CEO

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Position description

At United for Global Mental Health, we are working towards a world where mental health support is accessible to everyone, everywhere – free from stigma and without restriction.

We are a small but highly influential organisation of around 20 passionate, diverse and expert individuals, and have a culture of creating the space and opportunities for them to lead their areas of expertise. Our strength lies in collaboration, internally and externally, and in our ability to turn insight into action. Kindness is our unofficial ethos.

The CEO is responsible for the overall leadership, management and performance of UnitedGMH. Reporting to the boards of UnitedGMH and the American Friends of United for Global Mental Health (AFUGMH), the CEO will set strategic direction, oversee delivery, and act as the organisation’s primary ambassador.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Lead in conjunction with the organisation’s senior staff the refinement and delivery of our global organisational strategy 2027-2030.
• Guide the organisation through periods of change, including strategy refresh and transformation.
• Draw on sector insight to ensure UnitedGMH remains at the forefront of global mental health advocacy.

Governance & Board Relationship

• Work closely with the boards of UnitedGMH and AFUGMH to ensure effective governance and decision-making.
• Oversee the preparation and sign-off of board papers; present regularly to the boards.
• Identify, recommend and support the recruitment of new members of both boards.
• Advise the boards on significant strategic decisions, including potential partnerships and organisational change.

Organisational Leadership

• Lead, support and inspire a high-performing and global team of approximately 20 staff.
• Where needed, oversee and support the delivery of multiple projects and programmes aligned with strategic priorities, in conjunction with the project leads.
• Foster a collaborative, kind, inclusive and values-driven culture that walks the talk on mental health.

External Engagement & Influence

• Represent the organisation with external partners, funders, policymakers and the wider sector.
• Build and manage relationships with key donors.
• Strengthen and expand strategic partnerships globally.
• Champion the organisation’s mission and influence key stakeholders in different regions across the world.
• Act as the organisation’s global spokesperson and support staff in building their profile as spokespeople for the organisation.

Finance & Organisational Planning

• Identify and agree organisational objectives, develop strategic and operational plans, and lead their implementation with a high level of autonomy, while reporting to the boards.
• Oversee organisational planning, budgeting, prioritisation and resource allocation to ensure delivery against strategic goals.
• Ensure the organisation has sufficient and sustainable funding to deliver against agreed budgets and strategic priorities.
• Maintain strong financial oversight and accountability, ensuring the organisation operates within budget and delivers across all agreed objectives.
• Monitor organisational performance against agreed deliverables, evaluating outcomes and adjusting plans where necessary to mitigate risk or adverse consequences.
• Ensure robust financial management, operational planning, and effective use of organisational resources across multiple programmes and projects.
• Bring together and oversee complex, cross-organisational initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered effectively and on time.
• Delegate effectively through senior leadership and management structures, maintaining a medium- and long-term strategic focus.

Fundraising & External Income Generation

• Lead and support organisational fundraising strategy to secure sustainable and diversified income streams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, donors, strategic partners and philanthropic stakeholders.
• Successfully secure and oversee fundraising contributions to meet a target set annually with the boards.
• Work with the boards and senior leadership team to identify new funding opportunities and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
• Ensure fundraising activities align with the organisation’s mission, values and strategic priorities.
• Represent the organisation externally to enhance visibility, influence and support for UnitedGMH’s work globally.

Risk, Compliance & Accountability

• Ensure strong organisational governance, compliance and risk management.
• Proactively identify and escalate policy breaches or serious incidents.
• Oversee finance, HR and operations functions in accordance with UK employment policies, and UK and US charity regulations.
• Act as the primary point of accountability to the boards and relevant regulatory bodies (including the Charity Commission and US authorities).
• Take responsibility for organisational risks, decisions and outcomes.

Our Dream CEO

As a team, we came together to discuss what qualities we are hoping for in a new CEO and leader. We’d love applications from candidates who see themselves in the team’s descriptions below.

Our dream CEO…

• shows kindness towards all partners regardless of seniority, institution or country.
• continues to uphold and protect the organisational transparency the team values.
• is a heart- and mind-led fundraiser – treating donors like people and not merely a source of income.
• provides space for team members to lead in their areas, but also supports / acts as a sounding board when needed.
• knows how to strategically place mental health in uncommon spaces.
• is happy to be approached by, and communicate with, team members from all seniority levels across the team.
• is someone who understands what it is to manage a remote organisation, and is interested in making UnitedGMH the best workplace it can be.
• is someone who can think a few steps ahead, identify trends, and interpret these for what this means for the organisation.
• has a solid understanding of, and proven experience in, managing the ´backbone´ functions of an organisation (budgeting, risk management, governance etc).
• has an understanding of UN systems, global health and international development.
• appreciates and champions the value that lived experience and people from the global majority bring to the mental health advocacy space.

Application instructions

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