Big Lottery Fund Chief of Staff. Candidate Briefing January 2014

Transcription

1 Big Lottery Fund Chief of Staff Candidate Briefing January

2 An introduction from Dawn Austwick - Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund I am very pleased to hear that you are interested in applying for the role of Chief of Staff with the Big Lottery Fund (the Fund). You will find enclosed with this letter some information about the nature of the organisation, the responsibilities of the role, and the type of experience and qualities we are looking for. I have only recently joined the Fund and find it to be full of motivated individuals working hard, and successfully, to fulfil our aims and ambitions. However these are times of constraint and like others we continue to reduce our own operating costs whilst maintaining the range and quality of the services we provide to communities and those most in need. We are just embarking on the development of a new Strategic Framework for 2015 and beyond. It is important to understand the impact of our funding and to use the knowledge we have gained in order to influence policy. We are seeking to make our experience and technology more available to others, and to share what we have learned more widely as well as to develop finely honed listening skills. We are keen to work in partnership with other funders, the VCS, and policy makers more widely whilst treasuring the rich resource that is our demand led funding. This role brings together two existing functions a new team and the opportunity to shape its future is in my view both challenging and exciting. All this means that the successful candidate will have an opportunity to join a senior management team at a time of renewal and development. My best wishes to you in your application. Yours sincerely, Dawn Austwick Chief Executive 2

3 About the BIG Lottery Fund The Big Lottery Fund (the Fund) will be ten years old in Formed through a merger in 2004 of the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund, our mission is to bring real improvements to communities and to the lives of people most in need. Annually we distribute in the region of 750 million across the UK via 5 country based funding portfolios supporting health, educational, environmental and charitable purposes. We are responsible for distributing 40 per cent of all funds raised for good causes (about 11 pence of every pound spent on a Lottery ticket) by the National Lottery. Since June 2004 we have awarded over 6bn to projects through blend of responsive funding and strategic interventions. For further information about our programmes please visit our website: What is the Fund s status? The Big Lottery Fund is a UK wide, non departmental public body (NDPB). We are the largest Distributor of funds for good causes from the National Lottery. Policy responsibility for the Fund sits with the Cabinet Office following the transfer of responsibilities from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in April Background information on the National Lottery, the different Lottery distributing bodies, and the role of the DCMS can be found at: we_do/national_lottery/default.aspx. What is the Fund s relationship with Government? Responsibility for the Fund, including setting policy directions, transferred from the DCMS to the Cabinet Office in April New policy directions were issued in April 2012 covering our spending in England, the Isle of Man and UK-wide spending. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland policy directions are issued by the devolved administrations. Our new policy directions broadly define the areas in which the Fund is to be active and restates our position as a funder that is additional and complementary to spending given by government and the wider public sector. These are available on the Cabinet Office website: new-policy-directions-big-lottery-fund. 3

4 About the BIG Lottery Fund How can I find out more about the Fund s Strategic Plan? During 2015 the fund will be developing a new strategic framework and corporate plan. Our current Strategic Framework Fresh thinking: the Next Chapter, sets out our priorities as a funder. More information about our funding priorities can be found here: How is the Fund structured? The Big Lottery Fund s work is overseen by a Board with overall responsibility for the Fund s strategic direction. The Board has nine Members, comprising the Chair, four Country Committee Chairs and four General Members. Country Committees are responsible for funding programmes in their areas. The fund is led by a Chief Executive supported by a management team of six Directors: one for each of the countries, Finance and Corporate Services and this new post, Chief of Staff. What does the Fund look and feel like internally? We employ over 900 staff with operational centres in Newcastle and Birmingham, head office in central London, one in each of the devolved nations and smaller local offices. Our employees are skilled in exercising judgment; in developing policy and using learning to support decisions, but what drives our people is the passion to make a difference to those in need; their commitment to doing their job effectively and to being the best they can be day after day. I can be myself so I can concentrate on doing my job as well as I can, and enjoy doing it! Big Lottery Fund is a mature, supportive organisation and I don t need to tiptoe around who I am. 4

5 Job Description Job Title: Chief of Staff Reporting to: Chief Executive Responsible for: External Relations, Governance, Knowledge Sharing, Administration Salary: 95, ,000 (Band E) Location: London, with some travel Role Purpose: As part of the SMT to lead a new directorate reporting to the Chief Executive, working with colleagues across the organisation to deliver the Fund s strategic and corporate objectives and directly oversee the governance, external relations and knowledge sharing teams providing an advisory and lead role to the organisation. The functions that have historically sat within two directorates; Strategy, Performance & Learning and the Communications & Marketing directorate will be integrated under the leadership of this post. Key deliverables: Act as a point of contact between CEO staff, teams and other stakeholders Plan and direct administrative, operational and other activities for the CEO Oversee and enable the work of expert groups within the directorate e.g. external relations, policy and learning, and governance including administration Advise the organisation on strategy formulation and oversee the process of strategy and planning in conjunction with colleagues Provide strategic advice to the CEO Provide oversight and guidance to projects of high importance Ensure the organisation has an effective corporate administrative infrastructure Ensure that individual teams within the directorate offer high levels of service and responsiveness to the CEO and colleagues across the organisation Drive the organisational knowledge development and sharing agenda working closely with key colleagues across the Fund and beyond Lead the integration of functions through a period of structural and cultural change into stability and refocused delivery Help to position the UK portfolio as a central hub for research, knowledge sharing, dissemination and impact measurement across the Fund 5

