Chief Executive Officer

Main Purpose of the Post

The Chief Executive will have overall responsibility for all aspects of the day to day running of the RLSS and all its services. This will include management of staff and ensuring the services are meeting the needs of those who require them, in addition to managing finances, membership and external relationships. The post holder will be accountable to and work closely with the Board Chair and its Directors to set the strategic direction and further develop the business model which will serve Religious Life Groups for the future.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership and Governance

·        Provide visible, ambitious, and focused leadership of the RLSS.

·        Be overall responsible for the management of the RLSS working in conjunction with the Chair and Directors to provide leadership.

·        Lead and contribute to the Board’s overall development of the strategy and annual plans to ensure achievement of a One Church approach to applying the Church’s safeguarding standards.

·        Ensure risks to the overall objectives of the RLSS are identified, mitigated, and reported to the Board.

·        Develop a culture of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning within the organization to navigate challenges and maintain trust among victims/survivors and members.

·        Develop and promote services and practice improvements which are designed to mitigate risk and improve understanding within safeguarding.

·        Effectively sustain a culture that consistently meets the needs of and engages with victim/survivors and with Religious.

·        Foster and develop a climate of shared accountabilities, learning and continuous improvement.

·        Ensure the RLSS meets it statutory, legal, and regulatory obligations.

·        Ensure appropriate presentation and reporting to the Board (and any sub committees and advisory groups) on the progress of the RLSS and on all matters relevant to the discharge of the Board’s responsibilities.

·        Oversee all promotional activities, press releases, digital presence, radio, and newspaper interviews.

Staffing & Management.

·        Be accountable for the recruitment, retention, ongoing development, and wellbeing of RLSS staff.

·        Enthusiastically and effectively, lead, shape, and influence teams to deliver the vision and goals of RLSS to ensure best practice in the delivery of all its safeguarding services. 

·        Create a supportive working environment which promotes transparency and collaboration in safeguarding.

·        Ensure that high quality people management is embedded across the service and foster a high performing culture with shared accountabilities and continuous improvement. 

·        Ensure the effective management and implementation of robust performance management and appraisal processes.

·        Provide direction, support, and set clear objectives to immediate line reports.

·        Provide or arrange professional supervision to safeguarding case working staff.

·        Produce, review and update plans relating to service areas.

·        Establish and maintain effective and secure record keeping systems.

·        Ensure the management and implementation of regular quality assurance, audit, performance management and reporting, using effective management information systems, ensuring this meets CSSA’s requirements.

Collaboration/Networks.

·        Contribute to strategic level initiatives with key partners, particularly the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and relevant statutory agencies, to ensure joint planning, access to resources and the development of interagency strategies.

·        Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks within and outside the Church to deliver better outcomes for Religious in safeguarding.

Policy and Procedure

·        Ensure a robust and up to date Policy & Procedure framework approved by the Board is in place including HR, Health and Safety, Data Protection and operational delivery.

·        Ensure there is a system in place to review approved policies and procedures to ensure that substantial changes or additions are brought to the Board for decision.

·        Undertake operating compliance exercises including annual risk assessments, health and safety checks and reporting on incidents and near misses.

·        Ensure

Finance & Resources

·        In conjunction with the Board of Directors, develop a long-term funding strategy, including gathering data, completing research, developing models to ensure the service is cost effective.

·        Agree and deliver to budget maintaining a reserve level in line with policy and monitor all budgets and provide financial reports to the Board of Directors.

·        Be responsible and accountable for all finances and resources within the teams, ensuring value for money, the avoidance of waste, and the efficient and effective use of all resources.

·        Ensure the equitable and timely allocation of work, assuring the most appropriate interventions that timescales are being met and appropriate records maintained.

·        Be responsible for all contracts, tenancy agreements and leases.

·        Have overall responsibility for the security of confidential information, use of computers and database information.

·        Well-developed database and Microsoft Office skills.

This a summary of the key activities of the post.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list and the post-holder may be required to perform other duties which are appropriate to the scale and nature of the job role.

Role Requirements

Essential Criteria you need to be able to demonstrate:

Strategic and system leadership

•       Experience of working at Chief Executive level in similar size/larger organisation.

•       A strong track record leading organisations, setting direction and delivering outcomes

•       Resilience and the ability to work under pressure whilst showing consideration to others.

Culture and capability building

•       motivating people, driving, and evaluating performance, and building a positive and inclusive culture

Commercial and professional judgement

•       Professional knowledge and experience that evidence a strategic and operational understanding of safeguarding

•       Management skills including finance, planning, project management and marketing.

•       Strong commercial acumen.

•       Experience of negotiating and managing contracts.

•       Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and competence in using digital technology for service delivery across the organisation.

•       A creative thinker, proven leader with a ‘can do’ attitude which is results orientated.

Stakeholder engagement and influence

•       Interpersonal and listening skills; an ability to deal sensitively with those in Religious Life, Victims/Survivors public, the vulnerable and their families/representatives.

•       Skills in conflict resolution, negotiation and problem solving.

•       Experience of reviewing evidence and taking appropriate action where necessary; applying sound judgement, with an attention to detail; maintaining confidentiality and building trust

•       Ability to respond, sensitively and fully to complaints.

Desirable Criteria you need to be able to demonstrate:

·        Understanding of the way in which faith-based organisations respond effectively/ dysfunctionally to safeguarding issues

·        Senior management experience in the charitable sector

Due Diligence – Please note that as part of the safer recruitment process, due diligence including social media checks will be undertaken on appointable candidates.