Chief Executive. Candidate Information Pack

Transcription

1 Chief Executive Candidate Information Pack Background Information Job Description Person Specification How to Apply and Timeline To discuss this role further please contact Allyson Davies at Or call , For background information on Campaign for National Parks please go to Campaign for National Parks is registered charity number and company limited by guarantee number registered in England and Wales at 5 11 Lavington Street, London SE1 0NZ

2 Background Information Are you our next Chief Executive? Are you a strong campaigner with a track record of persuading and influencing a wide range of audiences? Are you passionate about protected landscapes and the environment? Do you enjoy the challenge of leadership, organisational development and management? Are you able to lead a small but successful organisation? If so, you may be the right person to join Campaign for National Parks at a crucial time for the organisation and for protected landscapes and the environment. About Campaign for National Parks Campaign for National Parks is the only national, independent charity dedicated to protecting, improving and promoting all of the National Parks of England and Wales. It is a small and dynamic national (i.e. England and Wales) organisation with a strong emphasis on campaigning work. We approach campaigning by using our significant expertise and knowledge to persuade and influence a positive and supportive policy- and decision-making environment for National Parks. Founded 82 years ago, Campaign for National Parks has been a leading voice in setting up National Parks and has tirelessly campaigned to keep them safe and unspoilt for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. The work of Campaign for National Parks is guided by a Council (a partnership that brought about National Parks, with members drawn from around 20 national environmental and amenity charities). There is a Board of dedicated and supportive trustees who are responsible for the charity itself, and a small, talented and energetic staff team of five in the London office. The turnover can vary but is approximately between 300,000 and 400,000 per annum. As an umbrella organisation for national and local organisations and individuals with an interest in National Parks, Campaign for National Parks membership represents more than four million people. All of Campaign for National Parks work requires high-impact, cost-effective campaigning, and lobbying and partnership work. Our achievements over 80 years have been many. Recently, they include: A significant role in securing the extensions of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks in 2016, which means that even more beautiful landscapes have been protected.

3 Being key to stopping cuts to funding for English National Park Authorities and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Ensuring that National Parks are protected from damaging developments such as roads, pylons and building developments. It s an exciting time to join us! This is an exciting time for Campaign for National Parks and the next few years promise to be pivotal in shaping and securing the future of the National Parks. A number of initiatives and projects are taking place, both internally and externally, which will provide Campaign for National Parks with an opportunity to play an important role in protecting National Parks and shaping their future. Next year is the 70 th Anniversary of the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, which gave us the first National Parks providing an opportunity for Campaign for National Parks to be more visible and get its messages heard more widely. The Glover Review is looking at both National Parks and AONBs in England: what can be done to make them better, how to assist them and whether they are fit for the future. This will provide significant opportunities for Campaign for National Parks to have a voice and influence the future of National Parks. Valued and Resilient sets out a vision for the Parks as exemplars of the sustainable management of Welsh natural resources and provides Campaign for National Parks with a platform for its voice to continue being heard. So, the coming years are a rare opportunity and an opportune time for a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation, building on Campaign for National Parks legacy and enabling it to have impact. This work will be tangible for many years to come. Campaign for National Parks is in a positive place; the current Chief Executive has led the organisation through some significant changes, which means that it s in good shape. So, it s an exciting time to join and lead the organisation and build on its many successes. There are many opportunities for the new Chief Executive to make a real contribution, including: Continuing to lead, grow and develop a small organisation, securing its future and place. Representing Campaign for National Parks at this key time and being its campaigning voice with stakeholders and policy- and decision-makers and with the public and ensuring that the opportunities presented by the Glover Review and Valued and Resilient are maximised. Leading the celebrations of the National Parks Act s 70 th Anniversary, which will attract an audience from politicians and peers, government, National Park Authorities, potential funders and many other organisations. Continuing to grow a team of talented and enthusiastic professionals and enabling them to work together to deliver the Campaign for National Parks vision. Building on Campaign for National Parks reputation as a respected voice in the sector and ensuring that it continues to punch above its weight.

4 Delivering Campaign for National Parks strategic plan and maximising its impact, securing the organisation s place on the map. Ensuring that the organisation remains outward looking and continues to move forward with confidence and energy, maintaining and building on the many positive relationships that it now has. However, there are also challenges, on which the new Chief Executive will need to work with the team and the support of the Board. While the organisation is solvent and in a reasonable financial position, continued work on the sustainability of the organisation is required and this will require being creative and entrepreneurial in thinking about future sources of funding. Ensuring that Campaign for National Parks unique voice continues to be heard among a plethora of organisations working in the area, while maintaining good collaboration and partnership working. Keeping Campaign for National Parks relevant, especially to younger people. Balancing the sometimes-competing demands of campaigning and getting Campaign for National Parks voice heard, with the detailed demands of leading and running a small organisation. Keeping the relationship between England and Wales strong, while the respective government agendas are diverging. The Chief Executive The new Chief Executive will inherit a positive and exciting legacy. This is an opportunity for someone to build on recent successes and take the organisation even further. The issues and challenges facing National Parks are varied, including protecting their beauty, biodiversity, wildlife, community, and sustainable transport, as well as threats from development and issues such as fracking, among others. The Chief Executive has an opportunity to influence and shape the future of Campaign for National Parks campaigns and will need to be passionate, creative and have good instincts for what will work and be most effective. The new Chief Executive could come from a range of backgrounds: someone perhaps who feels ready to lead an organisation for the first time, or who already has experience of being a Chief Executive. Whatever your background we should be delighted to hear from you, especially if you have a strong track record of campaigning, enjoy working as part of a team and developing and growing talent, are creative and entrepreneurial and are passionate about protected landscapes. You may not have a background in an environmental organisation but you will need to demonstrate the potential quickly to develop the understanding and knowledge of protected landscapes necessary to represent Campaign for National Parks at the highest levels.

