Chief Executive Officer – The Abbey Centre
Location: The Abbey Centre, Westminster, London (site-based role, flexible working available)
Salary: £90,000 – £95,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent (Full-time, 37.5 hours/week; regular evening attendance for events as required)
Could you lead a much-loved community hub through its next chapter of stability, growth and civic impact?
About The Abbey Centre
Our charity has served the community of south Westminster since 1948 and has occupied The Abbey Centre building, a converted Victorian public bath house a stone’s throw from Westminster Abbey, since 1991.
We are a site-based community hub and social enterprise, combining community services, training and outreach with venue hire, an on-site café and catering to generate income that supports our charitable work.
We work across employability, health and wellbeing, volunteering and practical support for vulnerable residents; the Centre welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, and sees over 1,000 visits each week. Our strong partnerships with Westminster City Council, statutory bodies and corporate donors underpin commissioned activity and solidify our position as a trusted local delivery partner.
This is an opportunity for a visionary but hands‑on leader to preserve the Centre’s warm, inclusive culture and outstanding reputation while further professionalising systems, developing our income, and shaping a multi‑year strategy that secures the building and grows impact.
As our next Chief Executive Officer, you will:
* Strategy & Impact: lead a collaborative listening phase and then develop and deliver a 3–5 year strategy and rolling business plan that defines the Centre’s core offer and impact targets.
* Governance & Finance: own the annual budget and medium‑term financial modelling, deliver full‑cost recovery across activity lines and present timely, accurate management information to trustees.
* Operational Leadership: ensure continuity of community services, venue trading and café operations and strengthen operational systems including safeguarding, H&S and business continuity.
* Income Generation: drive commercial performance of venue hire, events and catering, professionalise fundraising (major donors, legacies, corporate partnerships) and lead bids for multi‑year statutory contracts.
* Community & Partnerships: sustain and deepen strategic relationships with Westminster City Council, commissioners, local partners and corporate supporters to secure commissioned work and philanthropic income.
* Estate Stewardship: manage day‑to‑day stewardship of the Centre’s significant ageing building, overseeing maintenance, lease/compliance obligations and contractor relationships.
* People & Culture: build a cohesive senior team, embed clear role accountabilities, performance management and development, and protect the Centre’s welcoming culture while managing change.
* Brand & Profile: act as a visible ambassador locally and with funders to raise the Centre’s profile and champion its social value.
Who you are:
* A seasoned senior leader with proven experience in a small/medium charity, community organisation or social enterprise that combines front‑line delivery with significant premises/estate responsibility.
* Demonstrable track record of leading strategic development and delivering organisational growth while balancing hands‑on operational leadership.
* Strong commercial and earned‑income expertise, with experience of running successful commercial – ideally site‑based – operations.
* Confident in winning and managing statutory contracts and multi‑year grant programmes; credible with local authorities, commissioners and corporate partners.
* Financially literate with direct budget and cash‑flow accountability and experience of full‑cost recovery modelling.
* A collaborative, visible and warm ambassador who builds trust quickly, communicates clearly and can present concise management information to trustees.
Why The Abbey Centre?
* A powerful mission: deliver practical services, companionship and opportunity for south Westminster residents in a civic, high‑impact setting.
* A prominent, historic central Westminster location and a cherished community building offering scope for strategic estate planning and growth.
* A warm, loyal staff team and an engaged board navigating a positive leadership transition.
* A social enterprise model where successful trading directly funds frontline services and creates a platform for entrepreneurial leadership.
* The opportunity to shape a multi‑year strategy that secures the long‑term future of the charity and grows its impact in the community.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill at executive@harrishill.co.uk with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 12th January 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever‑improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
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