Vacancies

About the Role

As CEO, you will be responsible for:

● Strategic Leadership & Vision – Shaping the future of The Grand, ensuring our services continue to meet the needs of the local community while identifying new opportunities for growth and innovation.

● Operational & Financial Management – Overseeing the day-to-day delivery of services, ensuring financial sustainability, and managing budgets effectively.

● Community Impact & Development – Strengthening relationships with external partners, stakeholders, and funders to expand our reach and enhance our impact in Gravesham.

● Governance & Board Support – Providing the Board of Directors with the insights and information needed to make key decisions, ensuring compliance with best governance practices.

The Impact of the Role

The CEO will:

● Empower individuals and families by ensuring accessible, high-quality health and wellbeing services.

● Support young people by expanding programmes that nurture confidence, creativity, and future aspirations.

● Strengthen community resilience by addressing social inequalities and engaging those most in need.

● Nurture long term partnerships and strategic relationships with cross sector stakeholders to provide high quality provision across a range of activities.

● Secure the future of The Grand, positioning it as a model of excellence in community-led initiatives across Kent.

Who We’re Looking For

We need an experienced, passionate and driven individual with:

● A deep understanding of the challenges faced by people of all ages in areas of multiple deprivation, ideally in the Kent region.

● Proven leadership and strategic planning experience, ideally within the charity, public health, or community development sectors.

● Strong financial acumen and the ability to manage budgets, fund raise from a diverse range of sources, and compile grant applications

● Excellent relationship-building skills to work with partners, funders, and the wider community, able to manage multiple, and often conflicting needs with diplomacy and a respect for all.

ABOUT THE GRAND

We’re a small but dedicated team of experienced professionals who work to improve local people’s quality of life, health and wellbeing. We’re a not-for-profit organisation relying on external funding to deliver our work.

The work we do is in-depth and changes people’s lives. Preventative services and universal access are key to the work we do. We remove barriers to allow everyone the opportunity to access support, take part in fun, varied and engaging opportunities and work alongside qualified professionals.

The combination of programmes and projects we offer support different needs in the community. We have important partnerships with external organisations both locally and nationally helping to drive and enable the work we do.

As an organisation we have faced many challenges this year. Funding is always a key objective. Additionally, we have faced the added challenge of Kent County Council ending their commissioned youth services for the entire county. Our young people took a leading role in fighting these cuts, gaining national media interest. But sadly, the contract ended in March 2025.

So, we enter a new era for the organisation. One which sees us review our services, the needs of the people we work with and our partnerships. We will work to source new funding and explore new income streams. There has never been a greater time for our services in the community.

We relish the challenge but have a realistic approach to the mountain we need to climb to continue to support the community.

MISSION, CORE PRINCIPLES & VALUES

We work to address the needs of young people and to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community, especially those with disadvantages or from hard-to-reach groups.

We recognise that our targeted programmes, based on preventative health care and supported interventions, directly contribute to reducing health inequalities and improving overall wellbeing.

Our work focuses on 3 distinct areas:

• Supporting the development of young people via Gifted Young Gravesham

• Improving the health and wellbeing of the local community

• Delivering a Healthy Living Centre

Our work is underpinned by a set of core principles and values:

• Universal, thereby open to all

• Preventative approach

• Informal education

• Relationship based

• Fun & enjoyable

• Community focused

Our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of all people in our community; to support young people to grow and achieve; and to promote and celebrate the opportunities, diversity and creativity that a place can have on personal health and wellbeing.

ADULT SERVICES

Preventative services are key in our work to improve the health and wellbeing of adults and reduce the impact on front line NHS support. The combination of programmes we provide offer support to the varied range of needs people have.

Exercise Classes

Gravesham has the lowest number of physically active adults in Kent - just 59% with 63% of adults listed as overweight or obese.

Working closely with our One You Kent colleagues from Gravesham Borough Council, (who deliver their work through The Grand), we have achieved the highest number of exercise participants in Kent via our free programme.

Our regular Grand Active exercise classes are open to any member of the public for people over the age of 18 years.

English Classes

As an area with some of the highest levels of diversity in Kent, we have constant demand for English classes from adults in the borough. We have delivered weekly classes for more than 6 years supporting people from Europe, Kazakhstan and more recently countries including

Ukraine.

Each person receives 20 hours of lessons based over 12 weeks. The lessons introduce basic English language based on useful phrases and conversational English they can be used in everyday life - increasing confidence and self independence to carry out tasks.

Adult Singing Classes

One Voice Singing Group - a social group for adults, increasing confidence, fostering friendships and reducing loneliness. Our weekly group is designed for people who want to make friends, increase their confidence and be able to take part in an activity they enjoy.

Research in 2019 on the power of singing as a group, found positive benefits on a person’s mental health and wellbeing; enhancing mood, boosting immune systems, lowering blood pressure, reduced feelings of chronic pain and building self-confidence. All of which contribute to our aims for preventative services.

