Chief Executive Officer
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- Employer:
- Safe Passage International
- Location:
- London / Hybrid
- Salary:
- circa £85,000 per annum
- Closing Date:
- Sunday 9th November 2025
- Job Ref:
- GSe125533
Associated documents
Description
Safe Passage International is seeking a visionary and values-driven Chief Executive Officer to lead our organisation into its next chapter of impact, ensuring safe routes to sanctuary for people seeking asylum.
This is a pivotal moment for refugee rights across the UK and Europe. As a UK registered charity with subsidiaries in France and Greece, Safe Passage has assisted over 3,000 refugees since becoming independent in 2019. We provide legal assistance to unaccompanied children and other refugees to access safe routes to family reunion and protection. Our work spans Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, Gaza, and beyond.
We are now embarking on a new strategic framework and strengthening our leadership team. As CEO, you will work closely with our Board of Trustees, Young Leaders, Experts by Experience, and staff across three countries to shape our future direction and deepen our impact.
We’re looking for a CEO who brings:
- Proven leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector, ideally in an international NGO
- Strategic vision and operational excellence
- A deep commitment to refugee rights, lived experience leadership, and anti-racism
- Strong communication, advocacy, and relationship-building skills
- A collaborative, empathetic, and inclusive leadership style
- Experience in income generation and financial oversight
Lived experience of seeking asylum or being a refugee, and applications from candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds, are especially welcomed.
Join us to lead a bold and compassionate organisation committed to making safe passage a reality for all.
To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.
How to Apply
You will be asked to submit the following:
A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, tailored to information contained in the job description. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining:
- Your motivation for applying for this role.
- How you consider your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the information included in this pack.
You may apply using a video application if you would like to.
In addition, to be considered for the role, you will be asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring Form and a Declaration of Conflicts of Interest/Political Activity form. Should you encounter any issues with your online application or require any reasonable adjustment please contact tracy.aristides@gatenbysanderson.com
The Panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the person specification.
The Panel will identify a shortlist of candidates who best match the criteria for an initial interview with GatenbySanderson to further explore their skills and experience. Shortlisted candidates will be advised on the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Please note: due diligence searches will be undertaken on shortlisted candidates.
If you have first-hand experience as a refugee or seeking asylum in any country, please let us know in your application. We respect people’s privacy and do not expect candidates to describe their lived experience in detail during the interview process unless they wish to.
For any queries, please contact Fiona.wansborough@gatenbysanderson.com or Eleanor.lawrence@gatenbysanderson.com
Contact
The following consultants are managing this role and will be happy to answer any questions that are not covered in the person specification on the next webpage.
- Contact:
- Fiona Wansborough
- Telephone:
- Contact:
- Eleanor Lawrence
- Telephone:
- 07590 355 825