RNIB Head of Policy and Campaigns

Appointment Brief

May 2016

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the post of Head of Policy and Campaigns, which will be part of the RNIB Engagement Senior Leadership Team. Other members of the Team are: Head of Community Engagement, Head of Evidence and Service Impact, Head of Marketing and Communications, Head of Digital and Content and Senior Manager UK Vision Strategy.

RNIB has a long tradition of putting blind and partially sighted people at the centre of our organisation. Most of our trustees are blind or partially sighted, as are the majority of our 25,000 members of RNIB Connect.

Campaigning to change legislation, policy and standards for the benefit of blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss, and to make society more inclusive, has been a core part of our work for many years. We view campaigning for change as an essential part of delivering the RNIB Group Strategy.

Blind and partially sighted campaigners have played an increasing role in furthering RNIB’s campaigning objectives, and the new Head of Policy and Campaigns will build on the great work we’ve already done, shifting even more leadership for campaigning to blind and partially sighted people.

We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and we are here for everyone affected by sight loss. RNIB is a group of charities leading the way in customer involvement, campaigning, excellent service delivery and collaboration and partnerships.

Our Ambition is to “Make every day better for everyone affected by sight loss”. We are currently implementing our 2014 to 2019 Strategy which includes challenging goals such as: giving everyone losing their sight access to a Sight Loss Advisor; improving the accessibility of the environment and information; tripling our reach to blind and partially sighted people, and increasing the involvement of people affected by sight loss in every aspect of our work.

The position of Head of Policy and Campaigns is a well established role, which provides leadership and direction for our highly respected policy and campaigning work. There are currently 8,000 members of RNIB Connect, who are campaign supporters, and this number is growing. The new Head of Policy and Campaigns will continue our drive to enable more blind and partially sighted people to lead campaigning activity, determine campaigning priorities and co-produce policy positions and campaign plans. Our current priorities include: improving vision rehabilitation; tackling capacity issues in NHS eye care; opposing the transfer of Attendance Allowance; ensuring accessible NHS information; and making streets free from clutter.

We are looking for a strategic leader who will make a significant impact at RNIB and within the sector. You will need to demonstrate your track record in achieving policy and campaigning change, provide evidence of your commitment to putting the customer first, and show the steps you have taken to increase customer involvement. You will also need experience of advocacy with and on behalf of disabled people.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Fazilet Hadi

Group Director Engagement

Who we are

We are a charity and membership body of people with sight loss. We have been supporting people with sight loss since 1868, and we were founded by blind people themselves. Today, we are here to support the almost two million people in the UK who are living with sight loss.

We are the largest charity in the UK in the eye health and sight loss sector, with a team of 2,000 staff and over 4,000 volunteers. We have 3 major networks of blind and partially sighted people: 14,000 members; 8,000 campaign supporters, and 3,000 people subscribing to Action Connect. Some people are involved in more than one of these networks.

RNIB Group of Charities

We believe we can achieve the most when we work together, which is why we have a rich history of bringing together like-minded organisations into the RNIB Group, including Action for Blind People, Cardiff Institute for the Blind, and National Talking Newspapers and Magazines.

Our partnerships aim to make good the confusing picture for blind and partially sighted people, their families, funders, and the Government.

With more than 700 sight loss charities in the UK, our close relationship means that our fundraising and back office functions are more efficient, and we can offer more targeted support without doubling up.

Our Group structure consists of a lead charity, RNIB Group, which guides and supports several “delivery charities” whose task is to deliver our Group Strategy. The delivery charities are RNIB Charity, Action for Blind People and our smaller associated charities.

RNIB Group delivers Group Central Resources, People, Fundraising and Engagement to support the delivery charities.

Our ambition

We want to make every day better for everyone affected by sight loss: by being there when people need us, supporting independent living, creating an inclusive society and preventing sight loss.

Our values

What makes us different and keeps us focused:

Led by blind and partially sighted people: Blind and partially sighted people are at our heart and influence everything we do.

Collaborative: We work together to make the biggest difference.

Creative: We understand challenges and find ways to overcome them and move forward.

Inclusive: We include and value people with diverse experience, abilities and backgrounds.

Open: We are honest, candid and transparent, challenging ourselves and others.

Our strategy for 2014-2019

Our four strategic priorities set out what we want to achieve by 2019. These priorities guide our decision-making, investment and funding plans, campaigning priorities, partnerships and service delivery and operations.

Strategic Priority 1:

Being there - people losing their sight can rebuild their lives.

Strategic Priority 2:

Independence - blind and partially sighted people can make the most of their lives.

