TRUST DIRECTOR

JOB DESCRIPTIONOctober 2012

Contract status: / 3 year fixed term contract
Working hours: / 37.5 hours
(Home working permitted)
Salary: / £30,011 per annum
Location: / Birmingham City Council’s Department of Planning and Regeneration, Lancaster Circus, Birmingham and once building contract complete at the Coffin Fitting Works on Fleet Street, Hockley
Reporting to: / Birmingham Conservation Trust Board of Trustees
Line manager for: / Development Officer (P/T)
Volunteers
Closing Date: / Monday 29th October 2012 12 noon
PURPOSE OF JOB

The Director will be responsible for delivering the strategic vision of Birmingham Conservation Trust; for championing the organisation and its work to the public and potential supporter organisations; for building the capacity of the organisation during a period of change when the Trust moves from City Council offices to a new home at the Coffin Fitting Works and for consolidating relationships with its partners and stakeholders, especially Birmingham City Council, the Association of Preservation Trusts, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Director will be responsible for developing a portfolio of projects for the Trust that will develop new income streams and create new uses for buildings at risk.

BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATION TRUST: BACKGROUND

Founded in 1978, Birmingham Conservation Trust is a registered charitable company. Its objects are to preserve, and find new uses for, buildings of particular beauty, historic, architectural or constructional interest in the city of Birmingham and to engage, educate and increase public understanding of these buildings.

Amongst the buildings that we have worked to save for the people of Birmingham are the Back to Backs in Hurst Street, now managed by the National Trust; Perrott's Folly, a key inspiration for JRR Tolkien; and our most recent, the Newman Brothers Coffin Fitting Works in the city's historic Jewellery Quarter.

The Trustees have identified three strategic objectives for the next 3 years:

  • To build capacity and sustainability to ensure the future of BCT
  • To preserve and create new uses for Birmingham’s historic buildings at risk
  • To promote the understanding and enjoyment of Birmingham’s built heritage to the people of Birmingham and their visitors

The Trust’s current main project is the restoration and development of Newman Brothers Coffin Fitting Works in Fleet Street, Birmingham, for which HLF and other funding has been secured.

The Trust will be moving its headquarters to the Coffin Fitting Works and will be developing the site for interpretation, events and activities for the public through a combination of paid staff and volunteers, as well as managing commercial rentals. This represents a major change to our previous business model, in which we restored building for new uses before transferring them to new ownership and management.

This is an exciting time of transition for the Trust and the role of the Director will be crucial in building capacity and sustainability for the Trust in its new location.

For more information concerning our work visit our website:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide strategic direction according to the BCT's vision and objectives

  • Develop and deliver a long term and sustainable business planwithincome targets and options for new operational models for the future
  • Provide financial forecasts and carry out accurate and effective budget monitoring
  • Forge and strengthen successful partnerships with public, community and private sector partners across the city of Birmingham, notably the Jewellery Quarter Development and Birmingham City Council, to expand the work of BCT across the City
  • Oversee the successful transition of the Trust’s headquarters to Newman Bros Coffin Fitting Works

2. Increase BCT income through fundraising and other forms of revenue generation

  • Apply for funding from grant giving trusts, public funding bodies and other sources
  • Develop new streams of income for the Trust, including social enterprise and commercial revenue streams
  • Oversee creation of Friends group to increase fund-raising potential and BCT profile

3. Establish a strong public profile for BCT, its work , and for the Coffin Fitting Works as BCT’s

base

  • Work with trustees to develop a marketing and participation strategy for BCT that can be delivered via digital, print, talks and broadcast media, and through volunteer and Friends activity
  • Arrange or commission events and activities that promote public understanding and enjoyment of Birmingham’s built heritage and the work of the BCT, such as opening historic buildings as part of Heritage Open Days
  • Develop and deliver the engagement activity and interpretation of the Newman Brothers Coffin Works in line with the HLF Activity Plan
  • Apply for any relevant awards to enhance the reputation of the Trust

4. Oversee the daily operations of the Newman Brothers Coffin Fitting Works

  • Oversee the appropriate arrangements for the security, environmental sustainability and Health & Safety of the premises. As Director you will be the responsible key holder for the premises.
  • Manage aspects of property management including marketing the rental properties, lease and tenancy renewal; rent collection and tenancy issues
  • Oversee the on-going preservation and maintenance of the historic collections

5. Responsible for the employment, management and development of BCT staff and volunteers

  • annual appraisals of paid staff
  • training and development of paid staff and volunteers to enhance delivery of the BCT objectives

