governance, safeguarding and data protection
Integrated referral pathways across the voluntary and statutory sectors
The organisation periodically reviews its operating model to ensure that services remain sustainable, mission-aligned and compliant with regulatory and funding requirements. The post holder will play a central role in supporting this ongoing development.
Purpose of the Role
This is a delivery-focused executive leadership role with clear accountability.
The emphasis is on:
Operational performance
Regulatory compliance
Financial stewardship
Partnership credibility
Organisational resilience
The role requires disciplined, proportionate leadership rooted in governance integrity and financial realism.
Key Responsibilities
1. Executive and Operational Leadership
Lead the day-to-day delivery of SACN’s advice and Foodbank services.
Oversee performance across regulated advice functions.
Ensure compliance with FCA permissions, AQS accreditation and internal quality standards.
Maintain effective supervision, file review and quality assurance systems.
Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting.
Assume increasing executive responsibility during the transition period.
2. Governance and Regulatory Accountability
Ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements and company law obligations.
Maintain oversight of safeguarding, GDPR, risk management and internal controls.
Provide accurate and timely reporting to Trustees and relevant sub-committees.
Work closely with the Finance Lead to ensure strong financial control systems.
Review and maintain policies and procedures appropriate to the charity’s service portfolio.
Upon completion of the transition phase, the postholder will hold ultimate executive responsibility for regulatory compliance.
3. Financial Leadership and Commissioning
Lead organisational financial planning in collaboration with the Finance Lead and Development Lead.
Support income diversification, grant management and commissioned service delivery.
Develop constructive working relationships with officers at Liverpool City Council and other commissioners.
Ensure service delivery aligns with contractual and funding requirements.
Present financial and performance information clearly to Trustees.
4. Partnership and Sector Engagement
Represent SACN within Liverpool advice and poverty action networks.
Maintain collaborative relationships with partners.
Promote effective referral pathways and partnership working.
Ensure SACN contributes constructively within the wider local ecosystem.
5. People Leadership and Culture
Provide structured supervision and leadership to Coordinators and senior staff.
Embed fair and proportionate performance management systems.
Ensure professional standards and CPD requirements are maintained.
Model leadership rooted in Justice, Unity and Compassion.
Support long‑term leadership development and succession planning.
6. Organisational Development
Support the phased transfer of executive authority from the current CEO.
Maintain operational stability during periods of organisational review or development.
Ensure staffing structures and service delivery remain proportionate to income and risk profile.
Work with Trustees to assess long‑term leadership and service configuration options in line with the charity’s objects and public benefit duties.
This includes contributing to lawful, fair and consultative processes where organisational change is considered, in line with employment legislation and recognised best practice guidance.
Key Skills and Experience
Significant senior management experience within an advice, welfare, debt or community organisation.
Strong understanding of AQS, FCA and data protection requirements.
Experience managing public sector grants or commissioned contracts.
Demonstrable knowledge of charity finance and budgeting.
Experience working constructively with local authorities or statutory commissioners.
Ability to interpret performance and financial data.
Experience leading professional staff teams.
Experience operating within the Liverpool advice ecosystem.
Experience contributing to organisational development or service review processes.
Experience of tender writing or commissioning processes.
Personal Attributes
Our new leader will:
Be driven by social justice and dignity.
Exercise calm and balanced judgement under regulatory and financial pressure.
Demonstrate integrity, discretion and transparency.
Balance compassion with compliance.
Lead proportionately, recognising scale and sustainability realities.
Value collaboration over institutional ego.
Working with St Andrew's Community Network
The Network team is vital in achieving the charity's purpose: to resource churches and community organisations to design out poverty.
Our values are:
Justice – Advocating for systemic and individual change.
Unity – Working collaboratively across communities.
Compassion – Walking alongside people with dignity and respect.
Strategic Rationale
This appointment:
Forms part of a planned leadership succession process.
Provides continuity and governance stability.
Supports the ongoing review and development of the charity’s service model.
Embeds executive accountability proportionate to organisational scale.
Strengthens commissioning credibility and regulatory assurance.
Supports long‑term sustainability within Liverpool’s evolving advice infrastructure.
Why This Role Matters
St Andrew’s Community Network occupies a trusted position within the communities it serves.
The organisation has strong relationships with:
local churches
community groups
statutory partners
advice organisations across Liverpool
The Head of Charity / CEO Designate will have the opportunity to build on these foundations and guide the charity through its next stage of development.
This is a role for a leader who combines operational discipline with compassion, strategic awareness with humility, and who is motivated by the opportunity to support communities facing significant challenges.
Recruitment Timeline
Applications for this role close on 19th April 2026, with interviews scheduled to take place week commencing 20th April 2026.
A transition period will allow for:
Stage 1: Shadowing and immersion
Stage 2: Progressive delegation of responsibilities
Stage 3: Formal transfer of executive authority.
Full transition to CEO authority is expected by September 2026.
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