"Finance Manager" Jobs
Are you an experienced fundraising manager with a passion for wildlife, who can inspire support for a cause from a wide range of people and support colleagues in securing the funding they need?
Avon Wildlife Trust has exciting plans for nature’s recovery in the Bristol and Bath city region. We want to create and restore habitats, enable people to take action for wildlife, and secure more land for nature in our local area.
We are looking for a Head of Fundraising who can galvanise support for our work from funders and donors, develop a high-performing fundraising team, and support colleagues in developing fundable projects to restore habitats, engage people and bring wildlife back. If this is you, we look forward to hearing from you.
Overall Purpose of Job
To grow the Trust’s income to enable us to achieve our vision of restoring the abundance of wildlife throughout our area
Main Responsibilities
• Lead and develop the Trust’s fundraising, overseeing development of prospect pipelines and growing income year on year from membership, major donors, individual giving, legacies, corporate partnerships, grants and charitable trusts, ensuring that the Trust achieves its restricted and unrestricted income targets
• Inspire funding support for the Trust’s work through relationship-based fundraising with major donors, corporates and grant-making bodies
• Enable delivery colleagues to secure funding for their work, supporting the development of fundable projects and high quality bids and securing continuation funding
• Stimulate growth in individual giving from members and non-members through the development and implementation of an ambitious plan incorporating supporter development, recruitment and retention.
• Ensure fundraising systems are working effectively and all activity is compliant with the Trust’s policies, fundraising guidelines from regulators, and all relevant legislation, including Data Protection and Health and Safety.
• Manage an integrated functional team across fundraising, contribute to the direction and development of the Trust as a member of the leadership team and undertake other duties in line with the role as requested
We want to see nature restored on a grand scale across the Avon region. We have big plans between now and 2030 to see this happen.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
District Secretary for Administration and Compliance
Do you have the skill, experience and vision to lead in building and maintaining good practice for a newly amalgamated District of the Methodist Church? We are a collaborative, justice-seeking family of churches, looking for a skilled senior administrator.
lf so, this post may be for you.
This is a senior leadership position in a merged organisation.
- Collaboration with the District Chair and the District Secretary for Ministries & Vocations in the leadership of the District, and promoting the values of the District in all work practice.
- Collaboration with the Mission Area Leads to facilitate support of the circuits in relation to the responsibilities of administration and compliance issues.
- Responsibility for compliance with all relevant legal, financial, and governance matters, including compliance with the relevant parts of The Constitutional Practice and Disicipline of the Methodist Church, including:
- budget and accounting, in partnership with the District Treasurer;
- data protection;
- lay employment processes;
- safeguarding.
- Working with the District Safeguarding Officers, the District Safeguarding Group and others to ensure safeguarding processes for the District are robust and effective.
- Responsibility, together with relevant District officers and bodies, for strategy for property and finance across the District, and for its implementation.
- Enabling the District Property Consents group to fulfil their responsibilities regarding property matters within the District.
- Coordinating the District Grants Policy and its implementation through the District Grants Committee.
- Ensuring that the District’s responsibilities for Reconciliation and Complaints are fulfilled, including liaising with the other District Leaders and ensuring the appointment and functioning of the District Local Complaints Officer and District Reconciliation and Complaints Support Group(s).
- Collaboration with the District Chair and others to ensure good practice in internal and external communication, including through the District Communications Officer.
- Engagement with the District Policy Committee and the District Scrutiny Group processes and meetings.
- Fostering good and collaborative working relationships with holders of relevant district volunteer posts.
- Other areas of responsibility as agreed and assigned by the Trustees.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
HIV has changed and so have we. We are looking for a Director of Operations and Delivery to join the team for the next stage of our journey. The successful candidate will be a creative leader who'll guide, shape and lead our Operational Leadership Team.
Developing our reach, our quality service offer, the way we involve people living with HIV and improving the way we do things are our strategic priorities and you’ll be working across all four areas to strengthen George House Trust for the people we exist to support.