Strategic Priority 3:

Inclusion - society includes blind and partially sighted people as equal citizens and consumers.

Strategic Priority 4:

Prevention - fewer people lose their sight.

The outcomes for which we are striving

Newly diagnosed people have increased emotional wellbeing, and they, their family and friends have practical support when they need it to rebuild their lives.
People with sight loss have the skills, tools, confidence and support they need to enhance their choice, control, enjoyment and independence in daily living and make the most of their sight.
People with sight loss, family and carers maximise their income from benefits.
People with sight loss are able to get out and about confidently and safely on their own terms.
People with sight loss are able to make more use of household, digital, communication and entertainment services, products and technologies.
Learners with a sight problem are able to achieve their potential at school, college and university.
People with sight loss are able to develop skills to gain and retain work and to volunteer.
Information about key services, including health and transactions with key service providers, are accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
Fewer people experience significant sight loss.

RNIB Job Description

Job Title: Head of Policy and Campaigns

Job level cluster: Leadership, Strategy, Direction

Job Level: L2

Directorate: Engagement

Section: Policy and Campaigns

Location: RNIB Judd Street, London, WC1

Reports to: Group Director Engagement

Purpose of Job:

To increase the capacity of blind and partially sighted people, and those at risk of sight loss, to campaign for change. To provide leadership and direction on policy and campaigning priorities, and to improve the effectiveness of campaigning across RNIB Group and the eye health and sight loss sector.

Impact:

Changes to Government policy and practice.
Changes to the policy and practice of commercial organisations and standards bodies.
Strong alliances for change through working with others.
Growth in self-advocacy by blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss.
Co-produced campaigning priorities, public policy positions and campaign plans.
Effective delivery of International, European, UK and England Campaigns.
The needs of people affected by sight loss brought to the attention of legislators.
Effective use of legal cases.

Financial Responsibility:

Responsible for a budget of over £1.3m

Decision making responsibility:

This post requires a high level of judgement, political sensitivity, stakeholder management and customer involvement. Decisions can affect the lives of blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss, and have consequences for RNIB’s reputation.

Line Management responsibility:

Regional Campaigns Manager
UK and International Campaigns Manager
Policy and Campaigns Manager
Health and Social Care Campaigns Manager
Campaign Planning and Operations Manager
Senior Legal Policy Officer

Main Accountabilities:

To increase the skills and confidence of blind and

partially sighted people, and those at risk of sight loss, to campaign for change. In particular, increasing involvement in campaigning within RNIB Connect.

To ensure blind and partially sighted people, and

those at risk of sight loss, are provided with the information, training and development opportunities required to become effective campaigners, and are supported to lead campaigning activity.

3. To co-produce campaigning priorities, public policy positions, and campaign plans with blind and partially sighted people and those at risk of sight loss.

4. To lead the development of a group-wide campaigning ethos, and oversee and deliver a range of effective campaigns to deliver political, policy, attitudinal and private sector change that improve the lives of blind and partially sighted people (taking legal cases where appropriate).

5. To influence and respond to UK and European legislation to ensure the interests of blind and partially sighted people, and those at risk of sight loss, are protected and enhanced.

To create and contribute to coalitions and

alliances which further the interests of blind and partially sighted people, and those at risk of sight loss.

To provide leadership and direction on the

political environment and on opportunities and threats in relation to people affected by sight loss.

To ensure that RNIB’s campaigns are based on

sound evidence, are creative and robust, and consistent with Charity Commission Guidelines.

To lead and manage the Policy and Campaigns’

Section ensuring it delivers high quality work, meets its objectives and works within budget, including shaping and monitoring the Section plan and supporting and developing staff and volunteers.

To collaborate with campaign colleagues

across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure consistent UK public policy positions and coordinated campaigning.

To review and develop key performance indicators, and oversee the development of systems for monitoring and evaluating our campaigning and policy work.

To deputise for the Group Director

Engagement as required.

To contribute to the strategy, planning and management of the Engagement Directorate.

Other duties as commensurate with the post.

Person Specification

1.Specialist knowledge, skills and experience

1.1Significant experience of high level advocacy with and on behalf of disabled people.

1.2Experience of co-producing policy positions, campaign priorities and plans with disabled people.

1.3Experience of supporting disabled people to be self-advocates and to lead campaigns

1.4A track record of influencing positive changes to legislation, policies and standards.

1.5Extensive knowledge of the political, economic, social and technological landscape.

1.6Experience of working cross-functionally and as part of coalitions to achieve change.

1.7Experience of working in a campaigning environment to deliver change.

