Chief Influencing Officer, Rethink Mental Illness and Managing Director, Mental Health UK

Chief Influencing Officer and Managing Director

Location: London (SE1) with hybrid working and UK-wide travel
Hours: 35 hours per week, full time
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Circa £110,000 plus benefits

Help shape the future of mental health across the UK

This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior leadership role across two influential mental health charities at a pivotal moment of growth and change.

As Chief Influencing Officer at Rethink Mental Illness and Managing Director of Mental Health UK, you will lead the strategic direction of policy, fundraising, campaigns, communications and national programmes while overseeing the delivery of Mental Health UK's ambitious new strategy.

Together, the two organisations share a vision of creating a better life for everyone affected by mental illness. In this newly combined leadership role, you'll have the opportunity to increase income, strengthen influence, shape policy and expand our impact across all four nations of the UK.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, you will be a member of the Executive Leadership Team and lead a diverse portfolio spanning fundraising, policy and practice, campaigns, communications and national programmes. As Managing Director of Mental Health UK, you will also be responsible for leading the organisation's strategy and strengthening relationships across its alliance partners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing high-performing teams across influencing, fundraising, campaigns and communications.
• Driving sustainable income growth through a diversified and ambitious fundraising strategy.
• Representing both charities at the highest levels with government, funders, partners and the media.
• Influencing national mental health policy and practice across the UK.
• Delivering Mental Health UK's 2026-2031 strategy and strengthening collaboration across the four partner charities.
• Ensuring the voices and experiences of people affected by mental illness shape everything we do.

About you

We're looking for an exceptional strategic leader who combines strong influencing skills with a passion for improving the lives of people affected by mental illness.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex national organisation.
• A successful track record in at least two of the following areas: fundraising, policy and public affairs, campaigns or communications.
• Experience delivering substantial income growth and high-profile influencing outcomes.
• Outstanding relationship-building skills and credibility with senior stakeholders, government and partners.
• Strong financial, strategic and organisational leadership capabilities.
• A commitment to equity, inclusion, co-production and anti-racist practice.

Experience within mental health, health or social care would be advantageous, as would previous chief executive, managing director or deputy-level experience.

Why join us?

This role offers a rare opportunity to influence mental health policy, services and public understanding at a national level while helping to shape the future of two respected charities. You'll join a values-led organisation where people with lived experience are at the heart of decision-making and where collaboration, inclusion and innovation drive meaningful change.

Working closely with our incoming Chief Executive, you'll have the support, platform and influence to make a lasting difference to millions of lives affected by mental illness.

Please send an up-to-date CV with two referees (we will not contact them without your permission) and a supporting statement of no more than two sides of A4, setting out your motivation and how you meet the person specification.

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Why join Rethink Mental Illness?

We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to be themselves. You'll benefit from:

• An inclusive culture, with colleague-led staff networks for Disability & Neurodiversity, Race & Ethnicity, LGBTQIA+, Gender Equality and Menopause.
• Flexible working and 25 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays and your birthday off), with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Wellbeing support including our Wellbeing Hub, Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Champions and Unmind.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Financial and family benefits including a contributory pension, enhanced family leave and travel schemes.
• Recognition and rewards including discounts, cashback offers and a Blue Light Card.
• Referral bonus where you can earn up to £300 for introducing someone to our team.

Our commitment to inclusion

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We're also committed to becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider supported by a multi-year equity, diversity and inclusion programme of work. For more information please view https://www.rethink.org/media/hdtjjy5b/revised-edi-plan-rethink.pdf

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and want everyone to have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience. If you need reasonable adjustments during recruitment or when in your role, please let us know and we will work with you to understand what support you need.