We are looking for an energetic CEO who shares our values, has experience in one or more of our fresh policy focus areas and who can represent us confidently in parliament, Whitehall and the community (including to Catholic lay community leaders in the cities, regions, and devolved nations).
Strategic, hands-on and familiar and comfortable with the pace of the policy world and/or innovating organisations you will be a caring self-starter willing and able to work alone and as the leader of a small team of paid staff and volunteers. You will have the opportunity to shape a goals-focused plan within our three strategic priority areas with external and demonstrable impact a vital focus and expectation.
A Catholic (Genuine Occupational Requirement) you will be happy to work with those of every background and varying seniority to advance our goals.
An independent lay organisation, run and governed by lay people, we are increasingly a trusted partner in Westminster and also retain consultative status with the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Looking to be more active in Scotland we hope to appoint a new post to develop our work with Scotland, Wales and the major English cities when funds allow.
A new Catholic Union for Changing Times:
Founded in 1870, The Catholic Union of Great Britain was established to convene lay Catholics to work with people of goodwill to address the pressing policy challenges of the day. We work collaboratively with other Catholic and religious groups, wider civil society and government bodies. As an organisation of lay Catholics, we bring particular gifts in the social sciences, sciences, law, communications and business to this task.
Today, under its new President Baroness Hollins of Wimbledon, the Catholic Union is refreshing and renewing its work.
Recognising the changing and changed social and political landscape of 2024, both in the UK and internationally, we intend now to focus our work on three strategic priority areas:
- Advocacy with people of goodwill for the common good in Britain with a particular focus on people at the margins, educational inclusion and families living in poverty;
- Advocacy with people of goodwill for the common good in the international arena with a particular focus on working through British institutions for human rights (including anti-trafficking), development (including violence against women and girls, education (including child protection), climate risks and global health inequalities (including disability);
- Evidencing, equipping, educating and convening Catholic civic contributions; and lay Catholics to contribute to the nation’s public life in parliament, politics and policy; through its industries, voluntary sector and professions, and supporting them to explore and respond to emerging policy challenges.
Location: We are planning a shared office facility in central London. Typically, our expectation will be three days a week in Westminster/with key stakeholders/and/or in our planned shared office facility during parliamentary terms and some flexibility around conferences outside those periods to meet the needs of our members and partner organisation.