Advert: Managing Director

Bristol Pound is looking for a new Managing Director to lead the organisation in the next phase of its development.

In its first phase, Bristol Pound (£B) established itself as the UK’s leading complementary currency, is accepted by hundreds of businesses, and used by Bristolians to buy goods & services, pay local taxes & energy bills and for general business trade.

Over the next 5 years we aim to go much further: to engage more deeply with key partners in the city; to launch a Bristol Pound loan scheme offering financing for businesses right across Bristol;to explore spinning-off our operations platform into a trading company (able to support local currency development across the UK); and aim to create a Bristol Pound Foundation to invest in innovative projects to improve the lives of the city’s most disadvantaged people and communities.

This next phase requires new leadership skills.We’re looking foran exceptional candidate to take the organisation forward - someone to provide inspiring leadership, maintain a values-led and collaborative culture, take Bristol Pound’s engagement with the city to a new level and work closely with our strategic partners. The £B team is small so its leader needs to be someone who can think strategically, make clear operational plans and also lead on implementation.

You will have a wide range of skills gained in social enterprise, non-profit & commercial settings and have great communication skills.

The post-holder will work 4 or 5 days a week (salary £40k pro rata).

For more details about Bristol Pound and to download the job description, person specification and application form, go to For an informal discussion, once you have read the background information, please contact the chair, Ben Heald at .

The deadline for receiving completed applications is 5pm on Friday May 18th. Interviews are scheduled for May 24th and 30th.

Managing Director: Job Description

The Managing Directorof Bristol Pound is responsible to the board of directors for overall management of the organisation, including:strategic planning; leadership and change management; operational delivery; staff management and governance.

The post is for four or five days a week, by agreement between the chair and the post holder. The salary is £40,000 pro rata (plus contributory pension).

  1. Strategic planning

1a) Working closely with the board of directors to set the purpose, values and vision of Bristol Poundand ensure that these are communicated to and shared with staff, members and other stakeholders.

1b) Developing a three year strategy (working with the board, staff and members) to

  • ensure the organisationisfinancially sustainable with a growing membership
  • identify opportunities for development and growth
  • set clear future direction
  • deliver and monitor a portfolio of funded projects
  • meet the needs of Bristol’s diverse communities

1c) Ensuring that the strategy is translated into clear action plans, which are communicated to team members and that both strategy and plans areregularly reviewed and kept up-to-date.

  1. Leadership and change management

2a) Providing strong leadership to Bristol Pound, ensuring that everyone is clear about their own purpose and role within the broader vision and purpose of Bristol Pound.

2b) Managing and promoting change and development within a values-led, collaborative culture.

2c) Ensuring that internal communications systems are in place.

2d) Managing key external relationships, particularly with Bristol City Council, other partners and funders.

  1. Operational delivery

3a) Overseeing the delivery of Bristol Pound’s strategy and plans.

3b) Overseeing financial management of the organisation and ensuring that the board receives clear financial management information on a timely basis.

3c) Overseeing the development and maintenance of a technical strategy, including ongoing maintenance of systems and special projects; and ensuring that outsourced contractors deliver a quality service.

3d) Ensuring that risk management strategies are in place.

3e) Ensuring there is a fund-raising strategy in place; writing bids to raise sufficient income to ensure the sustainability of Bristol Pound.

  1. Staff management

4a) Line managing senior staff (two or three people), ensuring they are fully supported and managing their own team members (staff and volunteers) well.

4b) Ensuring that HR policies and procedures (including job descriptions) are up-to-date and fully implemented.

4c) Ensuring that all staff and volunteers have regular appraisals and personal development plans in place.

4d) Reviewing staffing requirements and benefits packages.

4e) Overseeing staff recruitment and induction.

  1. Governance

5a) Servicing the board, ensuring that meetings are properly planned with the chair and that concise papers are produced on a timely basis.

5b) Ensuring that all compliance and regulatory requirements are fully met.

5c) Reporting to the board at each meeting and participating in board meetings and working group meetings as required.

  1. Other duties

6a) Carrying out other tasks to ensure the effective operation, sustainability and growth of Bristol Pound.

Managing Director: Person Specification

We are looking for someone to take Bristol Pound on the next stage of its journey. After nearly six years of delivering the UK’s most successful complementary currency, we need someone with the vision, leadership skills, drive and energy to take it to the next level – widening access across the whole city, introducing the loan scheme, opening our online platform for additional uses and users, increasing the number of business and individual users and the value of their transactions - to ensure Bristol Pound is vibrant, sustainable and constantly evolving to support the local economy.

Essential

  1. At least three years senior management experience in a social enterprise or non-profit organisation
  2. Experience of working with a board and with a range of external stakeholders
  3. At least five years of staff management experience with proven ability to get a team working to their full potential
  4. Demonstrable leadership and change management skills, with the ability to think and act quickly
  5. Financial management experience including budgeting, financial forecasting and planning
  6. Commercial awareness and a focus on financial sustainability rather than dependency
  7. Ability to oversee the development and maintenance of technical systems
  8. Experience of preparing and delivering strategic and operational plans
  9. Strong communication skills

Desirable

  1. Knowledge and understanding of the economics of complementary currencies and alternative financial systems
  2. Experience of fund-raising from a variety of sources (statutory, corporate, foundations, individuals)

Bristol Pound: Room 103, 1st Floor, Corn Exchange, Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1JQ

T: 0117 9298642 | E: | W:

Bristol Pound is a Community Interest Company, registered in England and Wales, Company Number 07346360