Head Of Development Jobs in North West
Head of Housing and Community Projects
Location: Chorley, other venues around Lancashire and virtual meetings (hybrid working approach)
Salary: £43,000 - £46,000 – salary based on a 35-hour working week (pro rata based on hours agreed). Salary commensurate with experience.
Lancashire Mind is an independent mental health charity, delivering our impactful strategy that has been co-created with the people of Lancashire. We reach over 10,000 people each year - connecting, supporting and changing minds.
We’re an active member of the national Mind Federation, linking us with over 100 other local Mind organisations across England and Wales, providing excellent opportunities for good practice sharing and partnership working.
Our purpose is to support people in Lancashire to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible.
In this new, exciting and challenging role, we are seeking an inspirational leader who will take responsibility for strategically overseeing our growing housing offer, whilst providing oversight to our adult focused community engagement projects. There is significant synergy between these two services and the Head of Housing and Community Projects will have a responsibility to drive growth, impact and continuous improvement. Each service will be headed up by service leads (line managed by this role), who subsequently oversee a growing workforce of 13 team members.
In this newly created role, you will use your housing knowledge and project management expertise to explore and realise the potential of the tenancy management and community engagement projects services. Both service areas can be challenging but make a life-changing difference to those we support and the wider organisation.
Deadline: 12noon on 3rd May 2024
Interviews: Wednesday 8th and Friday 10th May 2024
About the FCDO Centre of Expertise: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in partnership with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has established a Centre of Expertise (CoE) to serve as an authoritative source of expertise, insightful informational resources, analysis, evidence, and advice on “what works” to support democratic governance around the world.
Programme Manager - Centre of Expertise
The Programme Manager will work under the guidance of the Head of the Centre of Expertise to support the delivery of Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD’s) role in the Centre of Expertise, leading on the procurement, contracting, monitoring and management of WFD Experts.
They will play an important and vital role within the team responsible for directly responding to requests from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) posts for expertise in democratic governance and for managing the deployment of experts where in-country visits are part of the terms of reference.
About You
To be successful in this position, you will be an experienced Programme Manager with the following skills and experience.
Strong Programme Management experience and skills: At least five years’ proven track record in programme management, or in procurement or contracts administration with a background ideally in the international development sector.
- Previous experience working with the FCDO or on an FCDO-funded programme.
- Confidence in drafting and negotiating contracts.
- Good understanding of business processes including the outsource of procured services.
- Experience of implementing or strengthening processes to improve efficiency.
- Experience of and strong abilities in financial administration.
- Experience of working and supporting teams working remotely and cross-collaboration between multiple departments.
- Excellent time management, including ability to prioritise tasks and working to deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster good working relationships.
- Well-developed oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent technical knowledge of Microsoft 365 Platform.
We offer - Remote Working. 4 wellbeing days per calendar year [pro-rata for part-time staff], plus annual leave and public holidays entitlement. (Eligibility for the Civil Service pension scheme option employer contribution up to 28.97%)
Apply: Visit our website - this vacancy will close on 14th April 2024.
Here are the top four things to be excited about:
- Being at the heart of the global health partnership community, supporting UK NHS and other health workers to volunteer internationally.
- A broad grants management portfolio, working across several themes and countries across sub-Saharan Africa
- A chance to oversee inputs from a diverse team in order to manage programmes, including overseas staff, M&E colleagues and academic implementing partners.
- Take on a leadership role within THET, contributing towards the strategic direction of the organisation.
What is expected of you in the first six months?
- You will take on the management of at least one UK Government-funded health partnership grants programme operating across a range of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
- This includes running the grants selection, award, contracting and onboarding process
- You will take over project governance structures, managing the inputs of programmes team members, Country Directors and implementing partners.
- You will organise and attend a programme launch event in-country, as well as visit health institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Programme Management
- Coordinate staff and implementing partners to ensure the timely completion of deliverables.
- Quality assure the application of THET’s grant management processes by other team members.
- Ensure compliance with donor/country agreements, regulations and requirements.
- Identify, track and manage programmatic risk.
- Ensure effective communication with partners, donors and other stakeholders.
- Oversee project budgets, including monitoring spend against budget, undertaking re-forecasting, and authorising spend.
- Oversee the quarterly reporting process to donors.
- Coordinate and support workstream leads within the project.