The key purpose of the Director of Operations and Delivery will be to ensure that the systems, processes and activities of George House Trust run effectively so that we can focus on ensuring the highest quality support for people living with HIV.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will work with stakeholders across the organisation to ensure that we continue to punch well above our weight.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll have the opportunity to develop creative solutions and coach an amazing and passionate team to ensure that everything we do makes life better for people living with HIV.
Everything we do at George House Trust is focused on inspiring people living with HIV to live healthy and confident lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About the post of CEO
You will report directly to the Board of Trustees, ensuring excellent governance of the Charity, regulatory compliance with the Charity Commission and Companies House, and will collaborate with Trustees on designing and executing the 2024-2027 strategy. You will lead and support a team of seven staff, supporting 500+ older and disabled Neighbours annually with a large team of volunteers. You will ensure excellent management of charity’s finances and that adequate funding is in place to maintain all charitable activity, monitoring and evaluation. You will ensure that the charity maintains its reputation and develops its exposure and standing.
About you
You will have strategic leadership experience and have previously led teams. You will have a strong understanding of charity governance and will have demonstrable fundraising knowledge and/or experience. You will be passionate about supporting older and disabled people and will have a strong understanding of their needs. You will be equipped to represent the Charity both internally and externally.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Strategy and Operations
1. Develop, implement, and lead execution of the charity's annual operational plan and 3-year strategic plan.
2. Identify appropriate level of staffing, volunteering, ensuring that all staff and volunteers are appropriately interviewed, vetted, inducted, trained, developed, and supported to deliver against their objectives.
3. Ensure appropriate upkeep, security, and management of the charity’s premises, including all relevant contracts and payments.
4. Ensure that the charity’s IT systems are fit for purpose and compliant with relevant law.
People
5. Line management of seven staff members, and responsibility for staff and team development, cohesion and appraisals.
6. Recruit and support social club facilitators and appropriate consultants to provide additional resource to the charity as required.
7. Lead staff member for safeguarding, liaising directly with Hammersmith and Fulham Adult Social Care.
8. Ensure appropriate mechanisms and safeguards are in place to support up to 100 regular volunteers, and up to 100 additional corporate/student volunteers.
9. Ensure appropriate mechanisms and safeguards are in place to support up to 500 beneficiaries and additional attendees at FGN events.
Finance and Fundraising
10. Develop, implement, and lead charity’s financial and fundraising planning and management, ensuring that the charity operates at least at break-even, ideally with a small surplus.
11. Ensure that the charity has a diverse range of income across various streams, inclusive of (but not limited to) public sector, trusts and foundations, corporate income, events, and online giving.
12. Ensure that the charity is receiving value for money with all expenditure, ensuring contract review on a timely basis as appropriate.
13. Ensure appropriate cashflow projections so that expenditure does not exceed income in any one year unless pre-agreed with trustees.
14. Ensure that appropriate financial controls are in place so to protect charity and anyone handling money on behalf of the charity.
15. In conjunction with the finance administrator and hon. treasurer monitor all income, expenditure, accounts, funding investments and budgets.
Governance
16 Ensure compliance with charity and company law, inclusive of writing, presentation and filing of annual report and accounts and other Company Secretary duties.
17 Organise, attend, record and report at board meetings every two months, inclusive of finance and operations reporting and the regular cycle of governance reviews.
18 Plan, organise and attend AGM and annual strategy session.
19 Ensure appropriate level of risk management and insurance are in place for the charity.
20 Ensure all relevant policies, procedures and financial controls are in place, inclusive of annual review.
Communications and Impact
21. Represent and promote the charity in public, sourcing media opportunities as appropriate so to increase visibility.
22. Represent the charity on appropriate networks and forums so to develop stakeholder relationships and source opportunities for cross-partner collaboration.
23. Ensure positive, fit-for-purpose, internal and external communications, inclusive of monthly newsletters, social media presence and other marketing materials.
24. Ensure appropriate monitoring and evaluation of projects and develop relationships with academic institutions and/or research consultancies where possible so to elicit external perspectives and scrutiny of the charity’s work.
