Chief Executive Officer

• Location:
  
  UK - flexible. Regularly to Bristol and London, and extensively across the UK to teams, projects, events and stakeholders
• Full-time: 37.5 hours per week, flexible working available
• £160,000 per annum
• Closing date: 23:59 on 15th March 2026.
• Please read below for details on how to apply.

Share this page Letter from the Chair of Trustees Do you share our passion to make it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle? Could you lead the next part of our journey?

We are stepping confidently into the future as Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, building on nearly 50 years of impact as Sustrans, the charity that helped to pioneer the UK's sustainable travel movement. From the creation of the Bristol to Bath path to the National Cycle Network, School Streets and beyond, our legacy is one of bold ideas, practical delivery, and lasting change.

Our purpose is beautifully simple:
To make it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle, because it changes everything. Our health. Our wellbeing. Our world.

And we are more ambitious than ever.

We are now seeking a new CEO to help us shape and deliver the future of movement in the UK. You'll be part of a dynamic, committed team of 500 staff and 2,000 volunteers across the UK's four nations.

The successful candidate will have substantial leadership experience as a CEO (or aspiring CEO) and will bring values-driven leadership, energy and drive. You will be comfortable building high-trust relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in active travel, including government ministers, senior civil servants, policy makers and strategic partners. You will be able to inspire and lead our brilliant management team and colleagues.

You will have a proven track record of leading change in a complex, purpose-driven, multi-stakeholder organisation. You will have had success growing income through fundraising, grant funding, commercial activity and strategic partnerships.

I hope that the information contained in this pack encourages you to apply. If ensuring that walking, wheeling and cycling are safe, accessible and joyful for everyone, everywhere excites you, and you have the qualities needed to lead and inspire people-powered movement, we look forward to hearing from you.

Warm regards,

Moray Macdonald
Chair of Trustees
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

About the role If you would like to know more about the role or selection process, please contact Smita Rai from our Executive Search partners, Green Park by emailing .

Please submit your application by 11:59pm on Sunday 15th March 2026.

Work with the Board to set the charity's strategic direction, build the conditions for long-term success, and ensure that purpose, performance and culture are consistently aligned to ensure operational and impactful delivery of the strategy.

Place in organisation structure Reports to
:
Chair of the Board of Trustees

Accountable to
:
Board of Trustees

Direct reports
:

• Executive Director, Delivery
• Executive Director, Resources

Key relationships Internal

• Executive Team
• All colleagues and volunteers

External

• Leaders and influencers in transport, environment, health and the third sector
• Major donors and CEOs of trusts and foundations
• Government ministers, MPs and other political leaders in the UK government and devolved nations
• Senior civil servants in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including those in the Department of Transport, Transport Scotland and Active Travel England
• Mayors and senior leaders across mayoral strategic authorities and local authorities

Key responsibilities

• Provide visible, values-driven leadership to leaders and colleagues across the organisation, ensuring strong delivery, collaboration, and accountability across walking, wheeling, and cycling programmes.
• Lead the development and execution of the Trust's long-term strategy to grow active travel, improve public health, and reduce carbon emissions.
• Work in close partnership with the Board of Trustees to ensure high standards of governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic oversight.
• Oversee robust performance management, impact evaluation, and evidence-based learning to strengthen credibility and influence.
• Lead organisational development, workforce planning, and change management to support long-term organisational health and resilience.
• Translate national and regional active-travel policy into effective programmes, partnerships, and local delivery models.
• Ensure sustainable funding through diversified income streams, including government grants, contracts, fundraising, memberships and partnerships, with innovative approaches to developing our offer and revenue opportunities.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with central and local government, transport authorities, funders, strategic and sector partners and the media.
• Act as the Trust's principal public advocate and media spokesperson on walking, wheeling, and cycling.
• Demonstrate the importance of serving diverse communities and embed a strong culture of inclusion, accessibility, and equity across all…