CEO / Executive Director

Responsibilities & Duties for Chief Executive Roles

A Chief Executive, Chief Executive Officer or CEO is the most senior remunerated member of staff. A Chief Executive is the day-to-day leader of their organisation and reports to the Board, usually via the Chair. They are responsible for the charity’s operational performance and the link between the strategic planning of the non-executive Trustee board and the implementation by the senior management team. Whilst the exact duties of a Chief Executive will vary due to the nature of their organisation, this is the common feature throughout.

Skills Required for Chief Executive Jobs

A Chief Executive role requires a mix of skills including strategic planning and managerial leadership. All CEO’s are likely to have a blend of these skills, as well as the ability and experience to represent their organisation at a senior level. Other requirements for a Chief Executive in the non-profit sector depend on the strategy and goals of the organisation; some may require more skills relating to campaigning and raising profile, whilst others may require skills relating to the charities operations and expert knowledge on a key subject area.

CEOs or Executive Directors often have a background as Programmes/Services/Operations Directors or Fundraising/Marketing Directors, but senior executives from all disciplines such as Finance or Business Management also make attractive candidates for a range of charity executive jobs.

Many people aspire to become a CEO and lead an organisation, but a high percentage decide that the responsibility, complexity, and hours of work are not for them and revert to a functional director position instead.