25. Build relationships with local stakeholders and businesses.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential requirements
1. Senior management experience within the charity sector or similar
2. Experience of working at a senior level with and under the direction of a board of trustees
3. Experience of successfully applying for grant funding, and/or other income generation
4. Financial acumen including financial reporting
5. Experience of successfully delivering strategic plans
6. Experience in publicity and marketing
7. Experience in management of staff and volunteers
The post is subject to:
· right to work in the UK check
· satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service
· two satisfactory references
Salary will be c. £54,000 and is set in line with NJC pay scales 2024/25.
Working hours are 35 hours over 5 days per week. The postholder will be based primarily on site but with the possibility of up to one day per week remote working by agreement.
Pension: there is a 5% employer’s pension contribution
You will receive 28 days of annual leave, and option to buy/sell three days annually. We have additional benefits, which include eye vouchers and cycle to work scheme.
Interviews will be held at Rosaline Hall, Fulham, London SW6 on 13 and 14 May. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No recruitment agencies to apply.
To apply for this role, please provide your CV and a supporting statement of no more than two sides by midnight on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone:
Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone is a 21st century youth hub located at the heart of Blackburn and a dedicated site in Darwen, open to young people aged 5 to 25 years old, aiming to change the prospects offered to young people in the area. Our vision is to be at the heart of the community, collaborating to create a more cohesive and prosperous Blackburn and Darwen.
We are one of the leading youth organisations in Blackburn, with a membership of over 5000 young people. We are open 7 days a week, 52 weeks of a year and offer over 40 different activities and opportunities in our open-access youth club.
Context of Role:
Our Head of Young People's Services is a critical, strategic and operational role within Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone. As a supporting member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will work closely with the Director of Operations, CEO and the Director of Finance to ensure the charity delivers its vision and strategic objectives. This includes strategies for sustaining and overseeing the ongoing transformation of Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zones' operational business plan and its operational processes and infrastructure. Your leadership skills will play a crucial role (in conjunction with the leadership team) in establishing a platform and environment for growth by creating a best-in-class, people-first, employee-of-choice that changes the prospect of local children and young people (aged 5 to 25 years). You must be abreast of new opportunities (sourced independently and through your colleagues) and advise the leadership team and board on all Universal and Targeted Service operational matters, including its performance, risk, forecast/trajectories, and the general state of play.
You will need to show exceptional skills and the ability to meet KPI’s relating to (but, not limited to) leadership skills, the ability to design and deliver organisational operational plans, risk management, departmental budget management, stakeholder relations and organisational safeguarding responsibility.
We have big plans for the Youth Zone and this is an exciting time to join us. We would expect the right candidate for this role to be open to new opportunities and there is a strong line of progression within the charity for the right person.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are on an exciting period of growth and over the next few years we want to increase our reach, connectivity, and impact at a local, district and regional level. At the heart of our work is our vision to ‘#WeThinkActive - Everyone in Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire to benefit from movement and enjoy sport and physical activity in safe and thriving communities’ and our mission, ‘We will use the power and potential of sport and physical activity to enable future generations to have healthier and more prosperous lives’.
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Our ambition and aspirations mean that we need to formalise and evolve the systems, process and procedures employed in all aspects of running the charity and Active Partnership.
To lead and manage this transition and growth we are looking to recruit an Operations Director to be part of Think Active’s Exec team.
The charity has a strategy and an annual business plan that together, highlights the ambitions, financial profile, goals, and future direction of the organisation. Our ability to implement this has been made possible through valuable Sport England funding.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive you will lead the development and implementation of operational systems and plans that are integral to the successful delivery of our strategy and implementation of our business plan.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Country Trust Head of Programmes
Employed contract
- Hours: 21 per week
- Salary/contract rate : £43-45,000 FTE depending on experience
- Location: Ideally within easy reach of Chelmsford. Hybrid/homeworking
- Employed contract – benefits
- Annual leave: 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (FTE)
- Benefits: Workplace pension
- Reporting to: CEO
Possible combination with the Impact and Learning Lead role also being advertised.
