Intro

This is an exciting opportunity to join a passionate business that helps the private sector to play a transformational role within their communities. For the last 15 years Ahead Partnership has been helping businesses of all sizes and sectors to deliver social value projects that overcome inequality, promote opportunity and deliver positive change within society.

We are now looking for an exceptional individual to join us as Chief Operating Officer.

Our work

Ahead Partnership is a purpose-driven business that reinvests surpluses into its programmes.  We believe that it takes the combined resources of business, public and community partners to build a successful and resilient society where everyone, regardless of their background, can flourish. Founded and headquartered in Leeds, but operating nationally, our Vision, Mission and Values  define what we do and how we work.

Our design-led approach is flexible, creative and dynamic to allow the development of experimental programmes and partnership solutions to address specific societal needs.   We are proud of all our work to date which has focused on working with business to tackle disadvantage, strengthen communities, grow enterprise and develop skills.

Over recent years we have helped the Goldman Sachs Foundation to establish its very successful 10,000 Small Business Programme in the UK. We have also developed an exciting programme of employer-led careers inspiration activity. This is helping young people approach their working futures with greater insight and confidence, whilst narrowing skills gaps in critical areas of the economy. To date, this programme has inspired and developed the skills of over 250,000 school students through activity supported by over 2000 different employers across the country.

Our client portfolio is diverse and full of further potential. It includes large national and international companies such as PwC, Ove Arup, Landsec, John Lewis Partnership, First Group and Pinsent Masons through to public bodies such as Local Enterprise Partnerships and local authorities.

Our team

Our work is rewarding and delivers significant stretch, challenge and development for our team.  Diversity, inclusion and individuality lie at the heart of how we work but we know that we can improve what we do in this area and are committed to learning and growing.

Whilst we are a small, committed team, we are at the heart of a very significant network of clients and partners, who share in our vision and work with us to achieve amazing results. We know we can build on success to date and grow our collective impact further.

The role  

As we emerge from a global pandemic and look ahead to the challenges that the future holds, we are experiencing an upsurge in demand for support from businesses who want to make a meaningful contribution to recovery through their social and community programmes. This is opening up opportunities to develop current programmes and introduce new services.  

The Chief Operating Officer will work with the Chief Executive and wider team to shape our response. Building on our current strengths, they will lead the development of new services and programmes and develop and embed a design and consultancy-led approach across the business that delivers outstanding results for our partners.  By anticipating market demand and opportunity, they will grow our business and the impact of our work by positioning Ahead Partnership as a leader within our chosen fields, growing our client base and securing new lines of income to meet agreed business targets and KPIs. 

The current CEO is the founder of the business and recruitment to this role is seen as part of succession planning for the future. 

This role is multi-faceted and hands-on; we operate a non-hierarchical structure and do not have layers of management. The right applicant will need to learn quickly and on the job. Candidates who do not currently meet every requirement of the role are encouraged to apply if they can show they have the desire and ability to develop into new areas.

Eligibility and Application Information

Applicants will only be accepted from candidates who are authorised to work for any UK employer.

We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint associated with travel. Candidates should ideally be able to drive, have a clean driving licence and access to a car for cases where travel by car cannot be avoided.

Ahead Partnership celebrate diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment or identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

To download the full job pack including all the role specification, and apply for this role please click here

Deadline: Monday 31 May 2021