This year approximately 100 people attended the evening sessions we offer. The group talk about the positive impact on their lives that singing together has made.

PURPOSE OF JOB

The Grand’s CEO is the lead staff member responsible for the day-to-day provision of services, strategy development as well as the overview of finances, income generation and administrative systems.

The CEO will ensure the strategic leadership, direction, planning and performance of The Grand and support the Board of Directors, ensuring that they have the appropriate information to make decisions.

Board of Directors Support

● Work closely with the Board and Chair to maintain a strong and effective working Board of Directors, ensuring a balanced range of skills, diversity and experience that reflects the community that The Grand serves.

● Proactively support the Board in upholding and developing the vision and values of The Grand.

● Regularly assess and address training and succession planning needs for Board members.

● Ensure all delegated duties from the Board are fully and effectively carried out.

● Ensure the effective and articulate management and delivery of Board Papers are delivered in a timely manner for ease of decision making.

● Deliver all duties effectively and diligently as delegated by the Board.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

● Advise the Board on key operational and strategic matters, ensuring alignment with long-term goals.

● Lead and coordinate the annual strategy and business planning process, ensuring clear objectives for staff and freelance facilitators.

● Strengthen collaboration with regional and county-wide Healthy Living Centres to enhance service delivery across Gravesham and Kent.

● Support the Board in defining and achieving The Grand’s strategic aims and objectives, ensuring compliance with statutory policies.

● Develop and present annual budgets and cash flow reports to the Board, ensuring a robust, sustainable and realistic financial plan.

● Ensure The Grand has sufficient human, financial, and technological resources to implement its policies and objectives.

● Implement appropriate staff training and appraisal processes to ensure employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively deliver their roles, including regular feedback and assessments to identify areas for improvement.

● Maintain cohesive and positive working relationships between The Grand and external partners to deliver the Grand;s strategy and increase funding opportunities.

● Lead on the implementation of a Business & Fundraising Development Strategy (developed by Culture Rise) to secure and develop The Grand’s ongoing financial sustainability.

Staff Management

● Lead, motivate, and manage a team delivering both Adult and Youth Services, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and performance excellence.

● Ensure accurate salary processing and compliance with employer obligations.

● Implement effective recruitment and selection processes to attract and retain high-caliber staff.

● Oversee communications across The Grand and GYG, including social media, website updates, press releases, and public relations.

● Ensure marketing and communications strategies effectively promote The Grand’s events, services, and impact.

• Establish comprehensive induction and appraisal programmes, setting personal goals and performance targets for staff.

● Provide regular support and supervision to ensure effective teamwork across Adult and Youth Services.

● Identify and address staff training and development needs, fostering continuous professional growth.

● Oversee the day-to-day management of The Grand and its operations in its current base at The Methodist Church.

● Cultivate an inclusive and respectful organisational culture where all staff feel valued and respected.

● Serve as the Lead Safeguarding Officer, and work alongside the Youth Work Manager to ensure all safeguarding policies, procedures, and training are in place and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

Local and External Networking & Partnerships

● Act as a visible and accessible leader, ensuring The Grand remains responsive to local needs, trends, and challenges.

● Engage with statutory sector partners to identify community needs and contribute to local area planning.

● Develop strong partnerships with voluntary and statutory sector organisations to create new collaborative projects.

● Manage relationships with donors, funders, and corporate partners, identifying and developing new funding opportunities.

● Represent The Grand in networks and partnership meetings, ensuring resources are maximised through collaborative working across the county and Southeast region.

● Promote community engagement, ensuring people of all ages and backgrounds actively participate in The Grand’s services, volunteering, and governance.

● Manage any tenancy agreements in relation to the Healthy Living Centre, maintaining good relationships with occupants and facility management teams.

Legal Compliance & Governance

● Advise the Board on governance, legal compliance, and regulatory requirements.

● Maintain all Companies House and CIC Regulator documentation, including annual

reports, accounts, and amendments to the CIC’s Articles of Association.

● Ensure full legal compliance across The Grand’s Adult and Youth Services.

Decision-Making

● Maintain an evidence-based approach to decision-making.

● Prioritise effectively to meet deadlines and organisational objectives.

● Understand decision-making authority limits and escalate key issues to the Board as needed.

Probationary Period

The successful applicant will be assessed on their performance by the Board of Directors no sooner than 6 months after appointment.

This assessment will review compliance with all aspects of the Post’s Job Description and Person Specification during this period and will lead to an offer of (a) unconditional permanent employment; (b) conditional continued employment with an extended probationary period; or

(c), severance of employment subject to agreed actions in the terms and conditions of employment.

Further details will be provided in the terms and conditions of employment and the Postholder will also be given the opportunity to showcase their successes and suggest possible improvements to their Job Description and Person Specification as part of this process.

The postholder will be expected to undertake other duties as appropriate to the grade to fulfill the responsibilities of the post.

The duties of the post may occasionally require some evening or weekend working for which time off in lieu will be given.