About The Country Trust
As a nation we've lost our connection with the land that sustains us all, with big and urgent ramifications for health, sustainability and equality. The Country Trust is changing this through high quality food, farming and countryside experiences that empower children in the most disadvantaged communities across the UK. For 45 years, we've worked with farmers to bring the countryside alive for over 600,000 children least able to access it. Our impactful programmes include the Food Discovery Programme, Countryside Discovery Residentials, Farm Discovery, Farm in a Box and Plant Your Pants.
About the Role
As the Head of Programmes, you will take on a strategic leadership role, managing the team of Programme Managers and deputising for the CEO when required. You will ensure each programme flourishes while encouraging collaboration across teams and with external partners to meet our ambitious objectives. This is a hybrid role, allowing you to work from home and travel to see our programmes in action nationwide.
Key responsibilities include:
- Line managing senior programme staff, including a dispersed workforce
- Overseeing operational demands and change management
- Financial management - budgeting, forecasting, invoices, embracing fundraising
- Actively promoting equality of opportunity and being a powerful advocate for our cause
- Confident communication and stakeholder engagement across sectors
- Supporting strategic direction and deputising for the CEO when required
You will work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team of 10, and a delivery team of around 40 colleagues.
About You
We are seeking an exceptional communicator and versatile senior leader committed to providing quality opportunities for disadvantaged children. You must have:
- Proven success line managing senior programme staff and a dispersed workforce
- Strong financial management skills, including budgeting and forecasting
- Working with the Impact and Learning Lead to ensure broad and deep understanding and implementation of our Theory of Change and our values, that evaluation and learning are embedded throughout the organisation and that we are known for the quality of our reporting, with all our activities and reporting informed by meaningful data.
- To identify and develop key partnerships to enable us to extend our reach and our impact.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Confidence and competence to act at Board level and deputise for CEO
Additionally, you should have:
- Strategic thinking abilities to balance priorities and find solutions
- A collaborative approach suited to a dynamic team environment
- A desire to support colleagues' growth and development
- The ability to build successful, effective partnerships – our 5 Year Plan goals are dependent on working with and through others
- An understanding of the reality of the lives of disadvantaged children and the barriers they face in developing a first-hand connection with the land.
- Passion for food, farming, and the countryside
This is a fulfilling opportunity to play a vital role in an organisation dedicated to reconnecting children with the land and creating a sustainable, equal future.
Closing date: midnight 5th May
Shortlisting: w/c 6th May
Interviews: w/c 20th May (to be confirmed)
Due to our safer recruitment policy, we cannot accept CVs for this position.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We're Hiring! Green Space for Health Programme Director (Maternity Cover)
This is an exciting senior role for an environmentally committed leader to cover maternity leave. We are looking for someone who can take strategic oversight of our Green Space for Health programme and provide effective management of the project and its staff.
- Home-based with monthly travel to Oxford (expenses covered)
- Full time (37.5 hours per week)
- Salary: £42,230 per annum (plus contributory pension)
- Fixed term for 8 months (with potential to extend to 12 months subject to funding)
- Apply by midnight 19th May 2024, interviews will take place w/c 3rd June
About the role
This is an exciting senior role for an environmentally committed leader to cover maternity leave. We are looking for someone who can take strategic oversight of our Green Space for Health programme and provide effective management of the project and its staff.
Our Green Space for Health programme helps to realise the value of green space for physical and mental health, both at healthcare sites and in the wider community. Our flagship project, the NHS Forest, promotes tree planting and woodland creation at NHS sites, supporting and encouraging sites to plant and maintain trees through offering free trees and advice. We support NHS sites to develop their greenspace for the benefits of patients, health staff and communities, while improving biodiversity and combatting climate change. We do this by encouraging green space enhancements such as meadow areas, vegetable growing, orchards and therapeutic gardens, as well as supporting the delivery of nature-based interventions for health.
