Chief
February 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Age UK Islington.
We are seeking a Chief Executive to replace Sally Miller who is stepping down later this year after successfully leading our organisation for the last 5 years. Our success is reflected in the strong financial position and excellent reputation in the local community with clients, funders and partners.
We are providing an ideal opportunity for the new Chief Executive to build upon the strong foundations laid by Sally and lead us into the next phase of our development; a time of much change within the funding model alongside a steady increase in an ageing population with complex needs.
We need a Chief Executive who will grasp opportunities to enable us to achieve our goals and be committed to improve the health, welfare and wellbeing of those in our community to create for them a better future.
We have a committed and enthusiastic team of staff, volunteers and Trustees who you will work alongside to help achieve our strategic goals.
We enclose a pack of information about our organisational strategy, structure and ambitions with a job description and person specification. We aim to provide you with as much information as possible to assist with your decision as to whether to make our opportunity your next career move.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Diane Lennan Chair, Age UK Islington
Thank you for your interest in this role and for taking the time to read the contents of this information pack.
Who We Are
Our mission is to promote and assist the wellbeing of people in Islington.
The primary beneficiaries of the charity are people over 50 living in the London Borough of Islington. We also provide care navigation and support to people under 50 who are living with long term health conditions, and a specialised service for family carers. Another major focus is on reducing social isolation and loneliness.
Age UK Islington provides a variety of services such as counselling, befriending and a planning for the future service. We also provide wellbeing, information, advice and social prescribing.
The different service types we offer are designed to be tailored to people’s specific situations and their confidence and ability to cope. The ways we can help include: providing information; general and topic-specific advice and guidance; problem solving and enabling support over a number of weeks; intensive ‘case work’ for people with more long-standing or multi-faceted situations and challenges; proactive wellbeing screening calls; centre-based social activities; and community get-togethers.
All of our services are orientated towards helping people identify and head off problems before they turn into crises or become impossible to manage without intrusive and costly statutory help.
Strategy
Age UK Islington’s Strategy 2025-2028 is as follows:
1. Focus on prevention, early intervention and resilience.
2. Diversify funding and fundraising approaches.
3. Increase our partnership working, resource optimisation and consolidation.
4. Reach marginalised and underrepresented communities.
5. Increase our digital presence and support.
We will continue to build on existing relationships with the London Borough of Islington, NWL and NCL Integrated Care Board, the local NHS and local VCS.
Finances
AUKI is largely funded by long-term contracts for service delivery that we hold with the London Borough of Islington, the ICB and Islington GP Federation.
Organisation Chart
Age UK Islington is affiliated to Age UK under a Brand Partner Agreement. We are an independent charity with a governance and management infrastructure.
Governance Structure
Age UK Islington (AUKI) has a nine-person trustee board which meets six time a year. The majority of the board members are Islington residents.
There are two sub-committees of the board covering finance and governance. We are in the process of setting up a digital focused committee. These committees meet between two and six times a year.
AUKI is an independent charity and is a member of the Age UK federation of charities. As such, the Chief Executive may, from time to time, attend monthly meetings of Age UK London.
Job Description
Job Title
Chief Executive
Reporting to
Board of Trustees through the Chair
Organisation
Age UK Islington
Direct Reports
Three (overall staff of 44 plus c.80 volunteers)
Terms of Employment
Full-time – 5 day week. Flexible working scheme is in place.
Salary
circa £75,000 per annum
Location
Manor Gardens, London N7 6LA
Job Summary
To provide effective leadership and management of AUKI and its team to ensure strategic development and the long-term sustainability of the organisation.
Main Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Vision
• Deliver the mission of AUKI by developing its strategic direction and managing delivery.
• Develop a multi-year vision for the charity, and a strategy to deliver that vision. The strategy should creatively explore options that allow AUKI to leverage and maintain its leading position against a backdrop of significant external change.
• Build strong relationships with the trustees, staff and stakeholders, in particular London Borough of Islington, NHS bodies, voluntary sector partnerships and the wider Age UK network in order to achieve organisational objectives.
• Advise and support the Board of Trustees with appropriate information for effective decision-making and governance to maintain regulatory and risk requirements.
• Lead the development of new and existing products and services in line with AUKI’s strategic direction in order to improve quality and effectiveness.
• Identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities affecting older people locally and nationally and to be their advocate.
• Act as the public face of the organisation within the local community and on the regional and national platforms.
• Hold Company Secretary responsibilities for the organisation.
Income Generation
• Maintain the financial viability of the organisation with a strong and diverse stream of revenues, to deliver agreed financial goals and targets.
Job Description Continued
• Lead and support income generation activities and develop sustainable income opportunities, including fundraising, commissioned services, grants, and trading income.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with funders, commissioners and donors.
• Ensure the organisation can diversify and grow income streams where appropriate.
Leadership and Management
• Maintain and effectively manage a diverse AUKI team which promotes equality and inclusion and meets the needs of the organisation.
• Retain a supportive, positive and committed performance culture, ensuring appropriate professional, personal development and well being of the staff team.
• Ensure effective recruitment, development, performance management and wellbeing of staff.
Operational Management
• Oversee the effective day-to-day management of the charity, ensuring services are safe, high-quality, and impactful.
• Ensure policies, systems, and processes are fit for purpose and support continuous improvement.
• Monitor organisational performance against agreed objectives and KPIs.
Financial Management
• Hold overall responsibility for the financial health and sustainability of the organisation.
• Lead budgeting, financial planning, and cashflow management.
• Apply appropriate financial and management controls which comply with all relevant legal regulatory and Charity Act requirements.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
• Degree level education or equivalent work experience.
Relevant Experience
Essential
• Senior leadership experience, ideally within ideally within the voluntary, public, or community sector.
• Experience of working with or reporting to a Board or governing body.
• Experience of developing new opportunities and entrepreneurial activity within an organisation.
• Experience of negotiating with and influencing external clients, partners and funders, including at a senior level.
• Experience of leading, managing and inspiring teams and collaborative working.
• Experience of public speaking and giving presentations.
• Experience of income generation and contract negotiation.
• Experience of financial management at an organisational level
Specific Skills
Essential
• Knowledge of leading on strategic / business planning.
• Excellent leadership, organisational and people management skills.
• Ability to manage complex contracts within a tight budget.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, adaptable to a wide range of audiences.
• Consensus building skills.
• Presenting quality strategic/business plans.
• Ability to analyse and communicate financial information accurately and effectively.
Desirable
• Knowledge of dealing with all relevant regulatory agencies.
• Working within a federated network of charities.
Specific Specialist Knowledge
Essential
• Experience of working within the charity sector.
Desirable
• Familiarity with the health and social care sector.
• Experience of working closely with the NHS and/or local government.
Personal Competences
Essential
• Empathy with older people.
• Confident and persuasive leadership skills.
• Present complex and difficult messages clearly and with impact.
• Support and mentors others in their work and pursuit of their goals.
• Proactive and entrepreneurial: forward looking, spotting trends,challenges and opportunities.
• Manage conflicting demands effectively.
How to Apply
To apply for the role, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link below.
For guidance on formulating your Supporting Statement, please review our guide here
Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.
If you wish to apply using an alternative format please email us at: executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk
Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://jobs.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/ details/193780
At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.
Timetable
Closing date: Wednesday 4th March
Interviews with Prospectus: 10th-13th March
Engagement meeting with AUKI’s internal stakeholders and Panel Interviews: 20th March 2026
Queries
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Anna Gardet or Erica Ritchie at Prospectus via email: Anna.Gardet@prospect-us.co.uk Erica.Ritchie@prospect-us.co.uk
