Previous Opportunities

Chief Executive

Penumbra is one of Scotland’s largest mental health charities. We support around 1800 adults and young people every week and employ 450 staff across Scotland. Founded in 1985, we work to promote mental health and wellbeing for all, prevent mental ill health for people who are ‘at risk’, and to support people with mental ill health to live fulfilling lives. We provide a wide range of services which offer hope and practical steps towards recovery, and we campaign to increase public knowledge about mental health and to influence national and local government policy.
Due to retirement, we are searching for a new Chief Executive to lead on our vision and develop the charity. We are looking for an authentic leader who acts with integrity and resilience, focusing on achieving Penumbra’s objectives in challenging times.
Penumbra’s Mission is to deliver exceptional mental health and wellbeing support and activities, guided by people’s own lived experience, their recovery journeys and their hopes and aspirations.  In the coming period the Chief Executive will be expected to deliver on the four strategic priorities which are to ensure:
  • Our services are more accessible and reach more individuals, challenging obstructions in the system with focus on distress/crisis support where we see unmet need.
  • Penumbra is a great place to work, where people achieve their full potential. Including creating clear career pathways for existing staff and taking steps to increase diversity in our recruitment
  • Peer support is critical to the success of our compassionate and person-centred support. We will cement our place as the leading peer support organisation in Scotland by embedding lived experience in our services.
  • We use our evidence-base and learning to ensure the lived experience of our supported people is at the heart of developments in mental health. We will actively engage with the Scottish Government to influence their response to Adult Social Care review, with the goal of advocating for end users and growing the role of the third sector.
The successful candidate will be an innovative leader with experience at a senior level, managing diverse teams and developing strategies. You will champion our core values and maintain and enhance Penumbra’s reputation and wider influence. You should possess strong stakeholder management skills and have an understanding of finance. We are open to individuals from a range of different backgrounds.
For more information, please see www.aspenpeople.co.uk/penumbra
For a confidential discussion, please contact Debbie Shields or Emma McEneaney at our recruitment partners, Aspen People on 0141 212 7555
Closing date for applications – Friday 23rd April 2021