Programme quality and design
- Contribute to the design of new projects: co-ordinating the proposal team; overseeing a needs analysis; liaising with stakeholders; contributing to a Theory of Change; developing content; and developing the budget.
- Develop and nurture relationships with potential and existing donors, partner organisations and consultants as appropriate.
- Contribute to the design and improvement of project and health partnership quality programme approaches, including standards, processes, tools and guidance.
- Contribute to the delivery of capacity development interventions for grant holders and THET staff.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- With support from the Research, Evidence and Learning team, oversee Monitoring and Evaluation processes for the programmes you lead, e.g. logframe and reporting mechanisms
- Lead the quarterly and annual reporting and analysis review process with institutional donors.
- Write project reports and programme reviews, and coordination of donor reporting as appropriate.
- Ensure grant holders have effective M&E plans in place and coordinate the review of their reports.
- Coordinate visits to project implementation sites for monitoring and audit purposes.
- Facilitate learning and sharing of good practices across programmes and the wider organisation.
Team Support and Line Management
- Line manage members of the Programmes Team (1-2 Programmes Coordinators).
- Oversee the contracting, payments and deliverables of in-country consultants and other suppliers.
- Lead the induction process for new Programmes Team members and other THET staff when required.
- Work with colleagues from across the team to identify areas for improvement and strengthening.
Miscellaneous
- Attend and present THET’s work at UK and international events, including the THET annual conference.
- Join your choice of THET’s and external thematic working groups, such as on gender equality and social inclusion, on the climate crisis, etc.
- Contribute to the strategic direction of THET and play a leadership role in the Programmes Team
Candidates can apply by submitting a two-page cover letter stating why they are interested in this position, what they would bring to the role and how they fit the person's specification.
This letter should be submitted with a CV to THET by midnight Wednesday, 15th May, with ‘THET Programmes Manager’ in the subject line. Applicants must be available for interview and assessment over the following two weeks. Please visit our website for a full Job Pack and instructions.
This post is UK based and you will require current and valid permission to work in the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
BACKGROUND
Habitat for Humanity Great Britain (Habitat GB) is part of the international Habitat for Humanity network. We tackle housing poverty around the world by working in partnership with communities and families to achieve their dreams of a safe and decent place to live. You can find out more about our work on our website.
We are embarking on an ambitious new direction at Habitat GB; leveraging our global housing expertise and the learning from our flagship national programme “Empty Spaces to Homes” to work collaboratively with Habitat colleagues across Europe in effecting change at a policy level.
“Empty Spaces to Homes” is a ground-breaking initiative focused on a circular buildings approach that already has a feasible proof of concept from piloting, with strong upscaling potential. The premise is simple; unlocking the potential of long term empty commercial spaces to create affordable housing for vulnerable people. As well as the social benefits of adding to affordable housing stock, the Empty Spaces to Homes approach of retrofitting existing structures – at a much lower carbon cost - offers a greener and more sustainable way to meet the housing gap, in comparison to the environmental impact of the new build construction industry. Breaking down long-standing barriers to resource-efficient renovation is essential if the UK is to play its part in meeting ambitious global decarbonisation targets.
Purpose of The role
The UK Housing Advocacy Manager will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission by leading advocacy efforts, shaping policies, and promoting sustainable housing solutions for affordable housing in Great Britain, particularly through our groundbreaking initiative "Empty Spaces to Homes."
As this is a new role, and is being recruited alongside the Head of Global Affairs and Advocacy, key responsibilities will include the establishment of a new function at Habitat GB. It involves working closely with colleagues across the Habitat GB organisation and contributing to advocacy efforts across the Habitat network at global and regional levels through engagement, strategy and shared learning. Key responsibilities also include developing communication and advocacy strategies targeting professionals and decision makers in social, environmental and housing sectors, as well as undertaking research and writing policy papers.
Main Responsibilities
1) Research and Analysis:
- Commission and conduct in-depth research into current British housing landscapes and related legislation, assessing the effectiveness of mechanisms for converting unused premises into social housing and its environmental impact.
- Identify legal changes necessary to facilitate such activities and advocate for their implementation.
2) Lead Policy Advocacy Efforts:
- Utilise research findings to develop policy positions and identify priority issues, setting policy goals, and mapping out related advocacy activities.
- Embed critical concepts such as embodied carbon and whole life cycle into policy communications to amplify Habitat GB's messaging.
