Changing childhoods. Changing lives.

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Executive Director of Children’s Services Operations at Barnardo’s.

This is a rare opportunity to join the Executive Leadership Team of one of the UK’s largest, leading children’s charities, and play a defining role in shaping the future of services that support hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families across the UK.

At a time of increasing challenges for children and families, this role offers the chance to lead at scale, to shape national and local policy and practice, and achieve a lasting impact on the lives of those who need us most.

For over 160 years, Barnardo’s has been committed to ensuring that every child and young person can thrive. Today, we support more than 300,000 children, young people, parents and carers each year through a diverse portfolio of services spanning prevention, early help and targeted, specialist support – so that children can be safer, healthier, happier and more hopeful. Our mission remains as relevant today as it was when we were founded: Changing Childhoods. Changing Lives.

As Chief Executive of Barnardo’s, I have the privilege of leading a charity where colleagues are individually and collectively focussed on meeting the needs of children, young people and families, whatever directorate or department they work in. Our strategy makes our commitments clear, and points to the contribution of all colleagues in delivering our core purpose and our ambitions. 

The Executive Director of Children’s Services Operations is one of the most significant leadership roles within Barnardo’s, with responsibility for the strategic leadership, operational performance, quality and governance of our Children’s Services work across the UK.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), you will work closely with the Chief Executive, ELT colleagues, Trustees and senior leaders to shape the future direction of the organisation. You will have strategic oversight of Children’s Services and a budget exceeding £200 million, ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, quality, operational delivery, impact and financial stewardship, while driving sustainable growth and innovation.

This role extends beyond operational leadership. You will lead and inspire a high-performing senior leadership team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and excellence across our Children’s Services. You will oversee the continued transformation and modernisation of our services, ensuring that our models of delivery remain innovative, evidence-informed and responsive to the evolving needs of children, young people and families.

Most importantly, you will champion the voices of children and young people, ensuring their experiences, perspectives and aspirations inform our strategy, influence our decisions and shape the services we provide. You will help ensure that Barnardo’s remains at the forefront of improving outcomes for children and young people, advocating for those least heard and most disadvantaged.

Our ways of working here are important to us. We know that we can go further together than we can alone and we place a high value on integrated ways of working, great communication, a commitment to collaboration and an ability to convene colleagues to work across departments to achieve our ambitions, together. 

Externally, you will act as a prominent ambassador for Barnardo’s, representing the charity with government departments, commissioners, regulators, health and care partners, professional bodies and sector networks. You will contribute to national conversations about policy, practice and system reform, helping shape the future of children’s services across the UK.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with significant experience of leading complex children’s and family services within large-scale organisations. You will bring strategic vision, systems thinking, sound judgement and a proven ability to deliver impact in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Equally important will be your ability to inspire others, create a culture which enables people to do their best work, build strong partnerships and lead with authenticity, integrity and purpose.

Above all, we are looking for someone who shares our unwavering belief that every child deserves the opportunity to realise their potential, and who is committed to ensuring that the needs, rights and experiences of children and young people remain at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to join Barnardo’s. If you share our ambition to create lasting change for children, young people and families, I hope you will be inspired to apply and help lead the next chapter of our charity’s journey.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,