Hello, Thanks for your interest in this new role at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation. I d like to set out where we are as an organisation, where we are heading, and how I see this role fitting in. What We Do (SMK) believes people should be able to shape their world - and we exist to help them do just that. As a registered charity, the Sheila McKechnie Foundation builds the capacity of campaigners, change makers and organisations from those just starting out to experts in their fields, working both in the UK and abroad. Our key aims are to: 1. Empower people by providing the knowledge, skills and networks they need to be heard and effect change. 2. Ensure that campaigning is seen as a civil right and a public good, and that policy-makers and other decision-makers act to enable and support it. 3. Bring campaigners and change-makers together to share ideas and experiences, and to celebrate successes so that they can be more effective at winning change on the issues that matter to them Where We Are SMK is in an exciting place: when I joined as CEO in early 2016, I wanted to build on the organisation's rich legacy to expand both our role and opportunity. For me, SMK needs centrally to be a knowledge-based organisation - the place where people and organisations come to access the latest thinking and evidence around campaigning and social change. We have clarified that we work with all kinds of campaigners and change-makers - from individuals and community groups to large international NGOs. We are still profoundly committed to making our support available to all irrespective of ability to pay. And we are agnostic about the content of campaigns as long as they don't breach our core values. In short, we want to be the experts in how to make change happen and build all of our activities around this. In this last year, we have secured investment for a project that is giving us a huge push in this direction. The Social Change Project - funded by a consortium of trusts &
foundations - aims to understand how civil society can truly effect change. We are bringing together a diverse community of practitioners to look at what works, what doesn't and what this tells us about how to strengthen efforts in the future. The project concludes in Spring 2018 by which time we will have a huge new body of evidence and also market-leading insight into how social change takes place today and the support people need to do it. About this Role We know that there are many new ways in which we can support campaigners and change-makers. We have already started to expand and diversify our training, coaching and consultancy and believe there is potential to take this much further. Never before have so many people and organisations been involved in trying to effect social change. Our job is to understand how to help them do this - in a way that helps SMK grow, continually improve and optimise our impact. It is this opportunity that sits at the heart of this new role. The Director of Development role is responsible for all of the support we offer - from our programme of training and coaching; to our funder-plus work where we work directly with grantees; to our growing consultancy where we offer bespoke support on a commissioned basis. Our ability to provide meaningful support depends on our having a really in-depth understanding of our audience and what they need - so the successful applicant will be passionate about campaigning and change and bring extensive experience of this world and the people in it. They then need to bring a determined entrepreneurial spirit to develop the products and services that we know people need, and the practical nouse to deliver the service from initial marketing to end of programme evaluation. This person will work with our network of over thirty Associates - themselves some of the most experienced campaigners in the UK - and also needs to be comfortable delivering training and consultancy, as required. Our goal is growth, so this person will work closely with me to understand how to scale this offer and build both turnover and profitability. Whomever is appointed into this role will be the second most senior person in the organisation, working very closely with me and deputising for me at times. They will work closely with me developing our strategy and thinking and there will lots of opportunities for profile and thought leadership. The role currently has one direct report but with scope for growth.
We are a small and very happy team supported by an outstanding Board. SMK is a special organisation trying to do some ambitious and important things. Do you want to join us on our journey? Sue Tibballs, OBE Chief Executive Officer Sheila McKechnie Foundation
Director of Programmes Contract: Permanent Hours: Full-time Salary: 45,000-55,000 p.a. depending on experience, plus benefits Location: Vauxhall, London, with UK and some international travel Reports to: CEO About the role This is an ambitious role, working closely with the CEO and the SMK team, with overall responsibility for developing and delivering our programme of support. You will also contribute centrally to whole organisation strategy, deputise for the CEO as needed, as well as get stuck into other areas of organisation s work. At the heart of this role is the strategic development and delivery of the programme of support SMK offers to campaigners and campaigning organisations. These range from our training, coaching and mentoring programmes, to our consultancy and events all aimed at equipping those we work with the skills and knowledge to effect positive social change more successfully and efficiently. You will design, develop and oversee the delivery of new and existing programmes, building and maintaining strong partnerships and networks across the charity sector. You will optimise our systems to ensure we are working as effectively as we can as an organisation. There is also a strong leadership and management element to this role, and you will support our excellent staff team and our thirty Associates some of the UK s leading change-makers, practitioners and commentators to deliver the highest quality programmes. To make sure that SMK can deliver sector-leading programmes and provide thought leadership, a key part of this role will be ensuring we are financially sustainable and have the resources and partnerships to grow and meet the demands of a rapidly growing and evolving sector. This will include developing partnerships with trusts and foundations, and with organisations and individuals across the sector, from NGOs and charities, to leaders in the sector. The aim is for SMK to grow, to continue to diversify our funding, establish lasting partnerships, and that we are continuously innovating and are thought-leaders in the field of social change.
