Head of Education and Training

Dated: June 2022

Contract: Full time, permanent

Salary: £48,000-50,000 per annum 

Start date: Immediate

Location: Home based with potential access to desk space in central London, if required; travel across the UK may be required from time to time as part of role (subject to covid guidance) 

Reporting to: Director of Strategy and Learning

Direct reports: None at this time

Annual leave: 25 days per year plus bank holidays

About the role

The Head of Education and Training is a new and critical role, created as part of our merger with YMCA George Williams College. By bringing together the College’s teaching legacy (including extensive course materials and associated learning platform) with the Centre’s research and insight, we hope to re-establish an education and training function that supports quality relational practice within the YMCA movement and beyond. As such, we have created a dedicated post to lead, design and develop our education and training offer and approach, including the partnerships and relationships that will support it. 

Training and capacity building has long been part of the Centre for Youth Impact’s work, but this has historically focused more on skills for evaluation and learning rather than quality practice in informal and non-formal learning. Our merger with the College creates an exciting opportunity to broaden our education and training activity in response to our learning about quality and impact over the past eight years. It also creates new potential for international learning partnerships to advance and extend our collective understanding. 

The Head of Education and Training will be responsible for designing, developing and implementing a new education strategy, working closely with the Director of Strategy and Learning. This strategy will include the education and training ‘offer’, the partnerships and relationships that support it, a solid understanding of the context/need/demand, and a robust approach to quality assurance.

 We want our education and training offer to encompass a range of modalities, including training courses, programmes of study, modules (that could stand alone or be incorporated into partners’ training offers), workshops, webinars and self-study resources. We would like to explore the role of and potential for accreditation, and for our offer to reflect our range of expertise. This includes:

• The ‘impact to improvement journey’: the design, delivery, and improvement of informal and non-formal provision to ensure that evaluation informs organisational learning;
• A ‘leading for impact’ programme: leadership, team development, collaborative working and shared learning across organisations to facilitate impact; 
• A continuous quality improvement offer focused on the core ‘mechanisms of change’ that evidence suggest support positive outcomes for young people; and 
• Our socio-emotional learning framework that supports practitioners and volunteers to create safe and supportive environments, role model socio-emotional skills, and offer engaging opportunities for young people. 

The Head of Education and Training will play a strong role in supporting income generation, and will work closely with colleagues across the organisation to embed insights from our research and evaluation activity into our education and training offer, alongside communicating with and reaching out to our networks.

What are we looking for? 

We are looking for an outstanding candidate with a deep understanding of relational practice, and how adults and young people learn and develop, social and emotionally. You will need to be imaginative and proactive, with strong interest and high-level skills in building alliances and collaborations. You will need well-developed skills in designing learning content and associated resources, alongside being an exceptional facilitator, trainer and coach. You will need to understand the world of further and higher education, and continuing professional development for youth workers in particular. You will also need to be comfortable bringing those skills into a fast-paced charity setting. An interest in and solid understanding of evaluation would be a distinct plus, as would an awareness of youth-focused public policy and system dynamics. 

You will have the ability to engage with humility and authenticity with a wide range of people and organisations working to support young people and their communities. You will be able to spot and make connections between relationships and areas of work and be alive to changes and patterns in the external policy and practice context and the opportunities they present for our charity. 

Finally, you will also need to be a strong and confident project manager and a compelling and confident writer and presenter who can communicate the breadth of our work. You will be comfortable representing us externally, and acting as a ‘thought leader’: openly reflecting the evolution of your ideas and thinking, and generously sharing your learning with others. 

Please follow the link to our website for the full job description and person spec.

Veganuary is the non-profit that encourages people to go vegan for the month of January - and beyond. We focus on changing consumer behaviours and attitudes, while providing lots of information and practical support - to make the transition to veganism as easy and enjoyable as possible.

We also work with businesses to drive up vegan food provisions in shops and restaurants and have made veganism more visible and accessible through our work with national and international media.

What we do

• Our Aim: A world without animal farms and slaughterhouses. A world where food production does not decimate forests, pollute rivers and oceans, exacerbate climate change and drive wild animal populations to extinction.
   
• Our Mission: To inspire and support people to try vegan, drive corporate change, and create a global mass movement, championing compassionate food choices with the aim of ending animal farming, protecting the planet, and improving human health.

We work toward our lofty ambitions by following a simple, 3-step plan:

1. Encouraging and supporting millions of people to try veganism.
    
2. Creating the necessary media and social media buzz to raise awareness of the topic and the benefits of a vegan lifestyle.
    
3. Encouraging companies to promote and launch more delicious vegan options to increase the quality, availability and visibility of vegan food.

How we do it

You’ll have no doubt seen our public campaigns for Veganuary, you may even have tried it yourself. We’re incredibly proud of the global movement we’ve built, and it continues to grow year-on-year.

The part of work you might be a little less familiar with is our work in influencing businesses. The more businesses speak positively about veganism and launch new vegan products, the better the availability, visibility and quality of vegan products becomes, making it easier and tastier to try vegan. This is inspiring more people to choose plant-based options and stick with it long term.

Amongst many others, we are incredibly proud to have worked with the following companies to increase their vegan offering:

• Deliveroo
• Cadbury
• McDonalds
• Starbucks

What we’re looking for

As we head into the next phase of our strategy, we are looking for a talented Head of Operations and Finance who can help us build a robust, sustainable organisation. You will help us to shore up our gains to date and capitalise on the increasing number of growth opportunities coming our way.