6 Job Description Person Specification The post-holder will be able to: Operate, plan and lead with a wide degree of latitude and creativity Project manage Understand the nature of and be able to information gather, analyse and interpret results Track strategic initiatives, monitor progress towards goals, analyse data, ensure follow on and sustain momentum Exercise diplomacy and demonstrate strong inter-personal skills Take into consideration at any one time competing priorities, key issues and risks Demonstrate a strong sense of servant leadership and ethics Operate with grace under pressure Have outstanding written and verbal skills Possess integrity and command trust Be the organisation s eyes and ears providing the CEO with a sense of what is happening, alerting her to emerging issues within and without the business Terms of appointment The role will be based at Big Lottery Fund s Head Office in Central London and will include some travel to the Fund s offices across the UK. This is a senior appointment in the organisation and remuneration will be in the region of 95, ,000 plus an element of non consolidated performance pay. The Fund is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We are committed to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities and will respond positively to meet individual needs throughout the recruitment process. Once in post, we will ensure that any appropriate reasonable adjustments to our workplace are made, in order to support colleagues with any form of disability. 6

7 How to Apply To apply for this position, please submit a comprehensive CV accompanied by a supporting statement of max 1,500 words. Please ensure that your application fully addresses the appointment criteria in the person specification. You should give the names, positions, organisations and telephone contact numbers of two referees, one of whom should be your current/most recent employer. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted. You are also invited to complete and return the enclosed diversity monitoring information form. The information on the form will be treated as confidential, and used for statistical purposes. The form will not be treated as part of your application. We would also be grateful if you could let us know if you will require any special provision as a result of any disability should you be called for interview. Finally please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the indicative timetable. Applications should be submitted via the Prospectus website: executive/job/hq Applications can also be posted to: Sarah Hill, Prospectus, Stukeley Street, London, WC2B 5LR Timetable Published advert closing date: February 10 Preliminary interviews with Prospectus: February Final panel interviews with Big Lottery: March 13 or 14 These dates may be subject to change and applicants will be advised in advance should this happen. Should you decide to make a formal application, you will receive initial feedback within five working days of the closing date. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake additional assessment prior to the final interview. Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or wish to have a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment advisor Borge Andreassen at Prospectus on or via at borge.andreassen@prospect-us.co.uk. 7

8 Diversity Monitoring Prospectus is committed to a policy of equal opportunities in all aspects of employment. The information provided by equal opportunities monitoring will help us to comply with the law under the relevant Acts and to ensure that our employment policies and practices are fair and effective. Your responses will be treated in the strictest confidence and used only for statistical monitoring. This form is divided into six parts and you are asked to complete all sections. 1. Ethnic origin The groups listed below are ethnic categories used in the 2001 Census. Which groups do you most identify with? Choose ONE section from A to E, and then tick the appropriate box to indicate your cultural background. A. White: British Irish Any other white background, please specify: B. Mixed: White and Black Caribbean White and Black African White and Asian Any other Mixed background, please specify: C. Asian or Asian British: Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Any other Asian background, please specify: D. Black or Black British: Caribbean African Any other Black background, please specify: E. Chinese or Other: Chinese Any other background, please specify: 8

9 Diversity Monitoring 2. Disability The Equality Act (2010) defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. For the purposes of the Act, these words have the following meanings: substantial means more than minor or trivial long-term means that the effect of the impairment has lasted or is likely to last for at least twelve months (there are special rules covering recurring or fluctuating conditions) normal day-to-day activities include everyday things like eating, washing, walking and going shopping People who have had a disability in the past that meets this definition are also protected by the Act. Progressive conditions considered to be a disability There are additional provisions relating to people with progressive conditions. People with HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis are protected by the Act from the point of diagnosis. People with some visual impairments are automatically deemed to be disabled. Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Yes No Gender: Female Male Transgender Male Transgender Female Transexual Age: Religion or Belief: Protestant Catholic Other Christian Buddhist Hindu Jewish Muslim Sikh Other Religion/ Belief, please specify: No religion/ belief: Sexual Orientation Heterosexual Lesbian Gay Bisexual Please take a moment to tell us where you heard about Prospectus: Thank you for completing this questionnaire. 9

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