SMK is a small organisation so you will be happy operating in a pretty hands-on, fast paced environment as part of a high performing team. There is currently one direct report for this post, but with strong prospects for growth. For a more comprehensive list of responsibilities, please see the job description and person specification in the application pack. About you You are someone with a passion for social change and the curiosity and entrepreneurial zeal to want to provide the best possible support to help others make this happen. You will thrive in a small, busy and ambitious team and have the flexibility to handle a broad and change-able workload. You ll be able to jump right in, working closely with the CEO to deliver at an exciting phase of our strategic development and organisational growth. You bring experience and expertise developing strategy, the organisational systems and programmes to deliver that strategy, and you ll be skilled at building the partnerships that can sustain and grow the organisation and its impact. You will have a solid understanding of the social change and campaigning sector, and will be able to identify what campaigners and organisations need to win change. Using this knowledge and analysis, you ll develop creative and agile programmes and strategies to support them in a fast-changing, agile field. You will be intellectually curious and follow campaign trends; working across the team to make sure SMK is providing thought leadership for the campaigning community, while at the same time supporting campaigners to win. Job description: As Director of Programmes, you will oversee the strategy, design and delivery of SMK s programmes that support campaigners and campaigning organisations, and develop and maintain partnerships across the sector - ensuring that our work is underpinned by organisational systems that help us deliver to the highest standards. This will include:
Strategy, programme delivery and partnerships, with responsibility for: Organisational strategy to grow SMK s programmes and impact, working with the CEO and the Board Design and development of new programmes based on needs and gaps in the sector Increasing and diversifying income streams, including through grant funding, consultancy work, capacity building and other partnerships. Ensuring all our programmes are delivered to a high standard, including project management and organisation-wide monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning. Optimising and developing our organisational systems Working with the CEO to translate emerging ideas, interesting initiatives and key innovations in the sector into new opportunities for SMK Developing a clear offer and narrative for our programmes and ensuring that we are communicating this to stakeholders, partners and the wider public. Managing the Events and Programme Manager, as well as our Associates programme Delivery of SMK s training, coaching support and consultancy, with responsibility for: Overall design and delivery of SMK s training, coaching and mentoring programme from content and operational oversight to trainee experience Facilitating or presenting at trainings as needed Overall management of SMK s consultancy service, including ensuring appropriate internal systems and processes Responding to briefs, tendering for commissions and delivering consultancy support Working with SMK Associates, third parties and sub-contractors as needed Build partnerships, networks and outreach to ensure that our programmes are reaching our target audiences Other responsibilities: Contribute to SMK s annual Impact Report helping set out a clear account of the difference we make in the world Represent SMK externally helping build SMK s profile and extending our networks Other tasks as defined by the CEO
Person Specification Essential A clear belief in the Foundation s objectives A solid understanding of the third sector and campaigning worlds, with a passion for understanding how change happens and following innovations Ability to design, develop and deliver organisational and project strategy in a complex and fast-changing environment A highly ambitious self-starter with an entrepreneurial approach Experience of developing and/or delivering high quality programmes and workshops for different audiences Excellent management and leadership skills, able to support staff and project partners to deliver to a high standard Excellent project management skills Demonstrable skills in developing/ optimising organisational systems A proven track record of successful income generation, diversification and of building lasting relationships with partners Experience of building and maintaining effective relationships, e.g. through consultancy work or partnerships with major Trusts or Foundations, and through working with coalition or networks Experience and understanding of financial management and financial accounting and/or budgeting processes Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of a small organisation Excellent written, interpersonal and communication skills Experience of working with a range of software, including Microsoft Office Desirable Experience of being front of house as a trainer, presenter, speaker or facilitator Understanding of IT and information systems and the role they can play in a small charity in terms of relationship management as well as income generation Experience of utilising data and other sources of information to achieve organisational objectives and financial targets Experience of market research, analysis and consultation
How to apply If this sounds like a role for you, applications should be made via the Prospectus website at: www.prospect-us.co.uk/executive/job/hq00170739. As a charity, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and actively encourage those under-represented in campaigning to apply.