This is a reimagining of an existing role and represents an investment in the charity’s future. We are looking for someone who can work closely with the board and executive to devise and implement business plans that are robust enough to accommodate our rapid growth and flexible enough to take advantage of new opportunities.

You will lead on financial management, supervise and optimise the organisation’s operations in the UK, and support our growing international team in operational matters.

Playing a pivotal part in the Senior Management Team, you will be responsible for ensuring that Veganuary’s day-to-day operations - including governance, administration, HR, finance, legal and IT remain compliant, responsive and efficient.

We don’t believe in prescriptive person specifications, as they limit the diversity of experience on our teams. We have just three questions of you, before you apply:

• Are you a qualified finance professional with significant experience of overseeing finance functions in UK charities?
   
• Are you a skilled strategic thinker with a proactive approach to solving problems?
   
• Do you enjoy building efficient structures and processes that limit bureaucracy and drive growth?

If you like what you’ve read, and your answer to all three questions above is “yes”, I recommend that you read the application pack by following the link below and consider getting in touch to discuss the role in more detail.

We’re recruiting for a Test Lead, who will help people with sight loss live the life they choose by leading a team of test analysts and being the gatekeeper of quality configuration, customisation, and data for our Digital platforms.

As a Test Lead working in an Agile environment across a large and complex enterprise architecture, the successful postholder will be a key player in ensuring that all software change is optimised to the very highest quality.

Responsibilities include:

• developing a test strategy and function
• formulating and executing test cases, managing test data, and supporting the  team and colleagues in the execution of Business Acceptance Testing

We’re looking for someone who can be hands-on in ensuring the effective utilisation of defect tracking software (Jira), and who’ll work closely with our Technology Delivery Manager and other Heads of Technology verticals to ensure effective communication, coordination and feedback across our testing, development and delivery functions.

This homebased role is 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week, with 26 days paid holiday (excluding bank holidays) a year.

We offer a generous pension scheme, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.

More details about this role, the Organisation and the recruitment process can be found in the attached candidate pack and job description.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

Diversity

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

Candidate profile

To be able to fulfil this role, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include;

Essential

• ISTQB certification or recognised equivalent certificate in Testing
• Experience in leading and managing test analysts
• Experience in developing testing strategy to support an organisations technology stack
• Experience in creating/Implementing Test Cases, Plans, Scripts etc.
• Experience of Selenium Webdriver
• Good interpersonal skills / friendly and approachable, strong facilitation skills. 

Desirable

• Agile accreditations
• Experience working in the non-profit sector
• Defining Test Strategies for functional and non-functional testing

For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below. The candidate pack contains more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.

Population Matters is a non-profit organisation that empowers women to take charge of family size, campaigns for more controlled human consumption, and seeks to tackle the population boom crisis that has been noted by luminaries such as Sir David Attenborough.
 

Our Approach

1. We work with our global partners, friends, and stakeholders to achieve a better future for people and planet.
    
2. We campaign, inform, undertake research and do all we can to encourage an open, fair-minded and constructive debate about population. We aim to create a wave of public awareness and corresponding policy action on overpopulation and unsustainable consumption.
    
3. We promote positive, practical, ethical and entirely voluntary solutions — encouraging smaller families, inspiring people to consume sustainably, with the aim of enabling everyone to enjoy a decent quality of life whilst respecting and sustaining the natural ecosystems upon which all life on earth depends.
    
4. We empower choice. In a world of finite resources, our reproductive and consumption choices are critical for achieving that vision of humanity in harmony with nature, prospering on a healthy planet. We believe everyone should have the freedom and ability to choose a smaller family.
    
5. We are committed to human rights, women’s empowerment and global justice. We believe action to address population must always be consistent with these principles.
    

What we’re looking for

Having achieved 265% growth in income since 2017, we are in a strong growth position and are looking for a talented Head of Finance and Operations who can contribute to building a resilient, sustainable organisation. You will help us to consolidate our current position and put us on a sure footing for continued growth, as we take advantage of the opportunities available to us.

This is a new role and contributes to the re-organisation and development of our SMT, and represents confident investment in the charity’s future growth. We are looking for someone who can work in lock-step with the Executive Director and Board to develop and implement business plans that are robust enough to accommodate our rapid growth and flexible enough to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

You will lead on the development of our financial systems and management, as well as the management and optimisation of our business operations – covering finance, IT, HR, governance, administration, legal, and facilities. Whilst the role has a mixed portfolio, it’s worth noting that the finance element is absolutely at the heart of the position.

Playing a key role on the Senior Management Team, you will be responsible for ensuring that Population Matter’s day-to-day finances and operations remain compliant, responsive and efficient.

We try to avoid prescriptive person specifications, as they limit the diversity of experience on our team. Instead, we have just four questions for you:

1. Do you have an accountancy qualification and significant experience of overseeing finance functions in UK charities, with demonstrable success in building robust financial systems within high-growth environments?
    
2. Do you have a keen eye for detail and a desire to drive ongoing improvements, building efficient structures and processes that limit bureaucracy and drive growth?
    
3. Do you have the team building skills needed to work with a highly-motivated, diverse, remote working and internationally operating staff team? Not to forget building a positive, dynamic relationship with our Board.
    
