Role title: Chief Executive
Reports to: Chair and Board of Trustees
Responsible for: Senior Management Team (3, plus an additional direct report), the wider staff team (c.16) and the volunteer team (c.40)
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 (depending on experience)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Applications for 0.8 FTE may be considered.
Location: Royal Maritime Hotel, Portsmouth, with scope for agreed hybrid working. The Chief Executive will be expected to maintain a regular and visible presence at VOS’s Portsmouth headquarters and delivery settings, alongside travel across the Solent, the Isle of Wight and the wider South East. Additional regional and national travel will be required for programme leadership, funder engagement, sector representation and partnership development.
Annual leave: 25 days per annum, plus public holidays
Pension: Workplace pension scheme (5% employer contribution)
Other benefits: Employee Assistance Programme, salary sacrifice scheme, subsidised parking, group life insurance, enhanced sick pay and cycle-to-work scheme
The role requires the ability to travel independently across VOS’s delivery locations and attend meetings and events regionally and nationally when required.
The Chief Executive will provide inspiring, values-led and accountable leadership to Veterans Outreach Support (VOS), ensuring that the charity delivers safe, effective and person-centred support to Armed Forces and Merchant Navy veterans, their families and carers. The postholder will lead VOS in delivering locally, leading regionally and influencing nationally, while ensuring that its development and external influence remain grounded in the needs of the people and communities it serves.
Working closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team, the Chief Executive will lead VOS’s strategic direction and retain overall executive responsibility for its leadership, performance and sustainability. They will ensure that VOS has the people, partnerships, systems and financial resources required to achieve its ambitions, while maintaining high standards of governance, safeguarding, clinical assurance and organisational performance.
This role will suit an experienced and adaptable leader who is comfortable moving between strategic leadership, external representation and hands-on organisational delivery. They will bring an agile and collaborative style, sound judgement and a visible, approachable presence with staff, volunteers and the people who use VOS’s services. They will also have the credibility and relationship-building skills to represent VOS locally, regionally and nationally.
Leadership and strategy
Work with the Board of Trustees to develop and deliver a clear, ambitious and sustainable strategy for VOS, translating this into operational plans, budgets and measurable priorities.
Provide visible, values-led leadership to staff and volunteers, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
Lead, support and develop the Senior Management Team, ensuring clear accountability, effective delegation and strong cross-organisational working.
Ensure that the needs and experiences of veterans, families and carers remain central to VOS’s strategy and decision-making.
Anticipate changes in need, policy, funding and service provision, identifying appropriate opportunities for partnership, service development and sustainable growth.
Balance VOS’s responsibilities as a local service provider, regional leader and contributor to national learning and influence.
Governance, risk and organisational performance
Act as the principal executive adviser to the Chair and Board, providing accurate, timely and accessible information on strategy, performance, finance, service quality, risk and external developments.
Ensure VOS complies with its governing document and relevant statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements, supported by effective systems for internal control, delegated authority, policy review, risk management and business continuity.
Ensure significant organisational, financial, clinical, safeguarding, operational and reputational risks are appropriately managed, and establish clear objectives and performance measures for the Senior Management Team.
Ensure that major projects, contracts and collaborative programmes have appropriate governance, accountable leadership, delivery plans, budgets, risk controls, data and reporting arrangements, evaluation frameworks and exit or sustainability plans. Maintain sufficient executive oversight to identify emerging delivery, financial or partnership risks and intervene promptly where required.
Work with the Chair to support effective Board and committee meetings, trustee induction, development and succession planning.
Financial sustainability and income generation
Take executive responsibility for the financial health and long-term sustainability of VOS.
Work with the Finance Manager and VOS Finance & Remuneration Committee to oversee budgets, forecasts, cash flow, reserves, restricted funds and longer-term financial planning and value-for-money decision-making.
Provide the Board with clear and accurate financial information, ensuring timely action is taken where performance varies from agreed plans.
Maintain strong relationships with existing funders, including the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, ensuring clear communication, high-quality reporting and confidence in the charity’s leadership and delivery.
Continue to build a balanced portfolio of income from appropriate sources, providing leadership and overseeing significant funding from grants, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, community fundraising and individual giving.
Oversee effective grant and contract management, funder reporting and stewardship.
Service quality, safeguarding and impact
Ensure VOS delivers safe, caring, responsive, effective, and well-led person-centred welfare, wellbeing and mental health services.
Work closely with senior clinical and care leaders to ensure robust clinical governance, professional oversight and quality assurance, while respecting the independence and integrity of clinical decision-making.
Hold day-to-day executive responsibility for ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are implemented across VOS, while supporting the Board to discharge its ultimate governance responsibility for safeguarding.
Ensure that safeguarding policies, safer recruitment, training, supervision and reporting arrangements reflect current legislation and recognised good practice.
Oversee responses to serious incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns, ensuring that service-quality issues are appropriately managed, investigated and reported, and that learning is used to strengthen organisational practice.
