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SPANA - The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad is the global charity for working animals in low-income countries. Since 1923, we have supported the welfare of working animals, including donkeys, horses, camels and elephants, in communities that depend on working animals for water, transport, agriculture and their very survival. Today, we support working animals across 26 countries, through a series of global projects and partnerships.
This role will be a part of the Global Programmes team, working alongside colleagues responsible for Education & Social Behaviour Change Communication, and Programme Quality and Delivery. The succesful candidate will liaise with colleagues in the Global Resources, Global Fundraising, Marketing, and Communication departments, and in support of our colleagues across the majority world. The role will report to the Director of Global Programmes, and directly oversee three Technical Animal Health & Welfare Advisors.
You will be responsible for delivering SPANA’s technical animal health and welfare work, relatedly, against the 2023-2027 SPANA strategy and its key performance indicators. Your work will be supported by a nascent external animal health and welfare advisory panel, as well as that of your direct reports. You will be responsible for representing the organisation in relevant fora, amongst other responsibilities as required.
While we classify this role as hybrid, it's worth noting that the vast majority of your work can be done from the comfort of your own home. Occasional in-person visits to our London office (located in Borough High Street), and all-staff gatherings will be necessary. Our full time hours are 34.5 hours per week and we offer core working hours between 10am and 4pm.
Key responsibilities
Strategy
- You will have responsibility for developing and delivering the organisation's technical animal health and welfare strategy, plans and policies, with a primary focus on best practice and quality;
- You will lead the development of a global technical audit tool to ensure best practice is consistent across all partners & programmes supported by SPANA.
Leadership
- Promote the development of your immediate team, and the technical capacity and development of animal health workers across the SPANA network. Provide mentoring and targeted training and support succession planning and growth.
- Develop a high-performing team culture within the Animal Health & Welfare Team that demonstrates organisational values.
- Maintain an effective working relationship with all colleagues and SPANA partners.
One Health
- Lead on the development of SPANA’s One Health quality framework and support the Global Programmes Team in ensuring effective delivery.
- Provide technical input in veterinary health and education based on robust data and researched evidence.
- Develop a strategy focused on improving animal health systems specific to working animals.
- Lead on the development and delivery of all aspects of the technical provision of SPANA’s animal health and welfare.
- Monitoring epidemiological trends of working animal health and welfare data to 1) advise on and support appropriate health responses and strategies; 2) inform animal health surveillance goals
- Ensure technical support and advice is effectively managed and consistent with SPANA’s standards.
- Work with the Global Programmes Team in developing robust technical indicators to ensure evidence drives decision making
- Design and oversee research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, innovation and programme development;
- Ensure the provision of subject matter expertise, translational evidence and advice in support of policy development in the fields of animal welfare, and in parallel working closely with the Head of Education & SBCC on education materials. This will include the provision of or contribution to briefings, submissions and official and organisational reports
Advocacy, Policy and Representation
- Collaborating with coalitions, external working groups and stakeholders, advising on and coordinating SPANA’s contribution to these groups, chairing where relevant and reporting back to relevant teams in SPANA.
- Collaborate across teams to ensure technical input is included in all external advocacy work as and where needed;
- At a global level, build effective relationships with key stakeholders in the animal welfare sectors, such as WOAH, AUiBAR, and FAO etc;
- Represent our work to supporters, influencers, key stakeholders and partners.
About You
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Veterinarian MRCVS a minimum of 12 years of veterinary experience.
- Clinical experience in mixed or large animal practice.
Desirable
- Further qualifications in the areas of animal welfare, herd health, surveillance, preventive medicine, epidemiology or One Health is highly desirable
- Further qualifications or proven experience in project management and/or leadership.
Experience
- Experience of working or living in low-income countries
- Experience working in the animal welfare, humanitarian and/or development NGO sector.
- Experience of developing, monitoring and/or auditing technical standards in veterinary medicine is highly desirable.
- Experience of working with governmental, animal health or agricultural organisations is desirable
- Experience of communicating and working with international stakeholder groups collaboratively.
- Experience with participatory or community-led interventions for animal or public health.
- Strong interest in One Health concepts and community-level interventions.
- Good understanding of the role and socioeconomic importance of working animals in low-income communities.
Skills and Attributes
- Ability to think holistically and apply technical knowledge within a One Health framework
- Strong knowledge and motivation for animal welfare.
- Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills as well as strong cultural sensitivity.
- High level of fluency in English (written and spoken). Basic level of French, Arabic or Spanish is highly desirable.
- Ability and willingness to travel to overseas projects independently as well as to SPANA’s head office in the UK as required.
Benefits
- 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays. Further leave will accrue after two years of service up to a maximum of 30 days
- Company pension scheme (SPANA will contribute 10% of salary, if you contribute 5% of salary)
- Hybrid working with London Head Office (Borough High Street) attendance approx. 1 day a month (travel expenses not included)
- Health Cash Plan with Medicash which includes access to virtual GP appointments and a members discount portal
- Group Life Insurance scheme, which provides coverage at 3x your annual salary
- Group Income Protection scheme, designed to provide income if illness or injury prevents you from working for a period of time
- Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme including face-to-face counselling
- Paid Volunteer Day
Due to a high volume of applications, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. If you are selected for an interview, we will reach out to you directly.