4. Do you have a commitment to the change we’re trying to create and the way in which we’re trying to create it?

If you like what we do, the role is grabbing your attention, and you answered yes to the questions above, then we’d wholeheartedly recommend you read our detailed application pack, by following the link below, and consider putting an application together.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We’re recruiting for three IS Business Analysts to help people with sight loss to lead the life they choose by gathering, analysing, documenting and validating the needs of business stakeholders, shaping IS solutions and acting as a voice of the business within IS developments. In this role the successful postholders will build a close understanding of operational requirements and work as part of a team capturing and defining system enhancement requirements between the business and IS across the agile development cycle.

This homebased role is worked around the core hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (35 hours per week) with 26 days paid holiday (excluding bank holidays) a year.

We offer a generous pension scheme, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.

More details about this role, the Organisation and the recruitment process can be found in the attached candidate pack and job description.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

Diversity

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

Candidate profile

To be able to fulfil this role, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include;

Essential

• Diploma in Computing (or with a significant computing element) and/or Professional IT qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience in stakeholder management.
• Experienced in business analysis, including tools and techniques for information modelling, understanding business operations and customer needs.
• Familiar with the principles, processes and practices associated with internal consultancy in the IT environment.
• Knowledge of demand management to enable optimal resourcing of the project portfolio.
• Ability to work with a broad range of user experience and abilities.
• Able to establish relationships and maintaining contacts with people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Able to convey complex technical issues to users and management.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the IT infrastructure (hardware, databases, operating systems, local area networks etc) and the IT applications and service processes used within Guide Dogs

For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below. The candidate pack contains more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.

About New Local

“An ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE bunch of change-makers.

New Local puts me and my team at the heart of an exciting movement

that’s genuinely transforming our relationships with our communities”

Sandra Farquharson, Assistant Director, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

“It’s rare to work for an organisation as committed and positive as this one.

There’s an energy, focus and enthusiasm that runs through everything – from

the core mission of community power down to their innovative events”

Simon Kaye, former team member, New Local

“We recruit nice people and encourage them to be friendly, caring colleagues and the senior management model this. Does this make us soft under performers?

Absolutely not. Our membership, revenues and impact grow every year. That's because what drives performance is not whip-cracking managers but clarity of vision, a sense of shared mission and skilled, motivated people.”

Adam Lent, Chief Executive, New Local (view the Twitter thread)

New Local is the proud host of Stronger Things, an annual event that’s become known as the place for equipping and inspiring those that believe the future of public services is community-powered (watch the videos from 2020 and 2022).

The profile of this event has grown massively in recent years and we now want to take it to the next level. Our vision for Stronger Things 2023 is an international festival of community power, a must-attend for professionals and activists from across the globe. 

We’re also eager to launch a second event under the Stronger Things banner, as well as work with our network of local authorities and other organisations to increase the income-generating events that help resource our work.

You and your role 

This new role is an exciting opportunity for an events professional who wants to build on the work we’ve already done and make Stronger Things their own. 

We’re looking for someone who already has extensive experience of events planning, management and delivery. We need a doer as well as a thinker, not afraid to embrace both direction-setting strategic thinking as well as hands-on tasks. 

As we move to make Stronger Things financially self-supporting you’ll also need a strong track-record of growing income – a natural at starting and sustaining positive relationships with the fantastic organisations that support community power. 

Our brilliant network and events team will support your work and, as the Stronger Things approaches, you’ll be expected to lead staff from across the organisation as everyone pitches in.

Just as important as all the above is someone with the imagination and rigour to keep our events standing out. ‘Keeping the quirky’ might sound cheesy, but for us, it’s a fundamental part of creating the warm, safe and fun space that enables people to share and learn with vulnerability. 

Location:  New Local operates a highly flexible approach to work location and welcomes applications from across the UK. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Key tasks and responsibilities 

Stronger Things 

• Envision and innovate - Lead the conversation across our members, stakeholders and team about what they need from our flagship event. Use this to develop its theme and format, combining virtual and real-life aspects. 
• Plan & Deliver - Do the legwork that’s needed to deliver this event, including, managing budgets, attendee registration mechanics and supplier liaison. 
• Grow the audience - Bring in new people from different sectors and communities as well as make our digital audience a global one. 
• Develop our income - Bring in new sponsors and partners (and increase their opportunities for engagement) to help pay to the costs of this event. 
• Secure speakers with something to say – Find us rock star speakers who will inspire our audience. 
• Keep the quirky – Don't lose sight of the little things that make our events special. This year we ditched our registration desks, had a big pink sofa centre stage and hosted an after-hours jazz band. You’ll beat that.

New events

• Establish and deliver new events - Use the Stronger Things banner to introduce an events programme from scratch.
• Develop our business - Work with our organisation partners to develop new, income-generating, events that help fund our work. 
• Protect our data - Use processes, software and systems in a way that protects our event registration data.

Other work

• Collaborate with colleagues - Work closely with our research, practice and communications teams, ensuring our events are an asset to their work. 
• Muck in - Work alongside the rest of your team (and the rest of the organisation!), sharing in event and member admin, never afraid of getting involved in even the most basic jobs.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed

• Experienced events professional, with a deep understanding and demonstrable background in delivering amazing high-profile events for large audiences.
• Broad-ranging and adaptable, equally comfortable in front of a potential sponsor, attendee spreadsheet and strategy planning session.
• Great communicator, with an ability to write compelling emails and pitch persuasively in-person. 
• Relationship-builder, a natural friend-maker for an organisation that relies on strong professional connections
• Data-lover, who is not just an excellent record keeper, but someone who pushes data to spot gaps and opportunities for our organisation.
• Innovative and entrepreneurial, committed to evolving the experience of our members and event participants
• A champion for our mission, bringing an understanding of community power and a commitment to its principles.

