Director

We are hiring: New Director for Elfrida Rathbone Camden

Elfrida Rathbone (1871-1940) devoted her life to working with young people with learning disabilities and their families.

Elfrida Rathbone Camden (ERC) exists to create a more inclusive, equitable, and connected community where people with learning disabilities and their families in Camden and neighbouring boroughs are respected, empowered, and supported to lead independent, fulfilling lives.

Our mission is to provide tailored support, build meaningful relationships, and create opportunities for independence, inclusion, and personal growth among young people with learning disabilities.

Our new Director will be leading us through a period of significant change for the organisation.

We are looking for an exceptional leader who is passionate about our mission and understands the traits needed for the job. They would be:

A highly visible and inclusive leader, with the ability and passion to lead our organisation from the front.
A strategic thinker who can see the bigger picture; where we are, where we need to get to and how we are going to get there.
A good listener – who can quickly identify what the key issues are, whilst building relationships internally and externally.
A good people manager with high levels of emotional intelligence.
An excellent stakeholder relationship builder with commissioners, local statutory agencies, and other community and voluntary sector organisations.

The successful candidate needs to

Provide inspirational leadership and management to support all staff in their work to provide excellent services.
Demonstrate a strong track record of growing an organisation and working to fulfil its business objectives.
Manage, develop, promote, and grow the work of ERC by building and implementing an ambitious organisational strategy.
Possess strong analytical skills, especially the ability to interpret and manage financial data, Key Performance Indicators, and drive operational improvement efficiencies
Show effective motivational and supportive leadership through engagement initiatives.
Possess excellent relationship building skills
Ensure the financial sustainability of the organisation through sound financial planning, risk and business management and income generation.
Take responsibility for identifying opportunities for growth, business development, fundraising and diversification.

ERC is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and applications are actively encouraged from individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Applications (CV and cover letter) must be submitted via email by 12:00 noon on 2 February to the Chair of Elfrida Rathbone Camden Fabian van Essen (fabian.van-essen@iu.org).If you would like to arrange an informal chat with the Chair, please email the same address.

Job description

Job Title: Director

Salary: 30k

Hours: 19 per week

Probationary Period: 6 months

Responsible to: Board of Trustees

Purpose of Job: To provide leadership and overall direction in conjunction with the Board of Trustees to deliver quality services in line with ERC’s mission, vision and values.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General

To provide strategic, operational leadership and motivation to ERC’s staff, volunteers and other stakeholders.
To develop the strategy, business plan and budget.
To promote and develop partnerships and networks to achieve ERC’s strategic aims and objectives.
To plan and develop new services in response to user demand and ensure they are accessible to all sections of the community.

Board of Trustees

To be accountable to the Board of Trustees and be responsible for day-to-day operations and development of ERC.
With the Board of Trustees take the lead in making sure that the right structures are in place to deliver ERC’s goals and objectives.
To provide regular reports to the Board of Trustees and attend sub-committee and Board of Trustee meetings.
To be responsible for the development and implementation of ERC’s risk register.
To ensure ERC fulfils its legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities.

Organisational Management

To recruit, supervise and delegate responsibility to staff members as appropriate.
To draw up contracts of employment and put in place effective line-management procedures, including supervision, appraisal and staff development.
To ensure that policies and procedures are up to date, and are implemented, including Health & Safety, Equality and Diversity and Safeguarding.
To ensure that personal information collected complies with data protection regulations and GDPR
To oversee the safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults ERC works with, ensuring DBS checks are carried out and staff are trained in ERC Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
To act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Charity.

Finance & Fundraising

To ensure ERC operates within budget and that the Board of Trustees receive regular financial reports.
To ensure the timely preparation of the annual audited accounts and annual report.
To produce financial, performance, risk and other management reports as required.
To update and deliver ERC’s fundraising strategy including identifying new funding opportunities and streams, ensuring a sustainable income.
To undertake the duties of Company Secretary.

Relationship Building

To be the strategic point of contact for ERC locally, regionally and nationally.
To maintain and develop relationships with funders and other stakeholders by attending forums and developing partnerships and collaborative working.

Person Specification

Leadership skills

Creative and strategic thinker and problem solver
Ability to lead and use professional and organisational judgement
Promote the vision, mission and goals of ERC
Excellent time management and organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Inspirational communicator who can motivate volunteers, staff, beneficiaries, stakeholders and professionals in the voluntary, statutory and other sectors.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Able to negotiate and influence at all levels
Able to maintain relationships whilst also challenging decision making or cultures.
Excellent partnership and networking skills.

Finance

Experience of setting and managing budgets.
Experience of developing and managing a fund-raising strategy.

Knowledge and experience

Experience of working at a senior management level.
Strong Team Leadership skills and managing complex situations.
Good project management skills
Understanding of social and economic issues in London.
Experience of supporting and enabling diversity, equality and inclusion.
Experience of partnership and collaborative working.

We have a number of different ways to work flexibly, so at your interview, feel free to talk about what flexibility means to you. There are no guarantees, however, it may open the door to not only a new role but a new way of working.

We positively celebrate Diversity and Inclusion at ERC and the foundations and principles underpinning all our work are about reflecting and connecting with the diverse community that we serve. We want people from all walks of life to work at ERC and to feel valued for their individuality, to thrive and to share a sense of belonging.

We wish to encourage applications to this position regardless of race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. All applications will be considered solely on merit.

Elfrida Rathbone Camden is a London Living Wage Employer.