The Chief Executive Officer will provide visionary, strategic leadership to Preston North End Community and Education Trust (PNECET), ensuring its activities, programmes and partnerships deliver maximum social impact and align fully with the 2024-2027 strategy. The CEO will be responsible for driving growth, organisational excellence, financial sustainability, governance, safeguarding, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy on behalf of the charity and the communities it serves.
Type of Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Preston North End Football Club, Sir Tom Finney Way, Deepdale, Preston, PR1 6RU
Salary: £58,000 to £65,000 per annum, depending on experience
Team: Executive Management Team
Closing date: Wednesday 10th of December at 5pm
Invitation for interviews will be sent on: Thursday 11th December 2025
Interview dates
* Stage 1 - Wednesday 17th December 2025 and if successful;
* Stage 2 - Friday 19th December 2025
Benefits
* Company laptop and mobile phone
* Expenses
* Company car allowance - £500 per month
* Up to 35 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
* Training and workforce development opportunities
* Free on-site parking
* Opportunities to represent PNECET on National and International trips.
* Health Insurance and perks through Health Shield.
* Death in service insurance.
* Employee of the month awards and benefits.
* Two complimentary season tickets
* Free childcare places on PNECET half term provision for children 5-11 years old.
Purpose of the Role
Strategic Leadership and Vision
* Lead the development, implementation and ongoing review of the 2024-2027 strategy #NorthEndTogether, ensuring the organisation's mission, vision and values permeate throughout.
* Set organisational objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with the strategy's core areas: Community Engagement, Education and Employment; Health and Wellbeing.
* Promote innovation in programme design, ensuring PNECET remains responsive to community needs, inclusive and impactful.
* Ensure that PNECET effectively utilises the unique platform of Preston North End Football Club to address community challenges and inspire positive change.
Programme Delivery and Impact
* Oversee the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of high-quality programmes across the three core strands; Health & wellbeing, Education and Employment and Community Engagement.
* Ensure robust measurement of outcomes, continuous improvement, and that the strategy's targets are achieved.
* Promote equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of work; ensure programmes break down barriers and create inclusive environments.
Financial and Operational Management
* Set and monitor the annual budget. Manage the financial health of the organisation; ensuring income generation, cost management, appropriate reserves, and sound governance.
* Produce and deliver monthly financial reports to the Chair of Trustees and Club management team.
* Oversee operations including staffing, performance management, risk management, compliance and safeguarding.
* Ensure that the organisational infrastructure (systems, policies, partnerships) is scalable and supports future growth and ambition.
Stakeholder and Partnership Engagement
* Act as the primary ambassador for PNECET; cultivating and sustaining strategic relationships with the club, funders, commissioners, community partners, and volunteers.
* Drive fundraising, sponsorship and commercial partnerships, identifying new income streams, collaborating with key partners, promoting the PNECET and PNEFC brand, and securing financial sustainability.
Duties and Responsibilities
* Ensure engagement and consultation with the community; listening to community voice, ensuring programmes respond to need, promoting community ownership of work.
Governance and Board Relations
* Work closely with the Board of Trustees, providing timely, accurate information to support strategic decision making.
* Prepare and deliver financial Trustee packs quarterly at board meetings.
* Ensure effective governance, regulatory compliance charity law adherence, and risk management.
* Lead organisational culture: inspire staff, volunteers, foster a positive inclusive working environment, encourage professional development, ensure high performance, and reflect organisational values.
Advocacy, Reputation and Innovation
* Serve as an external advocate for PNECET and its mission - raising awareness of community issues in Preston and positioning PNECET as a partner of choice.
* Lead on the development of Preston North End Women's football team and the strategic development, ensuring it aligns with the values of PNEFC.
* Promote innovation and development listening to the community needs and values.
* Ensure effective communications: telling the story of impact, demonstrating accountability, celebrating success, and building the PNECET brand.
* Represent PNECET at internal PNEFC governance groups such as but not limited to: Safeguarding, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Health and Safety.
* Represent PNECET within the Preston City Council's Anchor Board.
* Promote an inclusive approach, ensuring that all members of the community can enjoy and benefit from participating in Preston North End Community and Education Trust activities.
About The Candidate
Essential criteria - Qualifications
* Educated to Degree Standard.
* A teaching, sport development or management accredited qualification.
* Evidence of Continuous Professional Development.
Desirable criteria - Qualifications
Essential criteria - Skills and Experience
* A minimum of five years' experience in a similar senior leadership role.
* Commercially astute with a proven experience of attracting and maintaining funding.
* Experience of strategic leadership, organisational change and positive outcomes.
* Experience of project, development and management. Maintaining working relationships with staff, volunteers, businesses and other senior leaders.
* Experience of creating and managing all aspects of finances and reporting to senior leaders and Board of Trustees.
* Knowledge and experience of inspiring, leading and motivating staff and volunteers to deliver outstanding delivery.
* A thorough understanding of what constitutes outstanding provision in the area of community development and experience of leading an organisation to meet those high standards in all areas.
* Knowledge of local and national community needs.
* Knowledge and experience of negotiating complex contracts and agreements.
* Knowledge and understanding of Sport Coaching, Football or Business Management Degree courses.
About The Club
About Us
We are Preston North End Community and Education Trust, the official charity of Preston North End Football Club. (Registered Charity No. 1130773).
We employ over 40 full-time staff to deliver the life enhancing work of the charity. Utilising the power of Preston North End Football Club, we address the needs of our community through:
* Health and Wellbeing support
* Providing opportunities through accessible Education and:
* Connecting the Community through positive Engagement.
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