2.People management skills/team working skills

2.1Substantial senior management experience at a strategic level within a complex organisation,to include evaluating, improving and sustaining performance, through planning and developing business solutions.

2.2Proven ability to motivate and empower others through clear leadership and direction. Excellent facilitation skills, with specific focus on the connection between Strategy and Change to influence the organisation on a journey of growth and improved services.

2.3Experience of managing high performance teams and developing strategies for resolution of issues.

2.4Strong people management skills, with the ability to support, appraise and motivate staff and lead teams through a time of change.

3.Planning and organisational skills

3.1Strong strategic planning skills, with ability to develop strategic campaigning and policy plans that translate organisational business and communication objectives into operational objectives.

3.2Enthusiastic and committed, ensuring delivery of objectives. Able to remain calm and in control when challenged or in the face of setbacks.

3.3Establishes procedures for monitoring performance against progress and objectives.

3.4Experience in effective planning, costing, setting, managing and monitoring budgets.

4.Problem-solving and creative skills

4.1Demonstrates a broad strategic view of business-process issues affecting RNIB Group, its customers and services, and an understanding of the implications and impact of these in relevant areas of responsibility.

4.2Demonstrates innovative and lateral thinking in providing timely business solutions that remove waste and improve efficiency across RNIB.

4.3Leads on providing strategic insight and analysis on cross-functional teams that identify, evaluate and analyse critical strategic and technical priorities.

4.4Relevant experience of making high level decisions through evaluating information in a logical manner and making systematic and rational judgments.

4.5Experience in identifying and managing conflict, with the ability to deal with resulting potentially aggressive/antagonistic situations in

a manner which promotes positive outcomes for the business.

5.Communication skills

5.1Experience in building alliances and maintaining effective relationships. Able to influence, convince and negotiate with others in a way that results in acceptance and agreement.

5.2Effective communication and influencing skills that enables a successful change management culture with customers and stakeholders, maintaining networks internally and externally to promote the value of efficiency.

5.3Pro-actively manage stakeholders, responding to and resolving conflict between different stakeholders when this arises through negotiation, facilitation or other appropriate mechanisms.

5.4Proven ability to produce written communication that is fluent, clear, concise and tailored to intended recipient(s).

5.5Proven ability to receive and absorb highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, and to present and speak clearly, fluently and in a compelling manner. This includes information about strategy and development projects, dependencies and risks, to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in a formal setting at all levels, and representing technical or complex information to a non-technical audience.

6.Special conditions

6.1The post holder will be expected to travel throughout the UK and to make occasional overnight stays.

Behaviours

Deliver results

Inspire and enable commitment to outstanding service.

Engage Customers

Determine and drive customer outcomes and work across the organisation to deliver customer excellence.

Engage others

Lead by example in promoting equality and inclusion for all.

Set Direction

Develop strategies to achieve greater commercial and financial accountability and sustainability.
Creates a culture of innovation, flexibility and responsiveness. Seeks and encourages ideas, improvements and measured risk taking to deliver better approaches and services.
Is able to manage complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity of major change. Works with others internally and externally to embrace opportunities and find innovative ways to overcome challenges while maintaining the effectiveness of service delivery.

Lead and inspire

Creates and leads a culture of high performance and accountability.
Displays resilience and takes a rational approach.

Personal impact

Adapts own influencing style according to the audience and context, and expertly negotiates in complex situations to achieve success.

How to apply

Please download and complete our application form, highlighting how you meet the requirements in our person specification and send it to . Please ensure that your supporting statement in the application form is no longer than 1,000 words.

The closing date for applications is 22nd May 2016. The interviews and assessment will take place on7thJune 2016.

For an informal conversation about the role, please emailJake Francis at and we will be glad to arrange a conversation with the Group Director of Engagement.

This pack can also be made available to you in large print, Grade 1 or Grade 2 braille, or on disk or tape. Please feel free to ask us if you would prefer to receive it in one of these alternative formats.

If you have a disability and would like assistance in filling in the form then please contact the Resourcing Team at at least three days before the closing date for the role and we shall be glad to help you.

We only accept CVs from applicants whose disability makes it difficult to complete an application form. All applicants however need to address the specific information we have asked for in the person specification.

Please read the guidance notes on the careers page of our website before filling in the application form as you may find this helpful when completing the form.

We will also accept braille, audio, disk, typed and handwritten applications sent to HR Administrator, RNIB, Human Resources, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE.

Terms of appointment

The role will be based at RNIB’s offices in London.

The role attracts a salary of£61,509 - £68,748 including London Weighting. We offer an attractive range of benefits including a generous contributory pension scheme, a leave allowance starting at 26 days per annum.

RNIB 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.

Thank you