5 Title: Based in: Chief Executive Salary: circa. 50,000 1 Reports to: JOB DESCRIPTION London (Southwark / London Bridge), SE1 0NZ The Board of Trustees Line manager: Chairman of the Board of Trustees Manages: Policy and Research Manager Financial Manager (contract) Fundraising and Partnerships Officer Campaigns and Communications Officer Fundraising and Administrative Assistant Purpose of Role The Chief Executive is responsible to Campaign for National Parks Board, who are the trustees and directors of the organisation, for the effective performance of all Campaign for National Parks work. The key roles of the Chief Executive are to be the campaigning voice for National Parks and to provide leadership and management for the organisation, ensuring that it is well run, effective and sustainable. Strategy, Leadership and Management 1. Provide a visionary approach in order to identify and lead necessary change to ensure Campaign for National Parks stays ahead of developments in protected landscapes; 2. Lead, manage and motivate Campaign for National Parks talented team with dedication and care, maximising their talent and potential; 3. Lead on development and delivery of Campaign for National Parks strategic direction in collaboration with trustees and staff to deliver our campaign, policy and project objectives; 4. Identify and prioritise development opportunities and to be able to focus on impacts and outcomes; 5. Work closely with the Fundraising and Partnerships Officer to develop and deliver on a strategy and maximise the organisation s fundraising potential; 6. Represent Campaign for National Parks to donors and potential donors and bring an entrepreneurial approach to Campaign for National Parks income-generating activities; 1 In accordance with Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2008 we provide an appropriate auto-enrolment pension scheme. Travel expenses, and overnight accommodation if necessary, for all meetings outside the London office are remunerated.

6 7. Lead the formulation of annual business plans and budgets and monitor their implementation, with overall responsibility for the budget; 8. Advise, support and enable the Board to fulfil its functions; 9. Ensure that Campaign for National Parks subscribes to voluntary and charity sector best practice in all areas; and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and policy including H&S, Employment & Charity Law; 10. Work with the trustees and team to ensure a sustainable future for Campaign for National Parks, and to facilitate effective governance Campaigning Campaign for National Parks requires a campaigner of outstanding ability to lead the organisation and to: 1. Advocate and champion Campaign for National Parks interests at the national level in a wide variety of circumstances including to governments, civil service and the media; donors and grant makers; partners and stakeholders; business leaders and the public; 2. Establish rigorous priorities and a strong sense of strategic direction for Campaign for National Parks campaigns; and inspire and develop Campaign for National Parks campaigning agenda and promote its strategic policy work; 3. Foster a culture of partnership working and engagement that supports its campaigns. Communications 1. Develop and implement a communications and marketing strategy for the organisation that will strengthen Campaign for National Parks profile and reputation in the media, among policy- and decision-makers, and with donors and the public; 2. Inspire the confidence, enthusiasm and empowerment of Campaign for National Parks members, supporters, volunteers, collaborators and interlocutors in public life. 3. Work with team members to develop a strategy for maintaining and developing relationships with Campaign for National Parks stakeholders and supporters. Other 1. Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required of the post holder.

7 PERSON SPECIFICATION Knowledge, skills and experience E D A strong track record in developing high-impact, cost-effective campaigns, and in lobbying and partnership work Strong leadership and strategic sense, with demonstrable experience of leading and managing teams, projects and budgets Consummate networking and relationship building skills, diplomatic, with an ability to engage effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders at all levels Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, able to represent Campaign for National Parks to the media, policy and decision makers, Council and other external audiences Strong influencing, negotiating and persuading skills Excellent interpersonal skills, able to work constructively with all stakeholders, the team and external audiences Experience of generating income and resources for an organisation and of developing and managing relationships with donors, or similar Strong leadership and management skills with experience of leading a motivated and productive team Commercial and financial acumen with evidence of the ability to set and manage budgets effectively Experience of campaigning in a related organisation and on related issues Abilities and personal qualities A passion for protected landscapes and the environment Good instincts and able to persuade trustees and the team to take measured risks Able to thrive under pressure and be resilient Excellent listening skills, able to understand other points of view, even in challenging situations Financial acumen and awareness The gravitas to be seen by external stakeholders as the spokesperson for National Parks Consistent good judgement, including managing internal and external debate and especially in developing political relationships Able to travel frequently in order to maintain relationships with the National Park network

8 The Recruitment Process Timetable Deadline for applications Screening Interviews Panel interviews Final Interview (if required) Decision made & successful candidate notified 14 December 7, 8 and 9 January 15 January 21 January End of January To Apply If you would like to apply for this role, please complete the Application Form (downloaded from this link), and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (downloaded from this link), plus attach a CV outlining your career to date, with any academic and professional qualifications. Please send these three documents, by 10am, on 14 December, 2018, to Allyson Davies at CNP@allysondavies-consultant.com Information If you require any further information or you would like to discuss anything in more detail, please contact Allyson Davies at the above , or call or Data Protection The personal information that you provide will be used to process your application for employment with the Campaign for National Parks. Personal information about unsuccessful candidates will be held securely for six months after the recruitment exercise has been completed; it will then be destroyed or deleted. If your application is successful and you take up employment, the information will be used in the administration of your employment with us. It will be kept secure and will only be used for purposes directly relevant to your employment.