Above all, a friendly and supportive colleague able to work in a highly creative and collaborative environment that encourages autonomy and excellence from all members of the team.

In addition to the advertised salary, we offer: 

• A minimum of 27 days’ holiday a year and ten days holiday over Christmas/New Year
• Highly flexible working and work location arrangements 
• Regular training opportunities 
• A number of other benefits listed in the job description.

For further details of the role and benefits on offer, and how to apply please refer to the attachment.  Full information about the role including the Head of Events Job Description / Person Specification can also be found on the jobs page of the New Local website.

If you wish to discuss this role, please get in touch to arrange a discussion to take place before Thursday 16 June.  After this date we will be happy to explore your questions at the interview stage. 

As part of the Anthem National Team, the post holder will be a key senior manager within the organisation, guiding, leading, and influencing the forward planning and development of all Digital Strategy and IT.

Digital Transformation

· Develop, manage, monitor, and implement the Trust’s digital strategy in line with organisational values, objectives, and priorities.

· Develop programmes to implement transformational change which will enable the organisation to deliver high-quality education and ensuring all services are efficient, highly effective, and user focussed.

· Create and support an environment of digital innovation and best practice, ensuring the use of technologies for the benefit of all staff and students.

· Provide expert advice and guidance on all aspects of digital transformation.

 Information Technology

· Overseeing all technology operations and evaluating them according to established goals.

· Devising and establishing IT and information governance policies and systems to support the implementation of strategies and requirement set by the executive team and regulatory bodies.

· Analysing the requirements of all schools to determine their technology needs and compatibility.

· Lead and implement the development of the Anthem IT strategy.

Professional responsibilities

· To engage with, and support, school leaders to provide a high-quality support and customer service across the organisation.

· To provide a practical, proactive, and organised approach to ensuring projects are delivered effectively.

· To concentrate on the implementation and development of the Trust’s digital transformation strategy which will include a key focus on information technology, digital solutions for pedagogy, workflow, and data management across the organisation.

Main duties and responsibilities

Horizon Scanning and Strategic Leadership

· Review existing digital capabilities and make recommendations for embedding a digital-first culture.

· To keep informed of developments in EdTech and the wider ICT industry to identify opportunities, through meetings, media, forums, conferences, and networking opportunities.

· To develop strategic relationships across the Trust to influence the wider agenda and to benchmark against market leaders within the sector.

· Develop and implement a user-led IT strategy which delivers growth in our engagement with staff, students, and parents.

· Apply highly specialised expertise and knowledge to deliver collaborative improvements and planning to meet the requirements of the Trust.

· Present complex information, data, and facts in a clear and appropriate manner to senior leaders to aid in making informed decisions.

· To drive and deliver innovation and creativity in the development of digital solutions.

· Responsible for producing five-year refresh & investment plans, including capital, revenue and staffing resources.

· Contribute to the overall strategic direction of the Trust through membership of the Trust Operations Team, attendance at meetings, and representing the IT function throughout the organisation.

IT Governance, Compliance and Security

· To lead on the procurement of digital technology across the Trust and ensure that purchasing decisions relating to IT are consistent with Anthem’s vision and strategy.

· To support the Trust’s Data Protection Officer by leading on the practice of information governance, providing expert knowledge and assurance to ensure that sensitive and confidential data is managed appropriately.

· Ensure that the Trust remains compliant with the requirements of information governance, GDPR and Freedom of Information.

· Ensure that disaster recovery plans are in place for all IT services and that these are routinely tested, weaknesses identified and addressed in school budgets.

· Be responsible for the development and implementation of the Trust cyber security strategy.

Service Improvement

· To be the face of IT across the Trust, and lead on delivering a first-class IT service for all schools and departments.

· To analyse user needs and to design and implement a program for user training on core Anthem systems, particularly Microsoft platforms.

· Provide analysis on the baseline performance of all Anthem IT systems

· Provide advice on innovative opportunities and support all schools in their use of digital technology.

· Propose changes to the IT and digital functions making recommendations for other service delivery, particularly in relation to strategic and operational plans. Develop, policies for implementation of IT and digital transformation projects and initiatives.

Team Management

· To line manage the Anthem IT infrastructure and support service teams

· To liaise and coordinate external IT contractors to ensure parity of service and best value for money

· To work closely with all Anthem schools, supporting their development plans, and maintaining up to date knowledge of current trends in the digital fields.

· To organise and undertake annual digital assessment and audits

· To develop a positive approach to identifying talent and skills within the IT team

Organisational Development

· To provide effective leadership, professional expertise and support on IT and digital transformation related matters.

· To work with curriculum leads to understand the Trust’s educational strategy and ensure this is reflected and supported by developments in digital strategy.

· To lead cultural change aligned to Anthem vision and values. To lead by example, providing leadership, support, and supervision to staff.

· To encourage staff to work collaboratively and to increase the level of consistency surrounding the use of digital technologies across the organisation.

· Challenge existing practice, ensuring progressive solutions, which considers models of best practice and delivers best value.

· Produce reports to Trustees and the executive team when required and supply relevant professional input to the meetings.

· To participate in the reviewing of all relevant policies to make sure they are workable and satisfy all Trust requirements.

· To promote and champion equality and diversity within a positive and engaging culture.

