Chief Executive at Refugee Futures
Contract Type: Permanent
Role Type: Employment
Hours: Full or Part time
Application deadline:
Based: Stockton
Salary: £42,000 to 46,000 Per Annum
Salary Type: Salary Scale
Location: Teesside
Role description: Chief Executive / Director
We have an exciting opportunity available to join Refugee Futures as our Chief Executive to lead the work of Refugee Futures, working with its trustees, staff and volunteers, to implement its vision and promote and inclusive culture.
About Refugee Futures
Refugee Futures’ vision is of a borough that is welcoming and inclusive, so that refugees and people seeking asylum can maximise their skills and abilities and flourish within our community.
At any one time between 700-900 people seeking asylum are placed in three of Stockton’s poorest wards – Central Stockton, Newtown and Thornaby old town - all in England’s 10% most deprived wards (and one of the UK’s highest rates of asylum dispersal). People seeking asylum experience many barriers to integrating such as lack of English, understanding of services and culture; low income; limited social networks; stigma and discrimination - exacerbated by often lengthy waits for a decision on a claim and limited support during that time. Despite these barriers, people have significant skills to contribute; but can find the challenges of living in the UK overwhelming, and face hurdles to accessing support and gaining employment.
We were established to address gaps in support, collaborate with others to improve access to services and the welcome and orientation that refugees and people seeking asylum receive in Stockton, and to create meaningful opportunities for people to contribute, connect and rebuild their futures. Our work is rooted in a strength-based approach and an inclusive culture.
Our recently agreed three-year strategy focuses on collaboration with other organisations, including Stockton Borough Council and Durham University and work with refugees and people seeking asylum from their arrival in Stockton to facilitate:
- Welcoming and connecting to support arrival and orientation
- Developing skills, confidence and opportunities to contribute and engage, to boost well-being, fulfilment and employability
- Increasing understanding and inclusion to support people's sense of belonging
A young organisation founded in 2021, we have become established and highly valued in Stockton-on-Tees under our current leader, Heather Petch. We are now aiming to consolidate our organisation under a new Chief Executive. If you are an experienced leader, committed to Refugee Futures’ vision, we would love to hear from you.
If you would like to discuss the role, please phone or text Jon Carling, Chair of Trustees on 07851 011361. You can also visit our website at https://refugeefutures.org/
How to apply
Please see the Job Description and our Refugee Futures' Impact Report for 2024/2025 for more information.
If you would like to apply please e-mail your CV, our EDI form and a covering letter setting out how you meet the requirements for the post to recruitment@refugeefutures.org by 9am Monday 9 March 2026.
Interviews for the post are likely to be held on Wednesday 25 March 2026.
Apply for this job