Senior Manager – Regional Development (North)

Information for candidates

Introduction

First of all, please accept my thanks for your interest in joining us at Muscular Dystrophy UK. This is an ambitious, determined charity that works closely with families affected by muscular dystrophy and related muscle-wasting conditions.

You may not have heard of the term ‘muscular dystrophy’ before you saw our vacancy though I imagine you’ve since discovered it describes more than 60 rare, muscle-wasting conditions. Some of these are quite devastating in their impact on children and young people’s lives while others are diagnosed in adulthood and lead to progressive disability.

We currently raise c. £5m annual from all active fundraising sources (excluding legacies) of which income from regional (community fundraising) accounts for approximately one third. We are very proud of our Regional Development team and the massive growth in support and income they have generated over the last six years (net income contribution has increased almost eight fold)

We are an ambitious and hardworking team looking for a Senior Manager to join us. This role will manage an excellent team of Regional Development Managers (RDMs), ensuring delivery of income andwill provide leadership to important developmental initiatives.

This pack is designed to tell you more about the role and give you an insight into what it would be like to work with us at Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Gary Kernahan

Head of Regional Development

Team structure

This post is part of the Regional Development department:

Areas of responsibility

The role will have five key areas of responsibility:

  • People management
  • Financial management and delivery
  • Leadership, analysis and insight for two key income streams
  • Direct project management for key developmental initiatives
  • Oversight of work being led by team members via matrix management model

1. People management

The Northern community fundraising team consists of four experienced and high performing RDMs. Whilst this post holder would assume line management responsibilities for this group it is acknowledged that these highly skilled fundraisers require ‘light touch’ management and as such this role would best suit someone with experience of enabling high performers and providing support and coaching via monthly one-to-one meetings and on an ad hoc basis. This post will also provide important cover during periods of holiday, sickness or staff turnover thus ensuring ongoing business delivery.

2. Financial management and delivery

The Senior Manager will lead and manage four direct reports ensuring that they meet income and acquisition targets. They will review team progress monthly against KPIs and will produce a monthly management report providing commentary on progress and key financial variances.

The 2016/17 budget is £526k which is broken down as follows:

  • Supporter-led activity - £208k
  • Fundraising groups - £113k
  • Make Today Count (annual sky dive) - £61k
  • Gift Aid - £38k
  • Move a Mile for Muscles - £37k
  • Branches - £33k
  • Running events - £27k
  • Reactive/unsolicited income - £9k

It is expected that all members of the Regional Development team own their financial targets and have the skills and ability to manage progress to achieving that target. The team operate a zero-based approach to budgeting and forecasting. The Northern Senior Manager will review financial submission and then after discussion/negotiation will make a team submission to the department Head.

3. Leadership, analysis and insight

Each of the three Senior Managers within the department will be responsible for overall leadership, analysis and providing insight into two of six key income streams. This post holder will be lead on Move a Mile for Muscles and Branches.

Move a Mile is strategically our most important developmental area as significant growth has been predicted for this product over the coming three years. Up until now Move a Mile has focused on inspiring individuals with a condition to organise their own miles. In 16/17 we grow the number of people organising their own miles from 36 to 61 (£23k to £41k) and we will introduce 9 larger scale community-led events (£42k). This Senior Manager will monitor progress against milestones, work cross-department to create promotional plan and work with the named Regional Development Executive on implementation.

The charity has been fortunate enough to benefit from the long-term support of Branches. Today we have 31 Branches remaining in the UK and this Senior Manager will oversee stewardship plans, annual returns and progress against three year projections.

4. Direct project management

This Senior Manager will work cross team to ensure integrated and multi-channel marketing plans are produced for each key fundraising product (Make Today Count, Move a Mile for Muscles, Running portfolio, Family Funds and Go Orange). Close working to ensure briefing and implementation will be required with colleagues including (but not limited to) Online Manager, PR Manager and Publications & Communications Manager.

Opportunities to expose our supporters to the work their fundraising makes possible is hugely inspiring and valuable. We also recognise the value in bringing people affected by these rare muscle-wasting conditions together. Going forward we would like to offer more of these opportunities and the Senior Manager will lead cross-team work to arrange lab days, regional engagement events and Family Fund impact days.

5. Project oversight

This post holder will provide oversight to three key pieces of work being led by team members.

Job title: Senior Manager – Regional Development (North)

Location: Flexible

Department:Regional Development

Reporting to:Head of Regional Development

Direct reports:4 x Regional Development Managers

(Scotland, N Ireland, North West England & North East England)

Main purpose of role:

To lead the Northern regional team of four Regional Development Managers to generate and grow income from community sources, networks and individuals who want to help fund the fight against muscle-wasting conditions.