The Green Space for Health Director will oversee the development of the NHS Forest and other Green Space for Health projects, delivering the programme strategy. This will include managing the Green Space for Health team, overseeing the delivery of our funded projects including budget management, coordinating reports to funders and trustees, and taking a strategic lead on the development and funding of the Green Space for Health programme in consultation with other stakeholders. See the full roles and responsibilities below.
The Green Space for Health Director will deliver our programme strategy through fulfilling the following responsibilities:
- Provide line management for the Green Space for Health Team’s 5 staff members. This will include one-to-one meetings, appraisals and regular team meetings.
- Oversee the delivery of the Green Space for Health funded projects, including NHS Forest tree planting projects and our Nature Recovery Ranger programme.
- Raise income for, monitor and oversee the programme budget in consultation with CSH’s fundraising and finance team.
- Coordinate reporting on the programme, including liaising with funders and producing reports for funders and for CSH’s board of trustees.
- Oversee the development and delivery of Green Space for Health training course, working with Green Space for Health staff and with administrative and strategic support from CSH’s education team.
- Work with the team to coordinate the NHS Forest Advisory Group.
- Build partnerships that will further the development of the programme and contribute to fundraising in line with the programme objectives.
- Act as a spokesperson for the programme, including making presentations, responding to media requests and participating in relevant national policy fora, including for the purposes of wider policy development.
- Be an active member of CSH’s senior management team, helping to develop CSH as an organisation, including strategy, employment and oversight.
For more information, please see the full job description and person specification attached or visit our website.
Closing date: 19th May 2024
Interviews: w/c 3rd June 2024
Are you a strong, visionary leader ready for a new challenge in the Third Sector?
Having led the organisation through a significant period of change, our CEO has chosen to move on to take up a new challenge. We are looking for a Chief Executive to lead St Nicks through the next phase of its strategy. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who has the desire, vision and ambition to transform our current charity HQ into a building suitable for the charity we are now and the charity St Nicks can become under your leadership in the future.
You’ll have the benefit of a skilled and experienced team, a good deal of secure revenue funding and a Board of Trustees who offer constructive challenge with the freedom to grow and explore opportunities.
Deadline: midnight Sunday 12th May
Assessment and interviews: week commencing 20th May
Our Mission is to build and connect flourishing communities through urban greenspace generation, nature-based wellbeing and sustainable living.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you ready to take your amazing fundraising skills to the next level, and make a whale-sized impact on the planet? Can you inspire and lead a dynamic team with ambitions to save the whale and save the world?
WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation has ambitious new 10-year goals aimed at achieving our vision of a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free.
We have been successfully diversifying our income as our development team harnesses the growing interest in conservation, the environment, and the emerging understanding of the role whales and dolphins play as nature-based solutions to the climate and nature emergencies.
We have high retention rates from our loyal individual donors, and a strong track record of nurturing successful and innovative corporate partnerships. We are increasing income from trusts, foundations, and philanthropy, and have identified enormous potential for growth in these areas.
We are now looking for an ambitious fundraiser to help take us to the next level, building on a solid foundation of support and goodwill to secure the resources we need to achieve our organisational goals, and providing inspiring leadership to our talented team of fundraisers.
This is a hugely exciting time to be joining WDC, as we grow our brand and reputation, and fly the flag for our cause on the world stage. It’s a chance to work with talented colleagues on an amazing cause, and to harness the passion of a wide range of people committed to protecting our biggest allies in the fight against climate breakdown.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
At Make Votes Matter (MVM), our mission is to achieve real democracy via the necessary step of equal votes.
We lead the movement to introduce Proportional Representation (PR) to the House of Commons. We combine the power of people taking action from the grassroots up, with coordinated activity by a cross-party Alliance of politicians, public figures, parties and organisations to win PR in years, rather than decades.
About the role
As CEO, you'll support us through a new stage in our development. We're operating in a fluid political environment and so our new leader needs to be confident to work in a political setting while also having the skills and experience to run an organisation like ours.
