Chief Executive Officer

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Location: London, UK (with occasional national and international travel)
Organisation: The Vavengers (Charity No: ) Reports to: Board of Trustees

Salary: £60,000 per annum

About The Vavengers

The Vavengers is a UK-based, survivor-led charity committed to ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and all other forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). We combine community outreach, education, campaigning, and direct support to create lasting change and elevate survivor voices nationally and internationally.

Role Overview

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to drive the organisation's mission, growth, and impact. This role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, financial sustainability, high-quality programme delivery, strong governance, and effective external relationships. The CEO is an inspiring leader who champions the charity's values and strategy, elevates its profile, and steers its work to influence national and international policy and advocacy, engage communities, and support survivors of violence. The Vavengers is a led-by-and-for organisation, we will prioritise those with lived experience of Gender-Based Violence for this role.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead development and implementation of The Vavengers' strategic plan aligned with its mission to end FGM/C and VAWG.

• Provide organisational leadership that promotes innovation, inclusivity, and evidence-based practice.

• Work closely with the Board of Trustees to set long-term goals, strategy and measure impact.

Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including programme delivery, staff performance, volunteer engagement, and quality assurance.

• Ensure robust organisational systems, safeguarding standards, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Financial Stewardship

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and risk management to ensure sustainability.

• Diversify income streams through fundraising, grants, partnerships, and donor stewardship and relations.

External Representation & Advocacy

• Serve as the public face of The Vavengers, speaking at events, media engagements, and key stakeholder forums.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, policymakers, community leaders, funders, and supporters, all at the national and international level

• Advance advocacy efforts to influence policy and social norms related to gender-based violence.

Team Development

• Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing team.

• Promote a positive organisational culture grounded in dignity, respect, and empowerment for survivors and staff alike.

Person Specification

Experience & Knowledge

• Significant senior leadership experience in the charity/non-profit sector or related fields.

• Deep understanding of gender-based violence, feminist and survivor-led approaches, and intersectional changemaking.

• Track record in organisational development, strategic planning and delivery, fundraising, and partnership building.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent communicator with strong public speaking and advocacy skills.

• Collaborative leader capable of inspiring teams and volunteers.

• Highly organised with strong financial literacy and decision-making ability.

• Commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed, and ethical practice.

Desirable

• Experience working within or with community outreach, educational programmes or VAWG services.

• Established network within gender equality, health, or human rights sectors.