6 Responsible for identification and project management of potential projects and

consultancy work to further Trust objectives, including the Coffin Fitting Works:

  • Undertake the appointment of the suitable consultants and contractors;
  • Establish communications and monitoring frameworks for effective tracking of delivery and quality assurance to ensure a complete record is kept of all stages of the project
  • Ensure all relevant consents are obtained and negotiate acquisition and disposal or other legal agreements; also commission feasibility studies, options appraisals and other relevant research
  • Oversee delivery of detailed consultation to ensure ownership by a range of partners and local people, which involves involve funders, institutional partners and local community
  • Undertake evaluation and review of project delivery and distribute the findings to all relevant partners
  • Establish and maintain regular liaison with Birmingham City Council conservation team

7. Responsible for regular communication with the trustees and the administration of the Board

and Trust activities including

  • attendance at Board meetings
  • preparation of reports and other relevant papers for the Board of Trustees
  • Responses to general enquiries, correspondence and other daily administration duties
  • Overseeing the administration and minuting of Board meetings and AGM; the management of BCT's vital records; and the update and maintenance of the Trust’s online and print profiles

RELATIONSHIPS

The Trust Director is responsible to the Board, reporting directly to the Chair of the Trustees.

The Trust Director will be directly managed by two named Trustees, who will carry out the probation review and subsequent annual development reviews.

The Trust Director is responsible for line-managing the Development Officer and any other paid posts associated with Coffin Fitting Works or other projects as they should arise.

The Trust’s finances are currently managed through Birmingham City Council but this will change with the relocation to Coffin Fitting Works. The Trust Director will work closely with the city’s finance team and other relevant officers during the transition.

Key relationships already exist with the following partners:

  • Birmingham City Council, all departments especially conservation section
  • Grant making bodies, English Heritage, HLF etc
  • Local communities, especially the Jewellery Quarter where Coffin Works is situated
  • A range of specialist conservation consultants

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Trust’s office is currently based at Lancaster Circus, Birmingham, in the Conservation section of Birmingham City Council’s Department of Planning and Regeneration. There is also a possibility of some home-working.

The post is full time – 5 days a week with an occasional requirement for weekend, evening and bank holiday working and the salary is £30,000 per annum.

Expenses will be paid for travel in the line of work but we will not provide transport for the Trust Director. If using your own vehicle, a named Trustee will need to see proof of adequate insurance, the vehicle's roadworthiness and a clean driving license.

There will be a probation period of 3 months which will be completed by a review with nominated Trustees and the notice period is 3 months.There is a holiday entitlement of 28 days per annum. At present there are no arrangements regarding a pension.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
EXPERIENCE / Essential / Desirable
Track record of successful fund raising and grant applications / Yes
Experience of successful entrepreneurial development, business planning and delivery / Yes
Experience in employment, management and development of staff and volunteers / Yes
Experience in developing or commissioning public access, heritage interpretation, engagement and learning opportunities for a wide range of audiences including hard to reach groups / Yes
Experience of marketing and profile raising via digital, print, and broadcast media / Yes
Experience of managing historic collections and buildings / Yes
Interest in and knowledge of architectural history, building construction and urban social history / Yes
Knowledge of Birmingham, its history and heritage / Yes
Proven experience of working within and in partnership with local authorities and charitable trusts / Yes
Knowledge of the conservation, development, construction and management of historic buildings, / Yes
Experience of successful project management and delivery / Yes
SKILLS AND ABILITIES / Essential / Desirable
Excellent written and verbal presentation skills / Yes
Passionate advocate for heritage / Yes
Self-motivated and able to work methodically on an independent basis / Yes
Resilience and ability to work under pressure / Yes
Ability to provide financial forecasts and carry out accurate and effective budget monitoring / Yes
Knowledge of employment and equal opportunities legislation / Yes
Proven experience of negotiating and decision making at all levels in the public, private and voluntary sectors, particularly with senior/executive management and people of influence across the community / Yes
Sound ability to use IT and internet resources, especially Microsoft Office applications, social media, financial applications and website management / Yes
Commitment to continuingprofessional development / Yes
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Degree or equivalent and/or appropriate professional qualification in museum studies, heritage management or similar
Evidence of your qualifications will be required at a later date.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
For further information about BCT, see our website:
On our website, you will find:
  • BCT strategy tree
  • Annual report and accounts
Also available from BCT on request:
  • Newman Bros Coffin Fitting Works programme
  • Newman Bros Coffin Fitting Works funding

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