To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Main duties and responsibilities:
As Panel Chair you will be required to chair panel meetings monthly (or as required); meetings will take place in either of CFC’s main offices located in Gloucester and Lancaster. We undertake a blended approach to our Panel’s; some are face to face whilst some remain on zoom. Our preference is for Panels to take place face to face wherever possible.
As a Panel Chair you will be expected to take responsibility to:
- Chair panel meetings (to include panel briefing), ensuring that all items of business are covered and that the panel operates in accordance with regulations and CFC’s policies and procedures
- Prepare for all panel meetings, reading papers thoroughly and identifying key issues and alerting the panel advisor if necessary, to ensure that the case is adequate for submission to panel.
- Facilitate the active participation of all panel members in contributing to the panel’s consideration of cases and to the making of clear and well evidenced recommendations with the reasons for these.
- To address diversity issues and to promote anti-discriminatory practice at all times
- Ensure that clear and accurate minutes are written, which record the views of all panel members and to be involved in the checking and agreeing draft minutes with other panel members before they are sent to the agency decision maker
- To liaise with the ADM and other senior managers as required
- Ensure that the ADM and registered manager are aware of any areas of concern, in relation to individual cases and more general matters
- Be involved in the recruitment and appointment of central list members and in any consideration about terminating the appointment of a member
- Review, alongside the panel advisor, the performance of central list members as the need arises, and at least annually.
- Assist in developing, promoting and monitoring policies and procedures and high standards of work in fostering services in the agency.
- Assist in planning training for members and to participate in this at least one day a year
- Safeguarding the confidentiality of all panel papers and panel discussions
- Be involved in
o Whether a case is adequate for submission to panel (via panel briefing meeting)
o Deciding on the attendance of observers at panel
o Deciding on the participation of a panel members who declare an interest in the case
o Deciding when an extra panel maybe necessary
o The preparation of an annual report on the panel’s work
- Participation in Fostering Quality Assurance meetings (3 times a year), to support the agency monitor and review areas of practice across the fostering service, to include the panel’s performance.
Key drivers of considerations
As Panel Chair you will, at all times:
· Adhere to Relevant Legislation and Regulation including The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011.
· Work consistently with Community Foster Care’s values and contribute to achieving its mission.
· Seek to develop and enhance good social work practice for yourself and for others.
· Promote Community Foster Care’s reputation and protect its ability to achieve its mission.
Key requirements you should be aware of
· You must be able to travel effectively, the ability to Chair Panel meetings in both Lancaster and Gloucester will be a key requirement of this role.
· You must be experienced in chairing complex meetings, skilled and effective in chairing meetings in person and through video conference facilities.
Safeguarding
· Work with tenacity and courage in line with best practice to safeguard all children. This will include, but is not restricted to:
o Quality assurance and monitoring fostering assessments and annual review reports as presented for Panel’s consideration, alerting the panel advisor and/or Registered Manager of any areas of concern
o Monitoring the safe practice of Foster Carers via the annual review process
o Working effectively within the Charities policies and structures and with other Agencies and Professionals.
o Ensuring effective communication with Children, Young people and Adults.
o Working effectively within the relevant local policies.
o Challenging ineffective or unsafe practice or decisions.
o Ensure adherence to the Health and Safety Policy.
Training
· Attend at least one panel training event per year as per regulations.
· Support the panel advisor in identifying training needs of panel members in line with their annual appraisal
· As an independent worker you must maintain and attend to your own training needs in accordance with Social Work England requirements if registered.
What we require from all our employees
· A commitment and alignment with Community Foster Care’s Values.
· A tenacity and commitment to resolve and develop our ability to enable children to thrive.
· A willingness to embrace challenge and actively seek constructive feedback.
· A willingness and ability to be a highly functioning team player.
· A commitment to anti oppressive practice, underpinned by an understanding and promotion of equality and diversity.
It is the nature of work of Community Foster Care that tasks and responsibilities are unpredictable and varied. All staff are therefore expected to work in a flexible way when the occasion arises where tasks are not specifically covered in the Job Description and have to be undertaken.
Community Foster Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosures Barring Service clearance at enhanced level.
CVs will not be accepted in any circumstances; all applicants must complete an application form.
An inspirational charity is seeking an inspirational CEO. The Amber Trust is a unique charity, dedicated to funding music opportunities for blind and partially sighted children and young people.
Job title: Chief Executive Officer
Reporting to: Board of Trustees through the Chair
Location: Flexibility to work remotely with at least one day per week in our SW London and other locations for meetings as required
Hours:,30 – 37.5 hours per week TBA with candidate
Contract: Permanent
Salary range: £55 - £60K pro-rata (depending on experience)
Charity overview
The Amber Trust provides musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, including those with additional disabilities, via its Music Awards and Music Services.
Amber Music Awards fund instrumental and singing lessons, the purchase of musical instruments and specialist software, funding for concert tickets, and travel to musical activities for vision impaired children throughout the UK. In addition, there are structured programmes in its Music Services.
