Citizens Advice Hampshire

Let’s work together

JOB DESCRIPTION

Context of role: Citizens Advice Hampshire is a consortium of independent Citizens Advice Bureaux. We are charities working together to improve advice services for the people of Hampshire, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Southampton by enabling:

  • Greater impact of the CAB service
  • Closer inter-working and shared services between Citizens Advice Bureaux
  • A single point of contact for county or higher level funding agencies and stakeholders to maintain and develop services
  • More effective partnership working with other organisations
  • Co-ordination of social policy research and campaigning
  • Delivery of new county wide services

and providing:

  • Application for or negotiation of grants and contracts
  • Training
  • Support services
  • Management or coordination of Client Services and Contracts

Role purpose: To be responsible to the Trustee Board for the leadership, development and stakeholder relationships of the Consortium and the management of its projects

Key work areas and tasks:

Planning and development

  • In conjunction with the Trustee board, develop, implement and monitor the strategic and development plan in line with consortium and member bureau priorities

Supporting the governing body

  • Arrange and attend meetings of the Trustee Board, including the annual general meeting, and ensure that sub-committees/ steering groups are appropriately supported.
  • Fulfill the Company Secretary function, supporting the Trustee holding that position.
  • Advise the Trustee Board to ensure compliance with the Citizens Advice requirements and all other relevant legislation, e.g. company and charity law, health and safety, employment etc.
  • Draft the consortium's annual report.

Resource acquisition and Project Development

  • Develop the consortium's funding base and secure funding for member bureaux. Ensure the effective implementation of all new CitAH projects and services.
  • Negotiate and review all grants and service agreements, ensuring that projects are within the agreed capacity and strategic aims of the Consortium and are adequately funded.
  • Maintain appropriate relations with funders, ensuring that all reporting requirements and compliance with contracts are fulfilled.

Financial management

  • In co-operation with the treasurer, ensure that all finances are properly administered, budgets are prepared and monitored and that appropriate financial regulations and controls are in place and in use at all times.
  • Ensure that all financial reporting obligations are met in relation to submissions for funding, grant aid, contracts and any other initiatives.
  • Authorise expenditure up to limits as agreed by the Trustee Board.

Staff management

  • Create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well-managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff can do their best.
  • Provide overall line management for CitAH staff.
  • Establish and implement recruitment, induction, employment and staff development policies.

Public relations and social policy

  • Promote and protect the aims, principles, policies, interests and reputation of the CAB service locally and nationally and ensure that the organisation has a high profile at all times.
  • Ensure the development of social policy at consortium level, supporting the Social Policy Forum and its Convenor.
  • Develop and oversee appropriate publicity through effective relations with the media and otherorganisations.
  • Develop effective relations with appropriate authorities, agencies, organisations and individuals at local and national levels, including councillors, MPs, MEPs and local and national statutory and non-statutory organisations.
  • Liaise with Citizens Advice and contribute to its work at regional and national levels where appropriate.

Administration

  • Establish, maintain and monitor effective administrative systems.
  • Ensure that CitAH staff are appropriately accommodated, whether home-working, bureau based or in other premises.
  • Undertake such other duties as may lie within the scope of this post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

  1. Senior management experience in an organisation with substantial autonomy.
  2. Strong partnership and leadership skills, demonstrating the ability to earn and maintain the trust of CitAH member bureaux, funding bodies and partner organisations.
  3. Ability to lead a small geographically scattered team, including the ability to prioritise work, identify and develop ideas and opportunities, delegate effectively, handle pressure and take day-to-day decisions on the running of an organisation.
  4. Demonstrable ability in people management, including the ability to recruit, develop, manage and motivate staff in remote working situations, particularly in the voluntary sector.
  5. Have excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with individuals and with a wide variety of organisations.
  6. Understanding of the voluntary sector and public sectors, in particular, knowledge of the strategic and policy environment in which the advice sector operates.
  7. Proven ability to devise, implement and monitor effective strategic development and project plans, and ensure effective project management and service delivery against agreed targets.
  8. Demonstrable track record of financial management and budgetary control, and ability to manage a budget under the guidance of the honorary treasurer.
  9. Track record of successful income generation, through fundraising, commissioning and marketing activities.
  10. Experience with researching and interpreting complex information and producing clear verbal and written reports.
  11. Ability to manage service provision from split locations across a wide geographical area
  12. Proven ability to manage internal change.
  13. Track record of managing ICT in a business environment, including the ability to use ICT packages; undertake ICT business planning; develop and maintain management information systems and procedures; and manage supplier relationships.
  14. Ability to work flexibly and to travel across the consortium area and occasionally other areas of the south-east

Desirable (training will be provided)

  1. The ability to commit to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the CAB service.
  2. A good up to date understanding of equality and diversity and its application to service delivery, business development and the recruitment and management of staff.

Citizens Advice Hampshire

Charity Registration no 1122695

Company Limited by Guarantee Registration no 6435678

Registered in England.