You'll take ultimate responsibility for our campaign to achieve Proportional Representation in the House of Commons. You will:
- as leader of the campaign, be primarily responsible for building the popular and political momentum needed to secure this seismic reform;
- as leader of the organisation, be primarily responsible for defining and executing MVM’s strategy, while ensuring its good financial health and legal and regulatory compliance; and
- as leader to our staff and volunteer team, be primarily responsible for providing clarity of direction while ensuring the organisation maintains a collaborative, empowering and inspiring culture.
You will:
- lead the UK campaign for Proportional Representation;
- ensure MVM has a clear external brand, with consistent messages, effective and emotive arguments, and impactful use of evidence;
- be a spokesperson for the organisation on a variety of public platforms including national media and at key MVM events;
- create and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders;
- lead on development of MVM's post-election strategic plan;
- line manage and delegate responsibilities to staff, as appropriate;
- take ultimate responsibility for the good governance of MVM, including but not limited to the organisation’s financial health, legal compliance, and good standing with regulatory bodies;
- with support of relevant MVM staff, to ensure that the Board is supported in performing its governance role;
- support and comply with MVM’s policies active within the organisation pertinent to the role; and
- undertake other related duties as required to assist MVM in meeting its objectives.
About you
This job is for you if:
- you have a track-record as a successful leader in an organisation of comparable size, or equivalent managerial or director experience;
- you have political or campaigning experience, an understanding of the UK’s democracy sector and an ability to work in a non-partisan, cross-party way;
- you have experience of being a spokesperson on public platforms;
- you have a collaborative approach to team management and facilitating empowerment of staff;
- you have prior experience of good governance practices, financial planning and managing an operation to tight budgets;
- you are an experienced leader of people, able to ensure coherent and aligned activities across staff, governance and volunteer teams that support the overall objectives and enable high impact campaigns to be realised;
- you have excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to convey a message with impact and inspire trust; being comfortable communicating with senior stakeholders, volunteers, staff and funders;
- you are a high achiever with an ambitious mindset; and
- you have a strong personal commitment to winning Proportional Representation.
Campaigning for Proportional Representation for the House of Commons
University of Manchester Students’ Union
Associate Director of Student Engagement (Maternity Cover)
Salary: £40,950 - £47,250 (plus a cost of living award will be added from August)
Location: University of Manchester Students' Union, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
Contract: Fixed-Term, ending on 31st July 2025
Hours: Full-Time, 35 hours per week (open to part time working requests of 0.6 FTE)
Do you love developing managers and leaders? Do you ask great questions and create space and safety for people to figure things out? Are you comfortable managing people who are more expert in things than you? Do you enjoy solving organisational/people puzzles and helping to guide and navigate teams to do the same? Do you value and seek co-leadership with beneficiaries (in our case, students)? If yes, this is the role for you!
About the Students’ Union
The Students’ Union is a registered charity and is independent from the University (although we work closely together). We are a student-led organisation and exist to help students make the most of their time at Manchester and get the best for their future. We’re the home of societies, volunteering, student media, advice, campaigns, student democracy and events.
About the role
We’re looking for an Associate Director to provide senior leadership to student facing teams in the students’ union. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a competent team and provide cross-organisational stewardship with a team of senior leaders. You’ll be getting up to speed with our culture, organisational approaches in your first month or so alongside the person going on maternity leave. You’ll have a clear roadmap of what’s coming up and be given the freedom to make good decisions to respond to the context as it changes. There is good support around our senior leaders from the director team, external coaching is available to anyone who requests it, and there are well developed people, finance and compliance functions. We have requisite knowledge around the role to make this suitable for someone with transferrable skills from outside Students’ Unions and if you’re from Students’ Unions, you’ll be working alongside great people to bounce ideas and thoughts off.
As an organisation, we’ve got a clear strategic framework, insight, people and values frameworks so your contribution will be to role model great behaviours and maintain excellent cross-directorate working. You’ll need to be able to pull different threads together and ensure our work is aligned to our strategy and values. You’ll be providing political advice to the elected student officers so being able to navigate complex stakeholder relationships and navigate others through it is important.