Promote meaningful involvement of veterans, families and carers in the design, review and improvement of VOS’s services.
Strengthen the collection and use of outcomes, feedback and impact evidence to improve services, inform strategic decisions and demonstrate effectiveness to trustees, funders and partners.
Maintain and develop appropriate quality standards and accreditations, including VOS’s accreditation through the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services.
Ensure that VOS has proportionate, secure and effective information, data and technology systems, including appropriate arrangements for cyber security, data quality, management information, digital access and business continuity. Champion the consistent use of reliable evidence and digital tools to improve services, support partnership working and meet governance, contractual and funder requirements.
People and Culture
Ensure VOS attracts, supports, develops and retains skilled and committed staff and volunteers.
Foster a positive and inclusive culture based on VOS’s values, promoting effective communication, collaboration and shared ownership across the organisation.
Oversee effective workforce planning, recruitment, induction, objective-setting, appraisal, professional development and performance management.
Partnerships, profile and influence
Act as a credible and compelling ambassador for VOS, communicating its purpose, impact and priorities clearly to a wide range of audiences.
Build trusted relationships with funders, commissioners, NHS services, local authorities, Armed Forces organisations, charities, businesses and delivery partners.
Protect and develop VOS’s partnership-based model, recognising that effective support frequently depends on coordinated action across organisational boundaries.
Strengthen VOS’s position as a trusted local provider, regional systems leader and contributor to national learning and policy, including through VALOUR, Thrive Together South East, VOS’s wider collaborative programmes and its contribution to the Cobseo Executive Committee*.
Ensure partnership, consortium and subcontracting arrangements have clear responsibilities, appropriate due diligence, proportionate oversight and agreed measures of success.
Provide strategic oversight of VOS’s public profile, brand, digital communications and media activity.
Ensure external communications protect confidentiality and dignity and reflect appropriate consent and safeguarding considerations.
Share evidence, experience and learning from VOS’s services to influence wider policy, commissioning and practice.
*Please note that the Chief Executive of VOS holds a seat on the Cobseo Executive Committee. It is a 3-year post, with approximately 1 year left when the new Chief Executive assumes their role.
General responsibilities
Uphold and model VOS’s charitable purpose, vision, mission and values.
Maintain the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional conduct.
Ensure compliance with data protection, information governance, health and safety and employment requirements.
Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities and seniority of the role, as requested by the Chair or Board of Trustees.
The responsibilities set out above are indicative rather than exhaustive and may evolve as VOS’s strategy, services and operating environment develop.
Role title: Chief Executive
Reports to: Chair and Board of Trustees
Responsible for: Senior Management Team (3, plus an additional direct report), the wider staff team (c.16) and the volunteer team (c.40)
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 (depending on experience)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Applications for 0.8 FTE may be considered.
Location: Royal Maritime Hotel, Portsmouth, with scope for agreed hybrid working. The Chief Executive will be expected to maintain a regular and visible presence at VOS’s Portsmouth headquarters and delivery settings, alongside travel across the Solent, the Isle of Wight and the wider South East. Additional regional and national travel will be required for programme leadership, funder engagement, sector representation and partnership development.
Annual leave: 25 days per annum, plus public holidays
Pension: Workplace pension scheme (5% employer contribution)
Other benefits: Employee Assistance Programme, salary sacrifice scheme, subsidised parking, group life insurance, enhanced sick pay and cycle-to-work scheme
The role requires the ability to travel independently across VOS’s delivery locations and attend meetings and events regionally and nationally when required.
The Chief Executive will provide inspiring, values-led and accountable leadership to Veterans Outreach Support (VOS), ensuring that the charity delivers safe, effective and person-centred support to Armed Forces and Merchant Navy veterans, their families and carers. The postholder will lead VOS in delivering locally, leading regionally and influencing nationally, while ensuring that its development and external influence remain grounded in the needs of the people and communities it serves.
Working closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team, the Chief Executive will lead VOS’s strategic direction and retain overall executive responsibility for its leadership, performance and sustainability. They will ensure that VOS has the people, partnerships, systems and financial resources required to achieve its ambitions, while maintaining high standards of governance, safeguarding, clinical assurance and organisational performance.
This role will suit an experienced and adaptable leader who is comfortable moving between strategic leadership, external representation and hands-on organisational delivery. They will bring an agile and collaborative style, sound judgement and a visible, approachable presence with staff, volunteers and the people who use VOS’s services. They will also have the credibility and relationship-building skills to represent VOS locally, regionally and nationally.
and duties
Leadership and strategy
Work with the Board of Trustees to develop and deliver a clear, ambitious and sustainable strategy for VOS, translating this into operational plans, budgets and measurable priorities.
Provide visible, values-led leadership to staff and volunteers, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
Lead, support and develop the Senior Management Team, ensuring clear accountability, effective delegation and strong cross-organisational working.
Ensure that the needs and experiences of veterans, families and carers remain central to VOS’s strategy and decision-making.
Anticipate changes in need, policy, funding and service provision, identifying appropriate opportunities for partnership, service development and sustainable growth.
