ARTHRITIS CARE
Operations Directorate.
Job title: Director of Regional Operations - South/Central/North England
Location: Office / Home based
Reports to: Director of Operations
Direct reports: Area Development Managers
Volunteer & Services Supervisors
Fundraising & Communications Manager
Administrator
(Family & Youth Work Manager - SE)
Grade: VIII
Purpose of the job
· To ensure that the needs of people with arthritis in the region are understood, communicated and influential internally and externally
· To ensure the strategic development and funding of Arthritis Care’s operational services in the region.
· To play a key representational role within the region, advocating Arthritis Care’s policies and priorities in order to engage with and secure support from the public and high level decision makers
Principal Accountabilities
1. To provide the staff leadership to ensure the effective planning, funding, management and delivery of operational services throughout X region of England, recruiting suitably skilled and qualified staff to establishment and project roles as required.
2. To ensure income targets are met or exceeded, working with and supported by UKO colleagues to coordinate income generation activities and leading and supporting others in the marketing of services and negotiation of contracts with purchasers
3. To establish priority service locations and levels to be delivered in the region
4. Engage with external networks to identify and act upon opportunities to enhance and develop Arthritis Care’s position in the region to help achieve organisational objectives.
5. Developing, implementing, reviewing and reporting on regional plans that support the achievement of Arthritis Care’s strategic and business plan objectives
6. To ensure provision and on-going development of appropriate support and opportunities for volunteers and supporters, including relevant committees.
7. Working with and through relevant others to establish and maintain good communication and liaison with media, politicians, health and local authorities, rheumatology professionals and other appropriate statutory/public and voluntary sector agencies
8. Ensuring that the experiences and needs of people with arthritis are communicated internally and externally in promoting policies, strategies and programmes to meet those needs.
9. Ensuring that service users, volunteers and other people with arthritis in the region are fully supported in communicating directly their experiences and needs to those with influence and to decision makers.
10. To ensure effective, innovative services continue to meet expressed user needs,
through research, monitoring, networking and conducting appropriate piloting, costing and evaluation of potential new services.
11. Monitoring and assessing key developments in external policy and practice that inform service provision and development in the region and throughout Arthritis Care.
12. Ensuring the definition and implementation of a volunteer strategy for the region, including appropriate training, servicing and support of the Regional and other relevant committees
13. Preparing appropriate annual and project budgets for approval by the Operations Director; ensuring effective monitoring, control and reporting against agreed targets, and being accountable for budget shortfalls and developing contingency and recovery plans.
14. To be an active participant in the organisation’s corporate management through membership of SMT.
15. To undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the Operations Director
Example.
Taking the lead role in managing corporate projects.
Planning & Organising
· Responsible for regional and individual plans and contributions to corporate plans.
· Produce annual income and expenditure plans for the region, and for range of managed projects.
· Monitor and reconcile budgets/actuals on a quarterly basis at least.
· Support for regional committee(s) acting as Secretary.
Decision Making
· Decides on priority areas for service provision and resource deployment.
· SMT member and holds corporate responsibility for those decisions.
· Decides on overall staff requirements and allocation of agreed HR budget for the region.
· Contract negotiations and acceptance.
· Remedial actions as required.
Problem Solving
· Contingency and emergency plan responses.
· Accountable for addressing income shortfalls in good time.
· Dealing with staff and volunteer absences and cover arrangements.
· Addressing volunteer and membership issues.
· Responding to funder/ commissioner requirements
Key Contacts
Externally - media, politicians, health and local authorities, health and social care professionals and other appropriate statutory/public and voluntary sector agencies.
Internally - SMT peers, regional committee chair and trustee, Service Leads, staff in Finance, Media, Fundraising and HR.
UK person specification framework
Job Title: Director of Regional Operations Date : 04.03.11
Criteria ( E = essential D = desirable)Experience (including paid work and voluntary)
§ Substantial experience of managing and delivering operational services (E)
§ At least five years relevant senior management experience (E)
§ Experience of working in a needs-led environment (E)
§ Experience of writing bids and tenders, and negotiating service contracts with commissioners (E)
§ Devising and implementing appropriate measures to maintain agreed performance standards (E)
§ Working in partnership with health, social care and disability organisations in England (D)
§ Personal and significant experience of arthritis (D)
Qualifications (or equivalent level)
§ Degree level or equivalent (E)
§ Professional management qualification or equivalent (D)
Knowledge
§ Knowledge and understanding of the needs and wishes of people with long term health conditions (E) - with particular reference to arthritis (D)
§ Knowledge of key legislation, social policy developments and the operation of local government and statutory services (E)
§ Understanding of health and disability related issues and how to communicate them across a range of cultures (E)
§ Knowledge of the health and disability voluntary sector (D)
§ Knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities (E)
Skills and abilities
§ Proven financial and budgetary skills (E)
§ Able to build and maintain relationships with opinion formers and local government officials (E)
§ Well organised and able to delegate effectively (E)
§ Excellent communication skills, written, verbal and presentational (E)
§ Excellent people management skills, including performance management, coaching and staff development (E)
§ Strong influencing skills (E)
§ Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to relate well to people from diverse backgrounds and in diverse roles (E)
§ Good team working and collaboration skills (E)
§ Ability to think and plan strategically, analyse information and develop policy (E)
§ Good decision making skills (E)
§ Able to work effectively under pressure (E)
§ IT literate with an understanding of how it can best be exploited to support the work of the directorate (E)
§ Able to work effectively with volunteers (D)
Special circumstances (e.g. willingness to work unsocial hours)
§ Occasional requirement to work evenings / weekends (E)
§ Some travel required throughout the UK, with occasional overnight stays (E)
§ Use of a car for business purposes (D)
(this document can be extended as appropriate)