· To take an active and critical approach to team assessment and quality improvement through robust critical review and action planning.

Budget and Financial Management

· To work with the Head of Finance for the drafting of the annual IT budget for the National Team, and each school. Monitor IT expenditure to analyse and evaluate performance, manage risk, identify problem areas, and develop solutions, so the Trust can maximise efficiencies and effectiveness.

· Use time and resources effectively, reviewing all areas of responsibility regularly and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer any deficiencies found, or future developments needed.

General

· Make recommendations to the executive team on any IT and digital issues.

· To ensure the regular audit of services, instigating changes in practice as necessary in line with findings and current best practice.

· To deal with complaints, ensuring that an investigation is conducted, and that the complaints policy is followed, keeping the executive team fully appraised.

· Ensure the co-ordination of IT training and development of all Anthem employees is effective, including the monitoring and management of the programme for statutory and mandatory training.

Personal and Professional Development

· Be able to manage own workload along with that of others, by ensuring appropriate prioritisation and delegation, utilising the most effective skills and capabilities.

· To proactively assess own development needs and seek out development opportunities which will enable enhanced contribution to meet the objectives of the Trust.

These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exhaustive nor exclusive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading of the post.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Degree level in relevant field to the post, or equivalent industry experience. Evidence of recent continuing professional development
• Right to work in the UK

Desirable

• Educated to Masters Level in relevant field to the post Management/Leadership qualification
• Project Management Qualification

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive strategic and operational experience in IT and digital transformation, including developing complex projects.
• Ability to translate strategic direction into achievable objectives and plans.
• Highly developed analytical problem solving and judgement skills.
• Management experience environment in a similar or larger sized, diverse organisation.
• Evidence in developing and implementing an IT and digital strategy.
• Evidence of developing and delivering successful change projects.
• Evidence of developing and delivering effective engagement strategies.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft systems.
• Experience of managing and motivating a team, where high standards are required.
• Experience of managing budgets, being both financially aware and financially astute
• Experience of designing and delivering training.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of cloud-based technologies and capabilities, process automation and other efficient enablers.
• Effective and persuasive communicator both verbally and in writing with proven ability to adapt own communication style to meet the audience.
• Able to assess situations and defuse conflict situations positively.
• Effective report writing.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to manage tasks simultaneously.
• Able to deliver on deadlines, maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Leadership in a motivational and developmental manner.

Desirable

• Experience working in an IT service within an educational environment
• Experience of working with School Management Information Systems (MIS)
• Strong understanding of IT, digital and GDPR legislation.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Credible and confident, possessing the presence as well as depth of IT and digital experience to inspire and drive change.
• Creative, energetic, and resourceful with the ability to influence.
• Passionate about learning and knowledge sharing.
• To be receptive to change and to act as a change agent.
• To react sensitively and professionally to unforeseen situations.
• Ability to maintain excellent rapport with staff, Trustees, and local governors of the Trust
• To demonstrate a calm and logical approach to problem solving.
• To consistently demonstrate a dedicated approach to the quality of IT and digital support a constructive and efficient way.
• A high degree of personal integrity, honesty, and openness.

About New Local

“An ABS­OLUTELY INCREDIBLE bunch of change-makers.

New Local puts me and my team at the heart of an exciting movement

that’s genuinely transforming our relationships with our communities”

Sandra Farquharson, Assistant Director, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

“It’s rare to work for an organisation as committed and positive as this one.

There’s an energy, focus and enthusiasm that runs through everything – from

the core mission of community power down to their innovative events”

Simon Kaye, former team member, New Local

“We recruit nice people and encourage them to be friendly, caring colleagues and the senior management model this. Does this make us soft under performers?

Absolutely not. Our membership, revenues and impact grow every year. That's because what drives performance is not whip-cracking managers but clarity of vision, a sense of shared mission and skilled, motivated people.”

Adam Lent, Chief Executive, New Local (view the Twitter thread)

Our network of councils – local authorities from across Britain – are some of the most articulate, innovative and imaginative and you’ll ever meet. They’re itching to change the way they do things and look to us for the research, resources and connections they need to transform.

Over the last two years our network has almost doubled in size as appetite has grown for our core mission: places powered by communities. We’re eager to grow more, but never sacrificing the quality of our current relationships and depth of their impact.

You and your role

As our new Head of Network, you’ll lead on increasing the engagement of our existing members as well as bringing new councils on board. You’ll also deliver our popular peer-led programmes of sessions, not only fronting many of them personally but also helping with the nitty-gritty of organising them.

You’ll already be an expert on the behind-the-scenes administration that enables networks like ours to thrive, and we’ll expect you to use that expertise to improve our processes and systems.

A local government background is far from essential - as long as you have experience of networks like ours, we’ll welcome the new ideas and fresh perspectives that you bring. You can learn about local government - and its unique power to shape our lives and places – on the job.

This role involves working closely with others from across our organisation – highly skilled people in our research, practice comms and operations teams. We value creativity, collaboration and self-determination above all else and are looking for someone who can help us foster those values as well as being a friendly, kind and supportive colleague.

