Chief Executive Ygam

Overview

Help shape the future of youth gaming and gambling related harms prevention by becoming the Chief Executive of Ygam, an evidence-led charity.

• Location: Remote, with regular UK travel and occasional international travel
• Salary: £90,000 to £100,000, depending on proven experience

About Ygam

Ygam is the UK's leading charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people. Our work bridges the critical knowledge gap between young people's digital lives and the adults who guide them. We believe in harm prevention through education, empowering the people who can make a real difference.

Through our award-winning portfolio of programmes and resources, we help build awareness and resilience, helping to guide young people to thrive in the digital age. Inspired by lived experience and grounded in robust evidence, our City & Guilds-assured training is enriched by a comprehensive library of practical resources, fostering a growing community dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of future generations. Since the charity was founded in 2014, Ygam has reached nearly 5 million children and young people, training over 28,000 delegates.

About the role

This is a pivotal moment for Ygam. With significant policy changes underway, including the Online Safety Act, Ofcom's Children's Code and reforms to gambling legislation introducing a new statutory levy, we have a vital role to play in shaping this new era.

As we enter the fourth year of our "Safeguarding our Digital Generation" strategy, we are seeking a visionary and collaborative Chief Executive to lead us through our next phase of growth and impact. This is an opportunity to build on strong foundations and guide a nationally respected charity through a changing, dynamic environment.

You'll be responsible for shaping and delivering our long-term vision, ensuring that everything we do is aligned with our charitable mission. You'll represent Ygam externally at the highest levels, developing meaningful partnerships across government, education, health and the third sector. You'll also support a skilled and committed senior leadership team, creating a culture where people feel valued, trusted and motivated to do their best work. This role calls for confident public leadership alongside sound operational and financial oversight.

You will be the visible face of Ygam, advocating for change while keeping us grounded in good governance, clear priorities and strong delivery. With your guidance, we'll deepen our impact, evolve our programmes and continue to grow a resilient, inclusive and evidence-informed organisation.

Reduced hours (c.3.5 - 4 days per week) or a more flexible working pattern will be considered.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a strategic and people-centred leader who can inspire trust, unlock potential and help shape a safer digital future for young people. You will bring experience of leading purpose-led organisations or initiatives, ideally with a national footprint.

You'll have a track record of translating strategic vision into meaningful impact, supported by strong operational judgement and a confident approach to financial oversight. You'll know how to work effectively with a Board of Trustees, and how to build positive, long-term relationships with funders, partners and policymakers.

We're especially interested in those who bring fresh thinking, clarity, and emotional intelligence to their leadership-people who aren't afraid to challenge assumptions and push boundaries. Someone who can hold a steady line through complexity, communicate with authenticity and bring out the best in others.

You don't need to come from the gaming or gambling harms sector, but you will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to our mission and a clear understanding of the social context we work in.

This is a unique opportunity to join a bold and forward-looking organisation at a time of significance. If you are driven by social purpose and ready to lead a values-led organisation making real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

To access the job information pack for this position, please follow the instructions on the How to Apply page. Following this, if you'd like to have an informal conversation, you can email our advising consultant at Peridot Partners to arrange a call:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Ellen Northwood

Thank you for your interest in the Chief Executive role at Ygam.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead an ambitious, mission-driven charity at a pivotal point in its journey.

Over the past decade, Ygam has grown into a sector leader and trusted voice in the field of digital safeguarding, with a specific focus on preventing gaming and gambling harms. Founded from lived experience, our organisation is now underpinned by strong governance, robust systems, and a culture of continuous improvement. We are proud to be recognised for our professionalism, integrity, and impact.

We are now seeking an outstanding individual to lead our talented and passionate team as we enter the next chapter of Ygam's journey. The new Chief Executive will play a central role in shaping and delivering our next strategic cycle - offering thoughtful, values-led leadership through a period of progression, opportunity, and challenge. Working closely with a skilled and experienced Board of Trustees, this is a chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of millions of children and young people.

At Ygam, we believe in the power of education as a tool for prevention and positive change. Our next Chief Executive must share that belief - and bring the vision, energy, and commitment needed to expand our reach, deepen our influence, and ensure every young person has the knowledge and confidence to stay safe in a rapidly evolving digital world. The Chief Executive will be politically astute, skilled in diplomacy and negotiations, and will build on our already strong external reputation.

Ygam is a truly special place to work. We are a fully remote organisation with a strong, supportive culture that nurtures talent, encourages new thinking, and puts people first. Our team is driven by purpose, grounded in compassion, and united in our commitment to making a difference. We embrace flexibility, promote work-life balance, and are proud of the high-performing culture we've created.

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, identities, and lived experiences. We recognise that great talent comes from many different paths, and we're open to a wide range of professional and personal experiences.

Thank you once again for considering this opportunity to lead an extraordinary organisation. We look forward to learning more about what you can bring to Ygam.

Warmest wishes,
Mike Wojcik
Chair of Trustees

About us

Founded in 2014, Ygam is the UK's leading charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people through education, awareness, and research.

We safeguard millions of children and young people every year through our award-winning, evidence-based programmes, delivered to those in positions of care and influence.

Our Vision, Mission and Social Purpose

Our vision is that: every child and young person is empowered to live a safe digital life, free from gaming and gambling harm.

Our mission is clear: to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harm through awareness raising, education and research.

Prevention of these harms may not always be at the top of the pile of public health priorities; nevertheless, they are an increasingly essential part of protecting young people growing up in a digital world. And we know that prevention is always better than cure.

Our social purpose: is to inform, educate, and safeguard young people against gaming and gambling harm. Our vision, strategy, and social purpose are guided by and contribute to the Gambling Commission's National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Related Harm.

To access a full job description and application details, please fill out the form below.

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 13th October 2025
Candidates informed of outcome: By COB Friday 17th October 2025
First stage interviews: Tuesday 21st (All day) and Wednesday 22nd (AM) October 2025 (Virtual)

Second stage interviews: Wednesday 5th November 2025 (In person, London)

Peridot and Ygam 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, in the interview phase 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.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.

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