You do not have to have worked in education, Students’ Unions or the third sector before. The person specification is clear we’re looking for leadership development skills and a navigating complex environments orientation. This is because there is a lot of interest and scrutiny on what our organisation does, our influencing environment, relationships with the university and programmes develop and evolve quickly.
We recognise that we are looking for an experienced person (albeit without a sector knowledge requirement). If you have additional skills to bring to the role, we’d love to hear them. We’re open to discussing whether you want to work part time (minimum 0.6 FTE) alongside other freelancing work, so long as the outcomes and expectations are delivered to the required standard. We have a brilliant range of benefits which makes University of Manchester Students’ Union a very attractive place to work.
Key Dates:
Closing Date: 3pm on Monday 27th May 2024
Interviews: Tuesday 11th June 2024
How to Apply
Please click 'Apply’ to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Job Description and Person Specification and find details of how to apply.
For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact Anh Ly from Atkinson HR Consulting.
Job Description
The Head of Advocacy and Policy will be responsible for developing an excellent Advice Service and Retention Team to support and advise students effectively to enable excellent student experience and satisfaction.
This role will lead on the development of effective insights, representation and support initiatives/campaigns for students, across our three campuses at Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway.
This role will enhance work with the diverse student population of the University of Greenwich and lead a dynamic team to ensure students have consistent and accessible services that contribute to positive student experience.
This role sits within the wider Membership Services department, together with other key areas consisting of; Activities, Sport, Academic Communities, Representation and Democracy, we provide a high-quality service for students, that they can shape, steer and be at the heart of.
This postholder will be part of the GSU Senior Leadership Team and will be expected to contribute to department and organisation wide strategic development.
The post holder will:
- Have expert knowledge in areas of in relation to Advice and Retention and policies and legislation relating to such activity
- Support and develop strong student-led communities and campaigns in areas of: Advice, wellbeing and retention so that members can thrive
- Provide line management support to staff so that the team have up to date, specialist advice skills, knowledge and understanding of University regulations, policies and procedures that may affect the work of the Advice service and oversee engagement across Greenwich’s 3 campuses
- Undertake casework and provide expert advice for the team on all aspects of Advice
- Lead on the project management of wellbeing/health promotion campaigns and initiatives throughout the year, as well as any external bids through bodies such as OfS
- Oversee the Retention and Wellbeing Project work, and other relevant projects with external partners
- Lead on insights work relating to retention, wellbeing and support
- Lead on responses to external consultation and enquiry responses, including but not limited to OfS, Department for Education, OIA and Universities UK
- Support elected officers to deliver on campaigning priorities
- Ensure the Advice service has the skills and is equipped to support the diverse needs of students at Greenwich and Kent at Medway.
- Provide regular insights and reports on the GSU Membership to inform our strategy and service provision
- Work with other Heads to develop relevant and modern Front of House services for each GSU campus ensuring ease of access and consistency for all members.
Key Areas
- Be an engaged and active member of the Senior Leadership team, contributing regularly and working collaboratively with peers
- Provide leadership, strategic direction and day to day operational management to the Advocacy and Policy: recruiting and inducting members of staff, motivating, supporting and developing team members to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge for their roles as well as manage performance
- Develop a proactive results driven culture within the team, ensuring agreed objectives and targets are delivered, whilst promoting a collaborative approach to working with internal departments
- Develop succession plans and identify training and development opportunities within the team
- Be accountable for the quality of outputs of the team
- Provide support to the Officer team helping and equipping them, particularly in their roles as representatives and providing pastoral support and guidance.
- Ensure the whole organisation is aware of and understands the work of the Advocacy and Policy Team and its contribution to our strategic objectives
- To maintain expert and up-to-date knowledge on sector policies and regulations relating to advice, retention and student success, providing relevant guidance to officers and staff as required.
- Develop and promote a culture of continuous improvement across the team to ensure we can adapt to changing students’ needs and priorities, as well as building on successes and preparing for the future.
