Chief Business Officer (CBO)

MAIN PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE JOB 

• As Harmless expands its position as a national centre of excellence for self-harm and suicide prevention, the Chief Business Officer (CBO) will join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to drive corporate growth, expand market reach, and oversee high-level strategic partnerships and business operations.
• As a senior executive reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CBO bridges high-level strategy and day-to-day commercial execution.
• Drive long-term growth and profitability for Harmless CIC through strategic partnerships, new markets, and client relationships.
• Sitting as an executive peer alongside specialist leads—the Chief Academy Officer, Chief Clinical Officer, Chief Service User Care & Experience Officer, and Chief HR Officer—the COO takes direct operational ownership of Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Planning, Brand Positioning and Financial and Operational Oversight.

1. Strategic Finance Management

• Financial Oversight: Provide primary executive oversight of overall budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, cash flow management, and long-term financial modelling in direct partnership with the Finance Manager.
• Pricing & Contract Modelling: Establish pricing structures, cost models, and profit and margin targets for public sector tenders, NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) contracts, local authority SLAs, and corporate partnerships.
• Compliance & Governance: Safeguard financial governance, risk matrices, annual audits, and statutory reporting within the Community Interest Company (CIC) framework.

2. Brand Positioning, Marketing & Business Growth

• Brand Advancement: Lead national marketing, PR, and communications strategies to strengthen brand recognition for Harmless CIC and its specialised delivery arms (The Tomorrow Project and Fearless).
• Business Growth: Identify and secure diverse, multi-stream funding across public sector commissioning, corporate patrons, charitable foundations, and commercial trading.
• Cross-Departmental Commercialisation: To work alongside clinical, training, education and other areas of business to achieve commercial aims and objectives.
• Lead Generation and Client Acquisition: Identifying and qualifying potential high-value clients. Pitching products or services to prospective buyers and stakeholders.
• Market Research and Analysis: Researching sector trends, competitor activity, and new geographic or product markets. Identifying opportunities and growth potential. 

3. Operations, Facilities & Infrastructure

• Business Operations: Direct non-clinical central functions, including IT infrastructure, facilities, administrative workflows, and business support teams.
• Systems Optimisation: Modernise internal tools, data systems, and CRMs to eliminate operational friction and improve cross-departmental coordination.
• Multi-Site Facilities: Oversee property management, health & safety compliance, and physical logistics across central headquarters and regional operations.

4. Senior Leadership Integration

• SLT Integration: Act as an active, collaborative member of the executive team, embedding commercial discipline and operational clarity into organisational decision-making.
• CEO Operational Partner: Translate the CEO’s strategic vision into sustainable business infrastructure and actionable operational plans.
• Values-Led Leadership: Champion an empathetic, trauma-informed, and compassionate leadership approach that reflects Harmless’s core user-led ethos.

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

• Executive Leadership: Proven track record in a senior business or operational leadership role (Essential)
• Specialism: Knowledge and Experience of working within a social enterprise, CIC, non-profit, or healthcare provider. (Desirable)
• Financial: Extensive experience overseeing complex budgets, financial compliance, and contract negotiations. (Essential)
• Marketing & Growth Vision: Successful background in brand positioning, public sector bidding/tendering, and driving top-line revenue growth across multi-faceted organisations. (Essential)
• Process & Systems Mindset: Strong understanding of IT systems, facilities management, business process optimisation, and data-informed decision-making. (Essential)
• Values Alignment: Deep commitment to trauma-informed care, empathy, equity, and user-led mental health initiatives. (Essential)
• Organisational: An alignment with Harmless CIC values, ethos, and standards, including a proven commitment to continuous improvement. (Essential) 
• Resilience: The ability to identify and respond to an ever- changing external environment that puts us in the best possible position to achieve our aims and objectives. (Essential)
• Forward thinking: The ability to identify and maximise opportunities and strengths to the benefit of our stakeholders both in the short term, medium-term and long-term. (Essential). And an ability to identify and respond to disruptions, challenges, and threats from an ever-changing internal and external environment. (Essential)
• Building Relationships: A history of building effective relationships and maintaining key stakeholder engagement up to senior level and policy level. (Essential)
• Business knowledge: A thorough understanding of Harmless CIC, including its commitment to the communities it serves. (Desirable) 

• Flexible working arrangements. 
• Four-day working week as standard for all full-time staff, with an equivalent pro rata salary for part-time staff.
• 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays, pro rata, on entry, increasing up to 28 days plus bank holidays, pro rata. *
• Occupational sick pay up to 24 standard working days per annum * 
• Employer pension contribution up to 8%. *
• Other staff reward and recognition initiatives operate throughout the year. 
• Access to Harmless’ CPD-accredited specialist training
• Access to Harmless’ annual CPD-accredited national self harm and suicide prevention conferences. 
• Other outstanding CPD opportunities, including an opportunity to develop areas of special interest around self harm, suicide prevention and suicide bereavement.