Location:  New Local operates a highly flexible approach to work location and welcomes applications from across the UK. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• Grow our network: Draw in new members and make being part of our network so good it’s impossible to leave.
• Deepen engagement: Strengthen relationships with (and between) every one of our local government members.
• Map and measure participation: Track our members’ level of interaction, finding new ways to assess the value our members are getting from our network and act on the results.
• Work with annual partners: help these organisations engage with our current work and develop new opportunities to reach our network.
• Communicate frequently: Use compelling and frequent written communications to share the resources, sessions and opportunities we provide our members.
• Take member sessions to a new level: Keep us at the cutting edge of peer learning, both online and offline, by experimenting with new styles, formats and speakers. As well as designing our session programmes.
• Lead and facilitate sessions: Be a face of New Local sessions, coming alongside members, together tackling some of the biggest challenges they face.
• Protect our data: Take responsibility for looking after our network data.
• Lead your team: Coach, support and provide line management for your small, but brilliant, team.
• Collaborate with colleagues: Work closely with our research, practice and communications teams, ensuring our network is an asset to their work.
• Muck in: Work alongside the rest of your team (and the rest of the organisation!), sharing in event and member admin, never afraid of getting involved in even the most basic jobs.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed

• Experienced membership professional, with a deep understanding and demonstrable background in growing a network like ours, in whatever sector.
• Great communicator, with an ability to write compelling emails, pitch persuasively in-person and facilitate sessions with flair.
• Data-lover, who is not just an excellent record keeper, but someone who pushes data to spot gaps and opportunities for our organisation.
• Articulate and knowledgeable connector, with the understanding and confidence to build relationships and work in a highly networked way.
• Innovative entrepreneur, committed to evolving members’ experience as well as our broader business development.
• A champion for our mission, bringing an understanding of community power and a commitment to its principles.
• Supportive manager and coach, with experience of building, motivating and managing high-performing teams.

Above all, a friendly and supportive colleague able to work in a highly creative and collaborative environment that encourages autonomy and excellence from all members of the team.

In addition to the advertised salary, we offer: 

• A minimum of 27 days’ holiday a year and ten days holiday over Christmas/New Year
• Highly flexible working and work location arrangements 
• Regular training opportunities 
• A number of other benefits listed in the job description.

For further details of the role and benefits on offer, and how to apply please refer to the attachment.  Full information about the role including the Head of Network Job Description / Person Specification can also be found on the jobs page of the New Local website.

If you wish to discuss this role, please get in touch to arrange a discussion to take place before Thursday 16 June.After this date we will be happy to explore your questions at the interview stage. 

Are you an experienced and dynamic finance professional looking for a broad, hands-on exciting position in a growing charity? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We are looking for an agile and experienced Head of Finance to lead Brake’s operational finance function and also maintain and develop our financial systems and operating processes. We are looking for someone who has previous hands-on experience; ideally in a similar-sized or larger organisation. Reporting into the Chief Operating Officer, this role is a very hands-on finance role leading on all aspects of financial accounting across the charity, providing clear financial insight at all times. The Head of Finance will work closely with our leadership team and undertakes the most senior finance role within the organisation.

Currently the finance team consists of the Head of Finance and a Finance and Admin Officer (who reports into the Head of Finance). While nothing is guaranteed, there is potential for growth across the charity and therefore we are looking for a Head of Finance who can demonstrate experience and capability to step up into a more senior finance role, overseeing a more complex finance function with additional line management responsibility. 

Who we are

Brake is the national, acclaimed charity tackling the daily, horrific carnage of deaths, injuries, and air pollution on roads. Traffic is the biggest killer of young people worldwide, poisoning our lungs and contributing hugely to the climate emergency. Brake’s vision is that people get around in safe and healthy ways. Our values require us to be evidence-based, aim high, and work collaboratively.

We have a 25-year reputation for shouting out for positive change, advising government, encouraging action in communities, and delivering the UK’s National Road Victim Service for bereaved and injured families.

Key tasks

• management and administration of book-keeping using Xero;
• operation of Sage Payroll and pensions for c.45 staff;
• preparation of management accounts and financial reporting information for the charity’s finance committees monthly. Attendance at monthly finance committee meetings;
• preparation of the annual budget and monthly forecasts;
• processing of invoices, arranging supplier payments, resolving queries and debtors;
• managing bank accounts holding the charities’ working funds and its reserves, both online and offline;
• working alongside the auditors (managing the audit process end to end) and the Treasurer, generating year end accounts documents and submitting returns (including VAT returns, GiftAid claims etc) to the relevant authorities (including Charity Commission and Companies House) ensuring they are compliant with charity legislation;
• leading the identification and implementation of improvements to finance processes, as agreed with the Chief Operating Officer;
• working closely with all budget holders, supporting colleagues with financial matters, notably in preparing and checking a) budgets and b) financial expenditure reports required by sponsors and statutory funders; and
• line management of one member of staff.

You bring

• experience of working in a similar hands-on role in a finance management capacity in the not for profit sector;
• a recognised accounting qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA);
• excellent knowledge of financial processes;
• experience of using Xero and Sage software and adept at Microsoft Office;
• the ability to produce high quality financial reports;
• an analytical mindset, able to work as a financial adviser for non-finance functions, providing insightful analysis and guidance;
• the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple responsibilities;
• proactive, problem solving ability and strong interpersonal skills; and
• a values-driven approach to life; you want to work for a charity.

About the team and how we work

• You will be joining a skilled, dedicated and friendly team.
• Our team works remotely and encourages use of sustainable transport.
• Brake actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We employ based on skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
• Employees are subject to driver licence checks. If you drive, please note we do not accept applications from serious traffic offenders due to the nature of our work.