Strategic Development
- Contribute to the strategic objectives of GSU, with a particular focus on advice, support and wellbeing in relation to the student experience
- Develop and oversee a new and innovative approach to proactive health and wellbeing campaigns that empower students to look after themselves and each other, as well as seeking support
- Lead on Access and Participation Plan Engagement, acting as the key contact on this area with the University.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with relevant senior UoG staff and departments including Student Academic Services, Faculties and our partners at Kent Unio
- Develop and oversee the Advice service to support advocacy initiatives at multiple levels within the University, ensuring both students and University stakeholders view GSU as a credible and reliable source of information on the needs of students.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Develop and oversee a structured approach to gathering, analysing and reporting on data relating to engagement of students with our services and to student views on key issues relating to retention and success
- Develop and oversee processes of collecting quantitative and qualitative data from casework to analyse trends and inform feedback for the SU and university
- Ensure evaluation mechanism are embedded in the teams working practises and that findings are shared and used to implement learnings with the goal of improving services
- Support Officers by preparing information, statistics and trends about key services to be shared within the University committee cycle
- Be responsible for the implementation of service standards for the Advocacy and Policy Team and to monitor and report on adherence to these standards
- Prepare materials to apply for any relevant quality mark accreditations for the service.
Budget and Financial Management
- Manage a budget relating to Advocacy and Policy including any restricted funds.
- Be responsible for the teams resources, ensuring these are effectively allocated, managed and controlled
- Review and establish processes, systems, polices and where appropriate standard procedures to maximise efficiency ensure deadlines are met and a positive return on investment
- Review and provide narrative for scrutiny at monthly management meetings with the Finance Team
Stakeholder management
- Collaborate with GSU colleagues, particularly the Student Voice and Engagement Teams to ensure we have a consistent approach to how we work with and support students
- Work with students through our representative structures and forums to ensure we shape services students want and need, taking into consideration the varying campus priorities
- Maintain strong relationships with key university staff to develop, deliver and evaluate collaborative projects and interventions supporting advice and retention
- Attend meetings relating to Advocacy and Policy as well as associated areas at both GSU, the University and externally, included, but not limited to regional networks
- Identify opportunities to share best practice and represent the work of GSU and your team to the wider HE community, through conferences and publication.
Personal Specification
Essential Experience
- Line management experience
- Relevant experience working in the youth, education, students’ union or other membership or advisory organisation
- Experience of leading a multi-functional team
- Experience of mentoring coaching staff/elected officers
- Experience of developing operational policies and procedures
- Experience of budget management, project management, and operational management
- Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and partnership working or strategic networking
Essential Skills and Abilities
- Ability to work with and lead a high performing team
- Ability to troubleshoot difficult situations, and deal with them calmly, efficiently and effectively
- Ability to produce confident, clear written reports and be able to write succinct documents on complex areas
- IT skills at a level that supports membership CRM systems, Advice Pro and other platforms
- Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to manage others to reach deadlines, within agreed budgets and to a consistently high standard
- Ability to write strategies and be able to effectively communicate vision and mission
- Ability to stay focused and efficient in the face on changing priorities
- Track record of successfully developing and implementing projects and operational change
- Able to draft policies and procures with an eye for detail and accuracy
Essential Knowledge
- Awareness of current issues within the higher education sector
- Knowledge of relevant external bodies and organisations including Advice UK, NUS, Citizens Advice, OIA, Ofs, Student Minds
- Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation
- Knowledge of Safeguarding, advice legislation, risk assessments and GDPR
- Knowledge of providing 121 support
Education/Training
- No one specific qualification is required, but evidence of recent continuing professional development in a professional area relevant to the post is required. For example: ILM, City &Guilds etc.
Personal Attributes and other requirements
- Able to travel within the Borough and Region.
- Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
- Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work
- Be eligible for a DBS check if needed
- A commitment to the principles and practices of equality and diversity
- An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
- Commitment to the values and ethos of GSU.
Desirable other requirements
- Visionary, creative, and innovative strategist
- A positive, solution focused leader – able to make ‘tough’ decisions; determined and resilient in order to cope with the demands of the role
- Empowering, authentic leader with high levels of emotional intelligence
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.