As a Senior Manager you’ll help develop and drive the national community fundraising strategy and will lead on the development of initiatives that will engage our volunteers and supporters.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

  1. Leadership and Management
  • To manage and motivate a field team of Regional Development Managers (RDMs), setting clear annual objectives, managing performance against these targets and implementing personal development and training as part of the annual appraisal programme.
  • Coach and mentor RDMs so as to develop their skills and provide support for them in delivering their objectives
  • To support RDMs so that they are fully conversant with all relevant business processes and procedures.
  • To lead regional field team meetings and to support the organisation and delivery of national team meetings.
  • To serve as an active part of the Regional Development management team contributing to the strategic direction and cultural development for the department.
  • To provide cover during period of holidays, sickness or turnover to ensure ongoing business delivery.
  1. Business planning and operational delivery
  • To work with the Head of Regional Development in developing the national community fundraising strategy.
  • To manage Northern team’s income and expenditure; setting budgets with team members at the beginning of the year, reviewing regularly, providing monthly variance commentary and completing a quarterly reforecast.
  • With team members compile regional tactical plans and manage the implementation and delivery of these plans monitoring performance against key indicators.
  1. Developmental initiatives
  • To provide leadership for the development of two key income streams (Move a Mile for Muscles and Branches) ensuring top level planning, implementation via a matrix management approach and providing analysis and insight to the management team.
  • To directly project manage key developmental initiatives. A key piece of work with be development of integrated multi-channel marketing plans for key fundraising products as well as working cross-team to arrange donor/supporter engagement events.
  • Support projects being led by RDMs by serving as ‘project sponsor’.
  • To undertake projects as identified by the Head of Regional Development.
  1. Relationship management
  • To maintain good internal working relations across Muscular Dystrophy UK, and with important stakeholders including fundraising groups, branches, supporters, families and partners.
  • Support RDMs and serve as an ambassador for the charity by attending relevant supporter events and/or meetings.
  1. Initiative
  • Initiative in maintaining good relationships with other staff within the charity to assist in joint working, strengthen communication, solve problems and to ensure that the Charity’s objectives are met.
  • Initiative in maintaining a high level of sensitivity and tact when liaising directly with people affected by muscular dystrophy.
  • Provide leadership and project management for national development initiatives.
  • Deputise for Head of Regional Development as required.

1 Education and qualifications
  • Highly Educated
/ Essential
  • Degree
/ Desirable
2 Experience
  • Experience in managing people and coaching to delivery results.
/ Essential
  • Good experience of managing and delivering complex income and expenditure budgets.
/ Essential
  • Previous community fundraising experience.
/ Desirable
  • Experience of working across an organisation
/ Essential
3 Personal qualities and knowledge
Committed, self motivated and hard working
/ Essential
Have a commitment to Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Equal Opportunities policy and vision and values
/ Essential
Planning - The ability to develop and implement clear and robust plans for self and others to follow.
/ Essential
  • Leadership - The ability to set instructions whilst empowering others to accomplish tasks. Demonstrates flexibility by adopting a management style to the given situation.
/ Essential
Organisational skills - The ability to manage own time and tasks effectively. Taking an approach that is results orientated and systematic making you personally effective in managing own workload complying with set (ie. in-house policies, legislations, etc).
/ Essential
  • Ownership and accountability - The ability to accept responsibility for own area of work, identifying critical elements and working in a pro-active/solution focused way to achieve.
/ Essential
  • Team work - The ability to accept responsibility for own area of work, identifying critical elements and working in a pro-active/solution focused way to achieve.
/ Essential
  • Communication - The ability to represent Muscular Dystrophy UK effectively and professionally. Produces clear and effective communications appropriate to the audience, utilising the most appropriate channel and in keeping with brand guidelines.
/ Essential
Self Development - The ability to constantly challenge and improve self and others demonstrating ambition for self and charity to achieve goals.
/ Essential
  • Volunteers and supporters - The ability to work effectively with volunteers and supporters to deliver business goals. Recognises the value and contribution of volunteers and supporters – empowers others through provision of support, coaching and training.
/ Essential
Flexible and willing to work extra hours as necessary to accommodate busy work load.
/ Essential
IT literate including use of Raisers Edge, Microsoft Office and Social Media.
/ Essential
Must be able to drive and hold a full driving licence.
/ Desirable
4. Details
Hours – 35 per week
  • Holidays – 25 days