Recruitment

CEO Job Description

Summary

Parallel Histories is recruiting a Chief Executive to lead and grow this start-up non-profit as we seek to triple our impact in the next two years. 

Since 2017, we’ve introduced a new way to teach conflict into schools.  Our resources, teacher training and debates help students immerse themselves in sources from both sides and debate interpretations before forming their own opinion.  We’ve reached 15% of UK schools, worked with 45,000 students and had over 120,000 downloads. What’s more, over 80% of students feel better able to listen and express their opinions after working with us.

We proved our approach. Now, it’s now time to scale. That’s why we’re looking for someone who matches our ambition and energy with the skills and experience to grow our small team and scale our work.

About Parallel Histories

In an increasingly polarised age, Parallel Histories helps students to study conflict by immersing them in sources from both sides and debating interpretations with each other before forming their own opinion. To do this, we:

  • Create educational resources: We’ve created full schemes of work and one-off resources on Israel/Palestine, Northern Ireland, the Union and great leaders.
  • Train teachers: We prepare teachers to teach conflict by training them to engage in conflict without accusations of bias, run debates, and use our resources.
  • Run school debates: We organise online and in-person debates that bring together schools to explore conflict and build oracy skills in a supportive educational environment. We create resources, train teachers and run debates to help students walk in each sides’ shoes and form their own views. Why? So students build skills to study history and become active citizens in healthy democracy.

Our achievements

  • We work with over 1100 schools, growing 80% annually
  • Our classroom resources have been used by 45,000 students
  • Over 2500 students have benefited from debating workshops
  • Our resources have been downloaded 120,000 times
  • We’ve trained 500 teachers to teach conflict in their schools
  • Our work has been featured in the Guardian, BBC, The Jewish Chronicle, Arab Weekly, TES, and The Irish Times
  • We’ve raised over £500k in the last six years to grow the charity

Job Description

As Chief Executive, you’ll be responsible for implementing Parallel Histories’ vision and strategy, shaped in partnership with the Board of Trustees, by leading and managing the charity’s operations. You’ll be the public face and spokesperson for the organisation, strengthening our position as the leading voice in education on teaching conflict. You’ll build on our solid financial foundation by developing new funding sources, both individuals and organisations, inspired by our mission. Day to day you’ll lead and grow our team of four staff.

  • Salary:Up to £75,000 with performance related bonus
  • Flexible/part-time arrangements available
  • Pension: 3% matched
  • Holiday: 28 days (plus statutory public holidays)
  • Reporting to: Board of Trustees

Purpose of Role

  • Act as leader, spokesperson and ambassador for Parallel Histories, promoting our work and strengthening our external relations.
  • Build Parallel Histories impact, income and reputation.
  • Grow, mentor and build an effective senior leadership team and oversee operations.

Key responsibilities

  • Work with the Board of Trustees to develop our strategic plan.
  • Triple Parallel Histories’ impact by growing our income with a diversified and sustainable fundraising strategy.
  • Inspire, lead and mentor the Parallel Histories team so they perform to their highest ability.
  • Oversee all operational activities and monitoring and reporting to the Board on performance against objectives.
  • Influence a range of external stakeholders, including existing and potential supporters, partners (corporates, teaching unions, parliamentarians).
  • Represent Parallel Histories in the media and by speaking, networking and advocating at events to strengthen our position as leading education non-profit.

Experience

  • Driving and growing organisational performance
  • Public speaking, pitching and networking
  • Developing and delivering strategic plans whilst overseeing their implementation
  • Leadership, particularly inspiring, leading and developing a team to deliver on ambitious strategic objectives
  • Identifying and building successful partnerships with external stakeholders
  • Budget planning and financial management

Attributes

  • An entrepreneurial mindset, driven by results
  • Commitment to Parallel Histories’ work
  • Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
  • High energy levels and resilience
  • Commercial acumen
  • Ability to balance the internal and external aspects of the role
  • Strong presence and ability to engender respect in others
  • Emotional intelligence and empathy
  • Naturally collaborative approach to working
  • Knowledge of – or willingness to learn about – the UK education

To apply

Please submit a cover letter and CV by 30th April to Joshua Hillis, Deputy Editor: joshua@parallelhistories.org.uk