Chief Executive Officer

  • Buttle UK
  • Feb 01, 2026
Full time Executive

Job Description

Buttle UK is a charity dedicated to helping children and young people in crisis in the UK: those living in financial hardship and dealing with multiple challenging social issues. We believe that poverty and crisis does not define a child's future and our grants to children provide support that can change the course of a child's life. Alongside this core work, Buttle is entering a new phase: using its evidence, insight and experience to influence the systems that drive child poverty, while keeping grants firmly at the heart of the organisation.

We are seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead this next chapter. The CEO will be responsible for translating a five-year strategy into clear, deliverable action; leading a skilled senior management team; and ensuring that Buttle remains financially strong, operationally resilient and values-led as it grows in confidence and influence.

The role combines internal leadership with external responsibility. The CEO will work closely with the Chair and Board to ensure strong governance and stewardship of an endowment-backed financial model. Externally, they will act as the public face of Buttle, building relationships with funders, partners, policymakers and government, and positioning the charity as a credible and trusted voice on child poverty and crisis.

We are looking for a CEO with a track record of leading organisations or systems through change. You will have the ability to turn strategy into action, strengthen systems and accountability, and lead people with care and clarity. You will be a confident communicator, comfortable representing an organisation publicly and engaging with senior stakeholders.

An understanding of child poverty, crisis and inequality, and how systems shape people's lives, is essential and experience of advocacy, fundraising or policy influence is welcomed.

Buttle UK is a values-led organisation known for its warmth, trust and care for one another. We combine compassion with professionalism, and we believe that dignity, inclusion and collaboration should shape not only what we do for children and families, but how we work together every day. We are looking for a leader who brings clarity, sound judgement and emotional intelligence to complex challenges and leads with humanity and accountability.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected national charity at a pivotal moment, shaping both its future impact and its contribution to tackling child poverty in the UK.

To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter, detailing how you fulfil the role description and personal specification to ( ) quoting reference 8217. The deadline for applications is 9am GMT Monday 16 th February.

The role is based in London, and the salary is £100,000.

Perrett Laver will conduct an executive search process in parallel with the public advertisement of the role. Longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Perrett Laver in late February, and the Selection Panel will subsequently meet to decide upon a final shortlist for the post, following which, interviews with Buttle UK will take place in mid-March. If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Buttle UK's EOM Statement

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from all applicants, regardless of race, sex or gender, sexuality, socio-economic background or any other minority or protected characteristic.

To support anyone looking to apply for our positions we commit to:

  • Paying for childcare for the hours in and around the interview process.
  • Paying for your travel costs to the office and back for interviews if these are held in person.
  • Holding interviews online if easier for candidates' circumstances.
  • Making any reasonable adjustments to support your needs in the application and interview process.

Accessibility Statement

To confidentially get in touch about this role, or for advice on your application please email, (insert name and contacts of Research Associate or Lead Consultant).

Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact (insert name of Project Manager).

If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via .

Perrett Laver's GDPR Policy

Protecting your personal data is of the utmost importance to Perrett Laver and we take this responsibility very seriously. Any information obtained by our trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide us with is securely stored on our computerised database and transferred to our clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.

Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, and our legal basis for processing your personal data is 'Legitimate Interests'. You have the right to object to us processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and our approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please visit our website: