CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Appointment Brief | 11.2025
WELCOME
Young people are our future, but they’re growing up in fast-changing world. At a time of reduced public funding, mental health challenges, climate change and the growth of AI, we believe Youth Music’s mission has never been more urgent. Music builds confidence, creativity and community. It can transform how young people understand themselves and their place in the world.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a strategic, inclusive leader who shares this belief to join the UK’s largest and leading young people’s music charity. We are searching for a Chief Executive who will boldly campaign for our mission, inspire colleagues, and play a key strategic role in shaping Youth Music’s next chapter.
Since joining Youth Music as Co-Chairs in 2024, we’ve been inspired by the transformative impact of its funding, reaching thousands of young people nationwide. Visiting our funded partners, we’ve seen first hand how life changing music can be. We believe that Youth Music is uniquely positioned to ensure that music projects reach those who need them most—young people often facing inequity,
exclusion, and discrimination.
Youth Music has a clear mission, strong reputation, committed board, high-performing senior leadership team and positive, valuesdriven working culture. The last five years have been a period of growth and innovation. We’ve expanded our work, placing young people at the heart of everything we do, and overhauled our fundraising strategy in response to ever-increasing demand.
A priority for the incoming Chief Executive will be to drive income growth to the next level through partnerships, building relationships with Government, funders, policy-makers and philanthropists. You’ll be a bold spokesperson who can convey our crucial impact on young people in music, from early years to early careers. And continue to ensure Youth Music is at the forefront of innovation in grant-making. You’ll embed our values in all that we do. As we navigate a busy schedule and competing priorities, you’ll work with the Senior Leadership Team to stay laser-focused on our strategy, forward plan, and embrace digital transformation.
Our current business plan sets out our ambitions to equalise music access and outcomes for marginalised young people.
We have five organisational objectives:
• Invest where it’s needed most
• Increase progression for young people
• Strengthen our organisation
• Increase our income
• Inspire inclusive practices.
We’ve already started work on our new 5 year business plan. Astute to the changing political and social environment, along with the challenges it presents, you’ll help us finalise our strategy to maximise our impact.
As Chief Executive you’ll need to be a powerful spokesperson, progressive thinker, staunch advocate of grassroots youth music, and able to connect with people from all walks of life.
If you’re ready to bring the energy, alongside a steadfast belief in young people and the power of music, then we’d love to hear from you.
Especially if you align with our values:
• Bold – not afraid to take risks and speak out, especially when it’s on behalf of young people.
• Responsive - tuned in to the music industry and education sectors, our partners and team, and ready to adapt in response to need.
• Inclusive – from the internal culture to our grant-making and external influencing, you will champion inclusion throughout the organisation.
• Trusting – believe in the ability of your team, partners and young people to deliver, alongside you.
• Enterprising – entrepreneurial and strategic, you’ll steer us through a shifting political and social landscape being open-minded to how we can do things better and differently.
Charlotte Edgeworth and Isaac Borquaye Co-Chairs
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ABOUT US
VISION
A world where every young person can change their life through music and creativity.
MISSION
We’re creating a world where every young person can make, learn and earn in music and creativity, whatever their background or goal.
We’re a national charity. We help marginalised young people to make and monetise music.
Every year, we raise £10 million to fund inspirational grassroots music projects and support aspiring young creatives up and down the UK.
We’re campaigning to break down barriers for young people facing inequity, exclusion and discrimination.
Together with our partners, we’re helping the next generation to transform their lives through music.
Read more about us and our impact on our website and annual report
NextGen creatives agree that funding improved their selfconfidence and belief.
As well as improving the quality of their work and enabling them to make things happen on their own terms.
children and young people making, learning and earning in music.
We invest in grassroots music making across the nation, with 87% of our funding invested outside of London over the last year.
invested in young people’s creativity.
Over the last year, we’ve invested in 292 new grants including over £250k in 102 NextGen creatives.
DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
We exist to equalise access to music. Inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) aren’t just central to our work, they define it.
IDEA isn’t just something we promote in the music industry; it’s something we live by in our workplace.
Youth Music is an equal opportunity and Living Wage employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining diverse candidates. We take Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access seriously, and it’s important that our team reflects the communities we serve.
We are currently under-represented by people from a working-class background, the Asian/ Asian British community and wider Global Majority, Disabled people, the Trans community and people of faith.
We’re a Disability Confident Committed Employer and we are committed to making adjustments that support Disabled people to apply for and be successful in this role. Applicants who opt into the Disability Confident Scheme, who meet the essential criteria for the post as outlined in the job description will be offered an interview.
Please contact Prospectus if you are Disabled and/or have access requirements or if you wish us to consider any other reasonable adjustments to ensure the interview process is fully accessible.