3) Partnerships and Networks:
- Join and represent Habitat GB at existing coalitions or form new coalitions if necessary with stakeholders in the social, environmental, and housing sectors to advocate for climate and equity-related incentives in national and local legislations, policies, and funding mechanisms.
- Build a network of relationships among key stakeholder groups and individual decision-makers to advance Habitat's policy goals.
- Identify strategic events and ensure speaking roles for Habitat GB.
- Represent Empty Spaces to Homes and Habitat for Humanity’s wider UK programmes for awareness raising, advocacy and other priorities at key meetings and events.
4) Direct Lobbying:
- Cultivate strategic relationships with key decision-makers to further Habitat's policy objectives.
5) Collaboration:
- Develop collaborative partnerships internally with Habitat entities across Europe, aligning with the broader strategic objectives of the Empty Spaces to Homes initiative.
- Support communication efforts to underpin advocacy efforts effectively.
6) Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Work with the Impact Team to provide regular updates on advocacy strategy activities and evaluate their effectiveness.
Person Specification
· Proven experience in professional advocacy to influence key policy positions and decisions, preferably in housing or a related field.
· Track record in delivering targeted advocacy strategies and implementing communication strategies to support advocacy efforts.
· Experience in engaging stakeholders and decision-makers through events, networks, and meetings.
· Experience in community mobilisation or engagement.
· Understanding of housing poverty policies and related social welfare issues in Great Britain, with the ability to advise on effective mechanisms for influence.
· Familiarity with Local Authority Governance and opportunities for policy influence at local and regional levels.
Skills and competencies:
· Proficient in clear and effective written and verbal communication to convey complex policy matters to diverse groups.
· Strong relationship-building skills with government representatives, NGOs, and various stakeholders.
· Strategic thinking abilities and collaborative work approach towards organisational objectives and advocacy approaches.
· Ability to collaborate with diverse teams across multiple locations.
· Self-motivated, organized, and capable of working under pressure to meet deadlines and adapt to challenges.
· Enthusiastic, positive, and proactive with a solution-oriented mindset.
· Demonstrated interest in our work and commitment to continuous learning and development.
· Dedication to contributing to the inclusive, people-positive culture at Habitat.
The role and responsibilities will be carried out in a way which reflects:
· Habitat GB’s commitment to safeguarding children in accordance with the Safeguarding
Policy.
· A commitment to Habitat GB’s vision, mission, values and approach.
· A commitment to effective management of risk, by operating within the Charity’s code of conduct, policies, procedures and controls and by carrying out the risk management and assurance responsibilities of the role as set out in relevant Policy and Procedures.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Job descriptions may be subject to change.
Flexibility
Habitat GB is seeking to rapidly expand its activities and impact to fight poverty across the world. This means that the organisation must be adaptable and flexible and have an ambitious, dynamic and flexible team. It is a requirement of the post holder to be flexible in terms of location (within reason), line management, and duties and responsibilities.
This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
Start your Habitat journey
We want the recruitment process to give you the opportunity to share your skills and experience, and to find out more about Habitat. You are welcome to get in touch and arrange an informal chat with a member of the team before submitting an application. To apply for the role, please send us your CV and a cover letter telling us about yourself, how you meet the person specification, and your motivation for applying – we don’t expect this to be more than two sides of A4.
The deadline for applications is 12 May 2024 (at 11:59 pm).
Interviews will take place online from the week beginning 20 May 2024. Selected candidates will be contacted to agree a suitable time for interview.
Please note that we do not reimburse any expenses incurred during interviews.
We’d prefer to hear directly from applicants – we won’t be working with third party recruiters on this role.
This post profile is not set in stone. It gives insight into the main purpose of the role, and expected responsibilities, but it might be reviewed in the future to meet the changing requirements of Habitat for Humanity GB – any changes will be made in discussion with the post-holder.
Habitat for Humanity requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguard our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of our code of conduct.
At Habitat for Humanity GB, we aim to build, develop and retain a talented workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences. We welcome and actively encourage applications from anyone who feels they’d be a good fit for our organisation, regardless of race, religion, colour, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity or any other protected characteristics.
Unfortunately, because of high volume of applications we will not be able to contact unsuccessful applicants. If you haven’t heard from us within a month of the application deadline, please assume that your application has not been successful.