Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Role: Director of Local Operations
Job Description:
Youth Advantage UK is seeking a volunteer Director of Local Operations to develop and lead its Local Operations Departments (England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland) in identifying and delivering on opportunities for the organisation to have an impact at a local level through commissioned research projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring these Departments produce high-quality research projects which meet the goals agreed with the commissioning organisations and grow Youth Advantage’s reputation and reach in line with its strategic policies. Working closely with the COO and the Policy and Ethics Departments, the ideal candidate will use their prior experience to effectively guide and strengthen the organisation’s ability to enable evidence-based, positive local change. They should have excellent writing and speaking skills, IT literacy, and the ability to work well independently and in a team.
This role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer.
Responsibilities:
● In line with the organisation’s strategic priorities, to lead the Local Operations Department in designing, developing and implementing impactful research and project objectives.
● To line manage the Head of Local Operations (England and Wales) and the Head of Local Operations (Scotland and Northern Ireland), supporting them to effectively manage their own teams and to develop and implement the frameworks necessary for producing top quality research projects based around both desktop research and fieldwork.
● To work with HR in creating a strong Local Operations Department composed of individuals with the appropriate skills and expertise. To ensure these volunteers are appropriately supported and trained during their period of service.
● To work alongside the Policy Department to source potential commission and project opportunities, shaping the focus and output of the Local Operations Department accordingly.
● To develop short- and long-term strategies in relation to the Department’s activity, ensuring that these align with the wider strategies of the organisation.
● To liaise with the Policy and Ethics Department of the organisation on an ongoing basis, ensuring that their advice is incorporated into Departmental decisions and output.
● To take responsibility for relationships with key external stakeholders, at all times representing the organisation positively and professionally.
● To work on an on-going basis with the other members of the organisation’s Senior Leadership Team in determining its strategic priorities and incorporating these into the Department.
● To monitor, analyse and respond to external trends which impact on the organisation’s strategies and the Local Operations Department’s activities.
● To work closely with the organisation’s Communications Department in developing and implementing effective strategies to raise the organisation’s profile and impact.
● To create blogs and articles on related issues and to find and distribute information on related topics which may be of interest to the other organisation members.
● To support the Chief Executive Officer in presenting local operations strategies to Youth Advantage’s Trustees.
Requirements:
● Experience in research and planning, leading key campaigns or programmes.
● High-level understanding of carrying out quality desktop research and related fieldwork, ideally in an area related to the organisation’s priorities.
● Excellent knowledge of a range of methods and approaches to effectively disseminating research results.
● Excellent leadership and organisational skills, with proven experience of setting priorities and motivating team members.
● Excellent writing and speaking skills.
● IT literacy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
● Ability to work well independently and in a team.
● Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
● Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
Benefits
● Gain valuable experience in leading a research and project team.
● Opportunity to work with a dedicated and passionate team.
● Flexible working hours.
Do you feel excited by the idea of guiding the future of a local mental health charity?
Rochdale and District Mind is a mental health charity that supports people in the community who are facing mental health challenges. Our area of operation is Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, Bury and N.E. Lancashire. As part of the Mind Federation and the Mind in Greater Manchester partnership, our goal is to ensure that individuals do not face mental health issues alone and can live free from stigma and discrimination.
Our team consists of over 70 dedicated staff members and volunteers who provide a wide variety of services and activities, including counselling, therapeutic group workshops, advocacy, crisis support, dementia support, two wellbeing cafés, as well as other wellbeing activities such as sports sessions. To ensure our services are effective and rooted in the needs of the community, we involve people who use our services in shaping our offer. We are also pleased to be recognised for our work with our Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities in Rochdale. We work proactively both with our service users and with other key stakeholder organisations to tackle health inequalities.
Chair opportunity
We are flexible in our approach and are open to a single Chair or Co-Chair arrangement. We are looking for people with governance experience, the ability to lead and alignment with our values. Our new Chair or Co-Chairs will have energy and drive, a genuine passion for mental health support and be able to bring both knowledge and connections to the organisation.
This is an exciting moment to join us. Rochdale and District Mind has undergone a period of significant growth in recent years, with both our annual turnover and staff numbers doubling. We’ve successfully embedded our services within the strategic priorities of the local Integrated Care Board, adapting what we offer to meet the changing mental health needs of our community. Now, with our CEO Philip Bramson at the helm, we’re entering a period of reflection and consolidation, ready to build on our strong foundation as we shape the next chapter of our journey.
How to apply?
Eastside People is supporting Rochdale and District Mind in the recruitment for this role. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter both in Word doc. format.
Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following:
- Why are you interested in a Chair or Co-Chair role with Rochdale and District Mind?
- How can you contribute to Rochdale and District Mind as our Chair or Co-Chair?
- Please highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how your skills match the specific requirements of the role as set out in the role description.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustments so that we can help make the application process work for you.
The closing date for applications is Monday 28th July, and our candidate assessment schedule is as follows:
- EP interviews and informal conversations carried out through the recruitment process with final interviews taking place by Thu 31 July.
- Formal interviews with Rochdale and District Mind Board, in the week commencing 4th August.
- The successful candidate or candidates will be asked to attend two Board meetings as an observer (the first one of which is on 13 Aug), after which the appointment will be confirmed via a trustee vote.
Eastside People is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and work with our clients to ensure that we recruit inclusively, seeking to address the underrepresentation of some groups of people in leadership teams. We warmly welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
We exist to ensure that people do not face mental health issues alone and can lead their lives free from stigma and discrimination.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Become our Trustee Tresurer and chair our Finance Committee.We need a Trustees with energy, enthusiasm and commitment to help accelerate our influcence on wildlife and nature recovery issues in the country and beyond.
With a refreshed 3-year strategy (23-26), “A Wilder Herefordshire, More Nature Everywhere” we’re working hard to recover nature at scale through deeper collaborations, working with local community organisations and networks to develop a clear plan for nature’s recovery. We are also working with neighbouring Wildlife Trusts, river partnerships and national partners such as the Woodland Trust, National Trust, and Duchy of Cornwall.
So, with lots happening, it’s an exciting if challenging time for the Trust. Urgent action is needed to address the decline of wildlife in our beautiful county – and we need to muster all the resources and skills we can to succeed.
We are a welcoming board who support and challenge each other to do better for wildlife.
We look to recruit trustees from a range of backgrounds, life stages and skills to join us.
At this time, we wish to recruit someone to take on the role of Treasurer, and chair our Finance Committee. You would need the following skills and qualities:
· A strong commitment to wildlife conservation and the Vision of the Trust;
· Demonstrable experience of financial management;
· The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences;
· A good understanding of governance, gained either as a Trustee of another charity, a director of a company, or as a manager who has worked with Boards;
· The ability to apply clear logical thinking and creativity to developing our strategy
If you are successful, you will be welcomed and supported by a talented and committed board of trustees, a strong and experienced staff team and an active and expanding band of volunteers and by the wider Wildlife Trust movement. We hope you are inspired to apply, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Alison McLean OBE, Chair, March 2025