ORGANISATION CHART
TRUSTEES
Programme Director Head of Grants Engagement Director Head of Engagement & Events Head of Communications
Director Managers + Leads + Officers + Assistants + Interns
Grant Assessors + HR Support + Accounts & Payroll + IT Support + PR + Content + Website + NextGen + Philanthropy
Average number of employees in 2024: 28
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Job title: Chief Executive
Salary: £100,000 - £110,000
Reports to: Board of Trustees / Chair(s)
Direct reports: Chief Operating Officer, Programme Director, Engagement Director, Communications Director
Location: London - Hybrid working.
We welcome applications from candidates who require flexible working arrangements, provided these can be balanced with the responsibilities and demands of the role.
Purpose
Youth Music’s Chief Executive will drive Youth Music’s mission to help marginalised young people to make and monetise music, through visionary leadership of its fundraising, campaigning and grant-making operations.
As both ambassador and steward, the Chief Executive will represent Youth Music with credibility and influence, engaging funders, policymakers, philanthropists, and young people while ensuring the organisation is governed effectively, financially resilient, and culturally inclusive.
Key Objectives
• Provide visionary leadership that unites staff, partners, and collaborators around Youth Music’s mission and values.
• Strengthen and diversify income streams to secure long-term financial sustainability.
• Oversee impactful, equitable grant-making and programme delivery.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive, and empowered organisational culture.
• Build trusted relationships across government, philanthropy, the music industry, and youth sectors to influence change.
• Work in close partnership with the Board of Trustees and SLT to ensure robust governance and strategic clarity.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Governance
• Lead the delivery and evolution of Youth Music’s strategy, ensuring alignment with its vision and values.
• Uphold high standards of governance, risk management, and transparency.
• Equip the board with the right information to support effective decision-making.
• Encourage innovation and collaboration across teams and partners to respond to emerging trends in music and youth development.
External Engagement & Income Generation
• Serve as the principal ambassador, advocating Youth Music’s mission and representing it with authority and authenticity.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with senior individuals across government, funding bodies, corporate partners, philanthropists, and the music industries.
• Lead strategies to diversify income generation including philanthropy, partnerships, events, and trusts and foundations.
• Develop and nurture relationships with key donors and supporters.
• Champion youth voice, ensuring young people’s experiences shape national conversations and inspire supporters.
• Act as a compelling spokesperson across media, events, and networks, promoting music as a catalyst for social change.
People & Culture
• Lead with empathy and authenticity, nurturing a culture where people feel valued, supported, and empowered.
• Model inclusive, values-based leadership, embedding equity, wellbeing, creativity, employee voice and youth participatory practices.
• Inspire a collaborative and accountable Senior Leadership Team.
• Promote leadership development across Youth Music and the wider sector.
• Maintain open, trusting relationships with staff, Trustees, young people, and partners.
Finance & Organisational Leadership
• Ensure strong financial controls, clear reporting, and prudent risk management.
• Lead long-term financial planning and budgeting in partnership with the COO and board.
• Oversee ethical and compliant management of charitable funds and grant-making processes.
• Ensure organisational systems, policies, and digital infrastructure support effective delivery and growth.
• Drive digital transformation through strategic use of digital tools and technologies.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Experience
• Senior leadership experience in a charity, foundation, or other relevant organisation.
• Track record of securing significant partnerships, grants, or donations.
• Demonstrated success in leading through values, culture, and people.
• Strong understanding of grant-making, programme funding, and impact measurement.
• Skilled in governance, organisational management, and financial oversight.
• Experience working across creative, youth, education, or cultural sectors.
• Experience building relationships across government, influencing policy agendas and successful collaborative working.
Leadership & Personal Qualities
• Values-led and people-centered: Inspires trust, inclusion, and collaboration; models empathy and integrity.
• Visionary: Sets bold strategic direction grounded in evidence and lived experience.
• Influential communicator: Engages diverse audiences, from young creatives to policymakers.
• Collaborative and empowering: Builds partnerships and enables others to lead.
• Commercially astute: Able to apply entrepreneurial thinking to charity culture and values.
• Equity-focused: Being proactive to promote equality and counter all forms of discrimination.
• Resilient and adaptable: Navigates complexity and change with calm, confidence, and compassion.
Desirable
• Experience in or passion for music, creative industries, education or youth development.
• Familiarity with public funding environments (Arts Council, DCMS, National Lottery, etc.).
• Experience managing a national organisation.
• Evidence of thought leadership or advocacy within relevant sectors.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the role, please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link.
For guidance on formulating your supporting statement, please review our guide here.
Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.
If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk.
Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at:
https://prospect-us.co.uk/job/193351
At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask
Recruitment Timetable
Deadline for applications: Sunday 4 January 2026 (midnight)
Interviews with Prospectus: 12-23 January
Interviews with Youth Music: 2-13 February
Queries
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Jane Ray or Tammy Stewart at Prospectus by email: jane.ray@prospect-us.co.uk tammy.stewart@prospect-us.co.uk
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Photo credit on cover: Beth Walsh