‘Little Amber’ is a service that offers music resources and quarterly sessions with a specially trained music practitioner to children under five and their families. ‘AmberPlus’ provides music resources and sessions offered on a termly basis to children over five who also have complex needs.’ ‘With Music in Mind’ is a new service for visually impaired children and young people with life-limiting neurodegenerative disease. Amber’s workshop scheme offers music sessions for groups of children in schools, charities and community organisations.
We have also developed extensive online music resources for teachers that are freely downloadable from anywhere in the world.
The Charity has a turnover of around £400k, employs a small central administrative team, and, for the music services, works through a large network of self-employed practitioners.
Role purpose
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible to the Board of Trustees for leading The Amber Trust, developing and realising Amber’s vision and strategy, and playing a key ambassadorial role with funders and other senior stakeholders. The CEO is responsible for the management of the charity and its staff and the execution of Amber’s targets, plans and policies, ensuring that resources are used to best effect in meeting the needs of beneficiaries. The CEO is responsible for initiating and overseeing new initiatives that will ensure Amber plays a leading role in the field of music and blindness in children and young people into the future.
Role Description
Accountabilities: To develop, lead and manage The Amber Trust, in particular:
Strategy
• to develop and deliver innovative projects and services in accordance with Amber’s strategy.
• to ensure Amber flourishes, meeting all its charitable objectives and its legal obligations as a charity and a company limited by guarantee, and to honour its duty of care to its staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders;
• to maintain Amber’s ethos of providing individual and personal support to beneficiaries and their families;
• to lead Amber in the development and implementation of its long- and medium-term strategy and annual business plans in accordance with the strategic direction and policy framework agreed by the Trustees;
Fundraising and events
• to attend, represent and promote Amber at meetings, conferences and other events, enhancing its profile across the UK – occasional evening and weekend work and travel may be required for this;
• to manage volunteers and liaise effectively with fundraisers and individual donors;
• to engage in fundraising and income-generating activity to ensure the sustainability and growth of Amber, including bid writing activity;
• to monitor and evaluate the services offered by Amber as required by external funders and Trustees, writing and submitting reports to deadline
Operations
• to manage and support operations and services and to be hands-on where required to ensure these are delivered;
• to be pro-active in maintaining digital media relating to Amber and its work, including (but not limited to) its web page, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube;
• to manage the budget prudently to ensure Amber’s financial soundness;
• to ensure efficiency and effectiveness externally in service delivery, and internally in its systems, resources and infrastructure;
• to communicate effectively and in a timely manner with Trustees, organising and contributing to regular meetings for the Board, and its Investment, Fundraising, Digital Media, Music Awards and Music Services subcommittees, including the provision of reports, financial information, data on service delivery and all other matters to enable the Trustees to fulfil their governance role.
People management
• to manage staff, setting their objectives and ensuring that these are met, and that colleagues appreciate the ethos and values of Amber, and work in accordance with its strategic objectives, with regular update meetings and an appraisal cycle, and to monitor and recommend to Trustees appropriate remuneration;
• to ensure all staff are aware of current national policies and procedures relating to safeguarding in relation to the children and young people that Amber serves, and are given training annually.
Also to undertake other such duties as may reasonably be required from time to time by the Trustees.
Person specification
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they have the following essential requirements:
Essential criteria
· Proven leadership experience in the third sector
· Proven management experience in at least two organisations
· Demonstrable passion for music
· Experience of measuring the impact of charitable services and driving quality improvements
· Degree level education or equivalent
Knowledge, skills and experience
· Experience of working with trustee boards and an understanding of their role and governance experience
· Experience of programme development and the management of grants
· Familiarity with UK charity law and governance issues
· Awareness of disability issues
· A track record of successful fundraising
· Experience of staff management including personal development, objective-setting, recruitment and performance management
· A high level of computer literacy in standard office packages and CRM systems such as Salesforce ;
Competencies and personal qualities
· The capacity for innovative thinking
· The ability to motivate self and others – of developing a vision and enlisting others to share it
· The ability to see ideas through from concept to implementation and evaluation
· The capacity to operate at a strategic level and to analyse and understand complex issues;
· The ability to prepare and manage budgets;
· Strong organisational, written and oral communication skills, including experience and confidence in public speaking and in effective report writing
· The ability to work in a self-directed manner, and to develop good working relationships with stakeholders
· A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, treating people from all backgrounds with respect, dignity
· The right to reside and work permanently in the UK
Desirable criteria
· Experience of working with or caring for people with visual impairment
· Familiarity with the UK education system, and in particular, music education
· Knowledge of and familiarity with special education provision, incl]uding special schools
· Familiarity with other regional and national music organisations working in the field of music education.
The closing date for all applications is 9:00 am Monday, 20th May 2024. Initial interviews are planned to take place face-to-face in London on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th May 2024.
To apply to the role, please send a CV and covering letter, outlining your motivation for applying for the role and how you meet the essential criteria.
To apply to the role, please send a CV and covering letter, outlining your motivation for applying for the role and how you meet the essential criteria.