Lead a National Voice Driving Cardiovascular Health in the UK
Chief Executive – HEART UK
Location: Hybrid, with regular national engagement
Salary: Up to £90,000 dependent on experience
Type: Full time
About HEART UK
HEART UK is the nation’s leading cholesterol charity - an organisation with a powerful voice, a bold mission, and the potential to transform millions of lives. With high cholesterol affecting up to half of the UK population, our work spans patients, clinicians, policymakers and the general public. The organisation is known and respected for its expertise, evidence based advocacy, and the ability to convene national conversations on cardiovascular health at the highest levels.
HEART UK is a dynamic, values driven charity with a turnover of c.£2m and a deeply committed team. Its influence rivals organisations many times its size, and they are poised for significant strategic growth. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a national health charity that is respected across clinical, policy and patient communities, and ready to scale its impact further.
What You Can Look Forward To
As CEO, you will shape the future direction of a charity with profound purpose and national significance.
You will:
• Drive Strategic Growth and Innovation
• Influence National Policy
• Strengthen Income and Build Long Term Sustainability
• Lead and Inspire a Dedicated Team
Why This Role Matters:
• The cause is vast and urgent
• HEART UK’s voice is powerful and its influence is national
• The organisational culture is exceptional
• Your impact will be visible and immediate
• You will be leading at a pivotal moment
About You
HEART UK seek a leader who combines emotional intelligence, commercial strength and strategic vision.
Skills and Experience
• Strong track record in charity leadership, senior operational roles, or income generation leadership
• Skilled relationship builder comfortable with high level external representation
• Ability to oversee marketing/comms development (specialist knowledge not essential)
• Experience leading organisations through growth or transformation
• Health sector knowledge helpful but not required – learning will be supported in house
Personal Attributes
• Visionary and strategic, with a passion for public health
• Empathetic, people centred and values driven
• Adaptable, resilient and skilled at navigating complexity
• Confident communicator with natural presence and credibility
• Hands on, practical and comfortable working at pace in a small, high achieving charity
Recruitment Timeline
To ensure equitable access to information and uphold HEART UK’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the charity will be hosting a Q&A webinar in place of individual informal calls with the Chair/Outgoing CEO. We encourage all interested candidates to submit questions in advance, which will be addressed during the session. Please register your interest in attending this webinar on Tuesday 14th April 2026 and we will send you a link.
Application Deadline: 5pm Friday 1st May 2026
First Interviews: w/c 1st June 2026
Final Interviews: w/c 8th June 2026
How to Apply
Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor HEART UK on this appointment. Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV to seniorappointments@charitypeople.co.uk and request a candidate pack in the first instance.
For an informal conversation about the role or if you have further questions prior to applying, please contact Fabrice Yala on 07563 030595 or seniorappointments@charitypeople.co.uk
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.