Balance VOS’s responsibilities as a local service provider, regional leader and contributor to national learning and influence.
Governance, risk and organisational performance
Act as the principal executive adviser to the Chair and Board, providing accurate, timely and accessible information on strategy, performance, finance, service quality, risk and external developments.
Ensure VOS complies with its governing document and relevant statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements, supported by effective systems for internal control, delegated authority, policy review, risk management and business continuity.
Ensure significant organisational, financial, clinical, safeguarding, operational and reputational risks are appropriately managed, and establish clear objectives and performance measures for the Senior Management Team.
Ensure that major projects, contracts and collaborative programmes have appropriate governance, accountable leadership, delivery plans, budgets, risk controls, data and reporting arrangements, evaluation frameworks and exit or sustainability plans. Maintain sufficient executive oversight to identify emerging delivery, financial or partnership risks and intervene promptly where required.
Work with the Chair to support effective Board and committee meetings, trustee induction, development and succession planning.
Financial sustainability and income generation
Take executive responsibility for the financial health and long-term sustainability of VOS.
Work with the Finance Manager and VOS Finance & Remuneration Committee to oversee budgets, forecasts, cash flow, reserves, restricted funds and longer-term financial planning and value-for-money decision-making.
Provide the Board with clear and accurate financial information, ensuring timely action is taken where performance varies from agreed plans.
Maintain strong relationships with existing funders, including the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, ensuring clear communication, high-quality reporting and confidence in the charity’s leadership and delivery.
Continue to build a balanced portfolio of income from appropriate sources, providing leadership and overseeing significant funding from grants, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, community fundraising and individual giving.
Oversee effective grant and contract management, funder reporting and stewardship.
Service quality, safeguarding and impact
Ensure VOS delivers safe, caring, responsive, effective, and well-led person-centred welfare, wellbeing and mental health services.
Work closely with senior clinical and care leaders to ensure robust clinical governance, professional oversight and quality assurance, while respecting the independence and integrity of clinical decision-making.
Hold day-to-day executive responsibility for ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are implemented across VOS, while supporting the Board to discharge its ultimate governance responsibility for safeguarding.
Ensure that safeguarding policies, safer recruitment, training, supervision and reporting arrangements reflect current legislation and recognised good practice.
Oversee responses to serious incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns, ensuring that service-quality issues are appropriately managed, investigated and reported, and that learning is used to strengthen organisational practice.
Promote meaningful involvement of veterans, families and carers in the design, review and improvement of VOS’s services.
Strengthen the collection and use of outcomes, feedback and impact evidence to improve services, inform strategic decisions and demonstrate effectiveness to trustees, funders and partners.
Maintain and develop appropriate quality standards and accreditations, including VOS’s accreditation through the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Quality Network for Veterans Mental Health Services.
Ensure that VOS has proportionate, secure and effective information, data and technology systems, including appropriate arrangements for cyber security, data quality, management information, digital access and business continuity. Champion the consistent use of reliable evidence and digital tools to improve services, support partnership working and meet governance, contractual and funder requirements.
People and Culture
Ensure VOS attracts, supports, develops and retains skilled and committed staff and volunteers.
Foster a positive and inclusive culture based on VOS’s values, promoting effective communication, collaboration and shared ownership across the organisation.
Oversee effective workforce planning, recruitment, induction, objective-setting, appraisal, professional development and performance management.
Partnerships, profile and influence
Act as a credible and compelling ambassador for VOS, communicating its purpose, impact and priorities clearly to a wide range of audiences.
Build trusted relationships with funders, commissioners, NHS services, local authorities, Armed Forces organisations, charities, businesses and delivery partners.
Protect and develop VOS’s partnership-based model, recognising that effective support frequently depends on coordinated action across organisational boundaries.
Strengthen VOS’s position as a trusted local provider, regional systems leader and contributor to national learning and policy, including through VALOUR, Thrive Together South East, VOS’s wider collaborative programmes and its contribution to the Cobseo Executive Committee*.
Ensure partnership, consortium and subcontracting arrangements have clear responsibilities, appropriate due diligence, proportionate oversight and agreed measures of success.
Provide strategic oversight of VOS’s public profile, brand, digital communications and media activity.
Ensure external communications protect confidentiality and dignity and reflect appropriate consent and safeguarding considerations.
Share evidence, experience and learning from VOS’s services to influence wider policy, commissioning and practice.
*Please note that the Chief Executive of VOS holds a seat on the Cobseo Executive Committee. It is a 3-year post, with approximately 1 year left when the new Chief Executive assumes their role.
General responsibilities
Uphold and model VOS’s charitable purpose, vision, mission and values.
Maintain the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional conduct.
Ensure compliance with data protection, information governance, health and safety and employment requirements.
Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the responsibilities and seniority of the role, as requested by the Chair or Board of Trustees.
The responsibilities set out above are indicative rather than exhaustive and may evolve as VOS’s strategy, services and operating environment develop.