Chief Executive Role Available

Chief Executive Role Available – Writing East Midlands

East Midlands | Hybrid

Salary: £55,000 pro rata (£44,000) 4 days per week role

Part-time | Permanent

Due to the retirement of the current CEO in September 2026, Writing East Midlands is seeking an ambitious and values-driven Chief Executive Officer to lead the region’s literature development agency into the next chapter of its story.

We are a financially stable, Arts Council-aligned organisation with a strong regional reputation, a committed Board, a great staff team, and a record of high-quality development programmes for aspiring writers, and impactful community engagement projects. We are particularly recognised for our expertise in collaborating with Neurodivergent writers and embedding inclusive practice across all aspects of our work.

This is an opportunity to:

• Lead a new phase of ideas, partnerships, and engagement.
• Strengthen reserves and long-term financial stability.
• Champion inclusive and creative practice
• Act as principal relationship-holder with Arts Council England
• Support the organisation’s transition from CIC to Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)

We are looking for a strategic and entrepreneurial leader with:

• Senior leadership experience in the arts, cultural, education, or voluntary sector
• Experience managing public funding and stakeholder relationships.
• Strong financial oversight and income diversification expertise
• Confidence working with Boards and navigating governance change.
• A deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusive practice

You will be an articulate advocate for writers, a collaborative team leader, and a steady hand to steer the organisation through challenging times. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the country’s primary literature development agencies and position Writing East Midlands as a national exemplar in inclusive writer development.

Closing date: Sunday 24^th May 2026 (midnight).

Click here for a recruitment pack and application details.

Writing East Midlands is committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. We particularly welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in the cultural sector.

For any informal enquiries, please contact: henderson@writingeastmidlands.co.uk