Managing Director

About Besson Street Trust

Besson Street Trust (formerly The New Cross Gate Trust) has worked for more than 18 years to create a connected, inclusive and ambitious community in New Cross Gate. Based in the Besson Street Community Garden, we deliver a range of services supporting the health, wellbeing, and development of local residents.

With a focus on collaboration and sustainability, we interact with more than 600 beneficiaries annually and support numerous community groups in the local area. Our activities are funded primarily by rental income from an endowment portfolio of residential and commercial properties, investments, and supplemented through fundraising.

This is a pivotal moment for the Trust; our long standing Centre Manager is stepping down after 21 years both serving the community of New Cross Gate, working initially for our predecessor - New Deal for Communities - and subsequently for the present successor Trust. She has overseen the development of the vibrant oasis that is our Besson Street Community Garden and the services that we delivery to our local communities.

We are growing and evolving. The neighbouring Besson Street development, part of which will deliver a community centre to be run by the Trust, provides a welcome opportunity to expand our support for the community. With this in mind, we are recruiting, initially, to two roles:

• Managing Director (being advertised immediately)
• Centre and Operations Manager (to be advertised soon, and to be recruited to in collaboration with the incoming Managing Director).

About the Role

Managing Director (0.6 FTE)

Besson Street Community Garden, Southeast London (Hybrid by arrangement)

£36,000 (0.6 FTE)

The Besson Street Trust is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to become our Managing Director, leading our community-focused charitable trust delivering impactful programmes and overseeing the management of the residential and commercial property portfolio, income from which underpins our charitable activities.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of the Trust and its activities, including the anticipated opportunity for the development of a new community centre on a neighbouring site, and the expansion of our charitable activities.

You will work closely with the Board of Trustees to drive strategy, secure additional funding, and ensure strong governance, while leading a small, committed team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading strategy, business planning, and organisational development
• Managing senior staff and fostering a positive organisational culture
• Building partnerships with funders, local authorities, and community organisations
• Overseeing financial sustainability and asset strategy
• Leading fundraising and income diversification

We are looking for someone who:

• Has senior leadership experience in a relevant sector
• Is confident working with Boards and governance structures
• Has a strong track record in partnership and funding development
• Combines strategic thinking with hands-on leadership