Chief Executive Role

Reporting to: Chair of the Board of Directors

Location: Jamestown, St Helena Island

Salary: £60,000-£76,000 depending upon experience plus allowances

Role Purpose

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the leadership and management of the operations of the Company and will lead the setting and delivery of its overall vision and strategy.

Connect Saint Helena Ltd. is at a pivotal moment in its journey. As the sole provider of utility services on the island, it faces the dual challenge of financial sustainability and transformational change. The Chief Executive Officer will lead the organisation through a critical phase of strategic delivery. This role demands a visionary leader with proven experience in driving stakeholder confidence, influencing legislative reforms and the ability to oversee infrastructure development.

Within this role, the CEO will be expected to oversee the delivery of utilities services in St Helena ensuring that these are delivered in a cost effective and customer focused way.

Role Context

Connect Saint Helena Ltd. is wholly owned by the Government of St Helena and operates as a commercial entity delivering electricity and water services. The incoming CEO will be expected to act as an ambassador for Connect to reshape the public and stakeholder’s view of the organisation to encourage them to work with Connect to meet the island’s mission for sustainable energy, water and wastewater improvements. They will lead the Connect team to improve financial performance in order to eventually eliminate government subsidy, and lead the implementation of major infrastructure and energy transformation projects to support the organisation’s financial, commercial, and renewable energy ambitions. The role requires a credible leader who can engage effectively with government ministers, regulators, and the public, while inspiring internal teams to deliver at pace.

Key Responsibilities

To provide overall leadership, developing the Company’s shared values, practices and goals and ensuring the strategic vision defined by the Board of Directors is delivered.
Lead the strategic transformation of Connect Saint Helena Ltd., aligning operations with long-term sustainability and efficiency goals.
Assess the Company’s financial position and oversee financial improvements, including cost control, tariff recommendations, funding attainment and commercial planning.
To implement structures and systems to enable the Company to effectively identify, assess and manage risks, in accordance with the risk appetite of the Board.
Inspire and develop a multi-disciplinary team, embedding a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous improvement.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with government ministers, regulators, shareholders, and the wider community.
Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and governance frameworks, including SHG’s Ownership Policy.
Lead infrastructure planning and delivery across electricity, water, and wastewater services. Ensure effective project and service delivery, making efficient use of Company resources. Implement effective monitoring systems to ensure return on investment is appropriately understood.
Champion internal and external communications to rebuild public trust and articulate the value of Connect’s services, including acting as the primary conduit between the Board and the workforce, ensuring strategic alignment and effective decision-making.
To keep the Chair and Non-Executive Directors informed on matters that may be of importance to the Company or to them in the performance of their role as Non-Executive Directors, including the company’s performance and progress and other strategically important or relevant matters.
To consult with the Chair and Non-Executive Directors where matters have a financial, economic, environmental, operational or reputational risk to the company.

Essential Criteria

Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to develop business objectives in line with long-term strategies, and to lead transformation and turnaround in complex organisations.
People Leadership: Strong experience of leading and developing diverse multi-disciplinary teams and uniting staff behind organisational objectives.
Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of financial management, budgeting, and commercial strategy.
Decision Making: Proven ability to make timely decisions based on the best available information and evidence including stakeholder perspectives as appropriate.
Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated success in working with government ministers, regulators, and community stakeholders.
Change Management: Ability to lead cultural and operational change across diverse teams.
Governance & Compliance: Deep understanding of corporate governance and regulatory environments.
Communication: Excellent interpersonal and public communication skills, with the ability to manage reputation and build trust.

Desirable Competencies

Experience in leading large-scale infrastructure projects in utilities or related sectors.
Engineering or technical background in utilities, renewable energy, or infrastructure.
Project Management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 Practitioner).
Experience in accessing and managing external funding for capital projects.

Mindset and Behaviours

The CEO should be mindful of the Company’s current and future performance in order to bring the most value to the organisation.
Constructive challenge; to listen well, be tactful and yet be able to communicate a cogent and candid viewpoint.
Self-awareness; to have an insight into their own emotions and behaviours and sensitivity to the feelings and responses of others.
Sensitivity; to demonstrate social and cultural awareness and an ability to relate well to a diverse range of people.
Adaptability; to learn and evolve in the face of challenge and opportunity; to be able to pursue new strategic opportunities to improve the business and the community.

Dimensions

Staff Supervision: 75–80 employees
Budget Responsibility: Opex £5M / Capex £2M
Asset Oversight: Power Station, Wind Farm, Solar Farm, Water Treatment Works, Electricity & Water Networks
Key Contacts: Board of Directors, Utilities Regulatory Authority, Government Ministers, Chamber of Commerce, Farmers Association, Health Board

Benefits

In addition to salary we also pay a Supplement of either £9230, £11,580 and £15,340 which is referred to the T & Cs below is detail of how we arrive at these supplements

	Single	Couple	Family

Housing	6720	7560	8300
Flight to SA hub	880	1760	3520
Medivac Insurance	630	1260	2520
Home country storage	1000	1000	1000

TOTAL	9230	11580	15340

Negotiable -/+ 20%	7380 – 11000	9260 – 13890	12,270 – 18400

In addition to that the Company will also pay the following relocation costs which can met by Connect either directly or reimbursed:

– Pre-mobilization medical for employee plus accompanying family

– Mobilization and demobilization flights (economy class). Excess baggage fees up to 15kg per person.

– Up to £2000 each way shipping of personal effects

– Up to £3000 vehicle import duty.

– Immigration and work permit fees

About the Chief Executive Role