Just Treatment is a growing patient-led campaign fighting to ensure everyone gets the healthcare they need by demanding the government acts to put patients before corporate profits. We believe the only way we can win this is by building a movement of those directly affected by the problem to challenge the power of the pharmaceutical and health industries. We're looking for a Head of Organising & Campaigns to oversee our work taking on big pharma and fighting for an effective, public NHS. You'll know how to oversee the creation of a brilliant, collaborative campaign strategy, and understand how to get volunteers and staff to put it into action. You'll have a deep understanding of organising. And you'll be committed to taking on David Vs Goliath battles to win health justice.

Head of Finance (Islamic Charity, home based within the UK) 

Civitas Recruitment are proud to be working with an international Islamic food charity determined to free people from devastating hunger. The charity develops and delivers charity projects so they can have the greatest impact possible on the lives of some of the world’s poorest people and most vulnerable people in regions such as Afghanistan, Malawi, Pakistan and Bangladesh. An exciting opportunity exists for a Head of Finance to join the charity. As Head of Finance, you will be responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of existing and new financial systems and will ensure high quality implementation and reporting of all financial aspects of the charity. It is a remote role, working one day a week paying £400 per day or £20,000 per annum PAYE. 

Who are we looking for?

Candidates will be fully qualified (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or CIPFA) and will possess at least 10 years' experience in a financial leadership position. You will also have experience of financial strategy including financial planning and modelling.  You will possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and have the ability to communicate complex information. You will be strategic in your approach and be able to adapt to working in a fast-paced environment and demonstrate a strong affinity to the charity's mission and cause. 

If the above role description sounds of interest and you feel like you meet the criteria; please apply immediately or for further information, please contact Syed at Civitas Recruitment for a full JD and informal discussion. Early applications are encouraged as we will be reviewing on a rolling basis.

Head of Practice Development, Services & Innovation
Home-based (with travel to Head Office and Family Action services when required)
37 hours per week (full-time, 5 days)
Grade 5 point 39-46: £44,983 - £52,087 per annum + £480 homeworking allowance per annum
Permanent Contract

At Family Action we transform lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation. We have been building stronger families since 1869 and today we work with more than 60,000 families in over 150 community based services, as well as supporting thousands more through national programmes and grants.

We’re incredibly honoured to have won Charity of the Year at Third Sector Awards in 2021 and 3 Star award for staff engagement in Best top 100 companies. A 3 Star accreditation, as the highest standard of workplace engagement, representing organisations that truly excel, are awarded to organisations with a BCI score of 738 or higher, reflecting 'world class' levels of workplace engagement. Amazing recognition for our work over the past 12 months in response to the pandemic and beyond. These awards are some of the most important ways the third sector publicly recognises excellence and achievement, and so to win these are true testaments to the hard work, passion and commitment of our staff and supporters.

This is an important role in Family Action. You will report directly to the Director of Services & Innovation and your key purpose will be to Lead the organisational development of best practice across the 140+ services to achieve excellent outcomes for children, families and adults. You will lead the development and coordination of an organisational strategy and delivery plan for the thematic work areas across Family Action’s services, enabling a managed and effective delivery of evidenced informed practice, achieving excellent outcomes, maximising our ability to win new service contracts, and enhancing our influencing work on external policy.

You will also support the organisation to adopt a culture of learning, enabling and embedding the required learning and development across services and Family Action. You will lead, establish and coordinate Family Actions thematic groups across our identified service areas and develop organisational repositories for evidence based and informed practice tools, outcomes tools, and shared learning across the organisation.

You will be able to work collaboratively across the organisation, mapping and managing the organisation wide project interdependencies that will be critical to the success of thematic working, within services and Family Action organisationally.

Your role would be varied, exciting and incredibly worthwhile. At its heart is a striving for excellence, maximising outcomes and the need to ensure that children and adults get the right support, of the highest quality at the right time. If you are you looking for a diverse, ambitious and fast paced organisation, you have found it.

We are looking for an autodidactic self-starter, who can draw learning from a range of sources, contextually analyse the evidence, recognise the generalisable from the one offs, and piece it all together with strategic finesse. We need someone with substantial experience of frontline and management practice working in services for people. Alongside this, you must have extensive experience of  supporting organisational development and staff development including evidence informed practice as a means of continuous learning and improvement. You would need to be resilient and tenacious; and bring an understanding of the challenges faced by staff and managers, learnt through your direct experience.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQIA+ candidates and candidates with disabilities because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an interview.

What will we offer you?

We’ll offer you a generous pension scheme and leave entitlements, eye care vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and other great benefits. We are happy to talk flexible working. All roles in Family Action are open to a discussion about possible flexible working options, subject to business needs, and all new starters will have the right to make a flexible working request from day one of employment. We have an excellent wellbeing offer and we will invest in your professional development with on-going quality training and career development opportunities. You’ll join an established, supportive and high-performing service and have the opportunity to thrive in an innovative organisation that values your opinion, encourages learning and has the needs of children and families at its core.

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect. If you share these values and behaviours and have the necessary skills then we look forward to hearing from you.  

Closing date: Sunday 17th July 2022 at 23:59 (midnight)

Interview date: TBC 

Our partner is an award winning UK based charity, which is promoting different solutions to the issues facing international aid and the WASH sector including standalone social impact businesses and programmes to improve hygiene, sanitation and nutrition for under-fives; designed to increase resilience and self-reliance and improve the lives and life chances of farmers, families, women, girls and young children

We are recruiting a Head of Finance and Governance to support Chief Executive and provide strategic management and operational oversight of finance, HR and business support functions and to ensure that everything is done in the most financially effective manner and in compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements.  The incumbent will be supported by qualified accountants in the UK and overseas and their local teams. 

