With a clear purpose to transform lives, change attitudes and help create a society that works for autistic people, we are seeking an interim CEO to provide confident, steady leadership at an important point in our journey. As we prepare to appoint our next permanent CEO, this role will ensure continuity, maintain momentum and support the Board and executive leadership team to keep delivering for autistic people and their families.
Who we are
The National Autistic Society (NAS) is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and one of the country’s major charities, with a turnover of around £100 million. Since 1962, we’ve been transforming lives, changing attitudes and helping to create a society that works for autistic adults and children.
We are active across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and have a network of volunteer-run branches across the UK. As well as adult services and schools, we run a range of programmes, a dedicated diagnostic service and advice and support services for autistic people and their families.
We also work closely with businesses, local authorities and the government to help them provide more autism-friendly spaces, deliver better services and improve laws. We improve public understanding of autism and tackle misinformation and negative narratives about autism.
We’re continuing to advocate on longstanding issues such as SEND, diagnostic assessment waiting times, social care funding and campaign for what autistic people need to see in the autism strategy in England and its equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We’re also growing our branch network, and expanding our digital advice and guidance and online peer support services.
This is a truly transformational and vital time to be part of our charity. We have just launched a new Vision to Reality strategy to take us to 2030, which sets out the role of our charity in creating a society that works for autistic people.
We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but there’s always more to be done. As the economic, social and political landscape changes and misinformation on autism grows, our strategy must evolve to reflect these changes. We need to ensure we continue to increase our fundraising and commercial activities to deliver the scale of impact required.
About the role
The interim CEO will need to provide strong, credible leadership across a £100m organisation, with the business and financial competence to quickly understand the organisation’s performance and challenge effectively. While there is a strong interim COO in place, the CEO must be sufficiently financially literate to understand the key risks, opportunities and decisions facing the organisation and to provide appropriate challenge.
An immediate priority will be the proposed redevelopment of Robert Ogden School. As the interim CEO, you will need to assess the risks and opportunities associated with raising additional funding and provide the leadership and business judgement required to make this important decision before the permanent CEO is in place.
You will also need to encourage unity, cohesion and collective accountability among the executive leadership team and ensure that our Board are properly supported.
Who we are looking for
We need someone who can build a strong team ethos, encouraging senior leaders to work collaboratively in the interests of the whole organisation and fostering a culture of trust, openness and shared purpose. You will also need to build a constructive but robust relationship with trustees, providing clear leadership, sound judgement and the confidence to stand behind well-founded management decisions when necessary.
You will be a strategic thinker who can contribute constructively to the strategy process already underway, while leaving ownership of the longer-term strategy to the permanent CEO. You will help ensure that the organisation is well positioned to deliver the eventual strategy and be prepared to challenge the thinking as it develops.
Finally, you will provide visible leadership on organisational culture and staff experience. The interim will need to support the work already underway to strengthen culture and engagement, demonstrating a modern, respectful and inclusive approach to leadership. Overall, we need someone confident, commercially capable, decisive and resilient, with the ability to see the bigger picture and bring people with them.
We’re keen to ensure our team is diverse in every way, and we’re committed to ensuring we reflect our society, our Charity and the people we represent and support.
Our charity has been here for over 60 years for autistic people and their families. It is vital that our leadership has a good understanding of the experiences and needs of autistic people and their families, together with a commitment to meaningful engagement with autistic people in shaping organisational priorities.
We welcome applications from autistic people. To achieve greater diversity, we’re actively encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds and religions.
We can work with you to make reasonable adjustments to ensure you contribute fully. Our Pioneer Project is focused on ensuring our organisation is an exemplary employer of autistic people.
Please note: the required start date is Monday 14th September 2026 or as soon as possible.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Philippa Fabry | philippa@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07772 902071
Lucy Mavers | lucy@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07947 935068
National Autistic Society is a registered charity in England and Wales (269425) and in Scotland (SC039427).
Welcome from the Chair
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in joining the National Autistic Society.
Our Moonshot Vision is to build a world that works for autistic people. In the three years since we launched our Vision to Reality strategy, an ambitious plan to turn our vision into meaningful change, we have made important progress under the leadership of our departing CEO.
But there is so much more to do. Too many autistic people still face unacceptable barriers in their everyday lives — and we need a new CEO who can lead that work going forward.
While we search for that person, we need a safe pair of hands to act in an interim role and ensure stability. It needs to be someone who has experience of managing a complicated charity with a £100m turnover and who understands our values and vision for the future.
If you are that person, I look forward to meeting you.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Stephen Ladyman
Chair
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: National Autistic Society — Interim CEO” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Philippa Fabry | philippa@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07772 902071
Lucy Mavers | lucy@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07947 935068
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Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Thursday 27th August 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Friday 28th August 2026
Interviews (online): Friday 4th September 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and National Autistic Society are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
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