This is a part-time role, which would suit an experienced accountant/company secretary, seeking to work flexibly.  The 2/3 days we anticipate this role requiring could be spread over 5 days, if the incumbent found this more convenient and all the requirements of the role can be met

JOB PURPOSE

• You will be the ultimate responsible person for all of the charity’s external and statutory financial reporting, including reports to funders, trustees and regulatory bodies, though the bulk of this work will be delivered by the finance teams in the UK and Africa.
• You will provide strategic budgetary and financial management support to the Chief Executive in London and the Managing and Finance Directors overseas, assisting them to develop compelling bids for fundraising and inward social investment and will liaise, if necessary, with the financial managers/reviewers of any potential funders/investors.
• You will provide advice and guidance on HR, contractual, corporate and statutory matters to the senior team in the UK and overseas, consulting/liaising if necessary with our lawyers, auditors, and other service providers in both countries.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Finance

1.1. Financial strategy

Supporting the development of financial strategies under a variety of scenarios for internal management, trustee discussion and presentation to potential funders/investors.

Leading on financial discussions with trustees and prospective funders/investors.

Developing the financial competence and confidence of PA/BW’s senior teams.

1.2 Financial oversight

Ensuring that monthly management reporting, budgeting and forecasting is accurate and timely and supporting the needs of management, trustees, project managers, funders and donors.

Reviewing the annual budget proposals raising issues, challenging assumptions and, ultimately, agreeing same with the local teams.

Reviewing the monthly financial returns submitted/presented by the finance teams querying anomalies and overspends and agreeing/requiring actions to be taken.

Updating the rolling forecasts of income and expenditure (reflecting actuals to date), monitoring the bank positions and using this to approve or reject requests for ongoing or exceptional expenditure.

1.3 Financial management

Maintaining up to date Financial and HR Policy and Procedures Manuals and responding to requests for variations thereto or divergence therefrom.

Being the principal signatory and authorised administrator for all UK bank accounts and approving changes to the mandate for bank accounts overseas.

Approving and signing off all cash transfers

2. Programme support

2.1 Programme budgeting

Preparing, discussing, reviewing and agreeing the financial budgets for individual projects and/or generic programmes.

Assisting the teams with costing, pricing, taxing and other financial sales related issues.

2.2 Programme reporting

Maintaining cumulative records of expenditure by funder and overseeing the preparation of funder reports and audit completion statements confirming the full dispersal of funds.

Submitting financial claims to statutory funders as and when required.

3. Corporate obligations

3.1 Statutory reporting

Being the principal point of contact between the external auditors the Treasurer and the board.

Agreeing the annual audit timetable and priority audit areas with the external auditors

Reviewing the draft statutory accounts produced by the local finance teams, agreeing the split between restricted and unrestricted programmes, calculating carried forward balances and agreeing same with auditors.

Confirming the appropriate use of restricted income, writing the trustees’ annual review, securing an unqualified audit report, responding to the annual audit letter, convening and managing the AGM.

Reviewing and signing off all statutory filings and ensuring compliance with all regulatory restrictions and statutory obligations.

3.2 HR and legal

Ensuring compliance with all legal, statutory and regulatory requirements in the UK and all other countries of operations.

3.3 Trustee management

Preparation of board papers and management of board meetings.

PERSON SPECIFICATION (Desirable)

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Relevant financial, HR and legal experience and qualifications

Familiarity with complex donor reporting and of managing restricted/unrestricted funding

Experience of working in an international and highly regulated environment

Awareness of investor relations in a social investment and entrepreneurial context

Understanding of managing business support systems, including ICT and procurement

A thorough knowledge of HR systems and processes

An understanding of staff management and a willingness to support staff development

Experience of managing organisational development and systemic change

Excellent written and oral communications skills

RTW in the UK essential 

Imperial War Museums are one of the world’s leading authorities on conflict and its impact on people’s lives – from 1914 through to the present day and beyond.  Our collections are filled with personal stories and experiences, inspiring powerful and often conflicting emotions.  We aim to share these stories with as many audiences as possible across the world in a way that engages and challenges them, increasing understanding of why we go to war and the effect that conflict has on people’s lives.

We are working in partnership with IWM to appoint their new Head of Procurement and Compliance.  The post holder will develop, instil, and oversee standards, provide advice, support the procurement systems, monitor performance against standards and where necessary take action to ensure the standards are met. 

The post holder will be highly experienced in this field and is expected to operate as IWM’s expert across the organisation with regard to procurement legislation in the UK and be expected to have some legal understanding of contractual engagements.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Qualification to MCIPS Diploma level (or equivalent)
• Broad experience and understanding of best practice in procurement and contract negotiations
• Proven experience in the delivery of major procurement projects and a strong practical understanding of public procurement procedures
• Experience of project management
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with a high degree of attention to detail
• The ability to build relationships and communicate across the business at all levels and with external stakeholders

You will need to be innovative and proactive, ensuring that the level of procurement is to the highest standards of compliance and is undertaken with integrity and in an ethical manner, in accordance with IWM’s core values.

For more information, please contact Adam Stacey, Managing Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment.

Applications should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Location:  Flexible with regular meetings in London / Duxford / Manchester

Closing date: 20 July 2022

Interviews: 4 August (virtual) and 10 August (face-to-face)