Structure of Islamic Relief Worldwide, and Role Within Structure

Islamic Relief Worldwide

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

BASE LOCATION: / Birmingham, UK
REPORTING TO: / CEO
LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: / Divisional Directors (partial), Departments
PURPOSE OF DIVISION / OFFICE:
The CEO Office is the central executive part of IRW, supporting the CEO in the leadership and executive management of the organisation.
IRW is an international relief and development charity, which envisages a caring world where people unite to respond to the suffering of others, empowering them to fulfil their potential. Islamic Relief is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded in the UK in 1984.
JOB PURPOSE:
The COO acts as the deputy to the CEO and provides leadership, inspiration and direction to enable IRW to fulfil its vision, mission, global strategy and yearly objectives. The COO ensures that strategic decisions are implemented as directed by the CEO and Board of Trustees.
The roleprovides strategic business support to the Chief Executive Officerand coordinates the operational management of IRW, with a global-remit.

STRUCTURE OF ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE, AND ROLE WITHIN STRUCTURE

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Has regular contact with CEO, Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and IR family globally
Representing IRW with governments, institutional donors, other public bodies, key stakeholders, the wider public and media as required

SCOPE AND AUTHORITY

Scope of role:

To deputise for the CEO as the leader of the institution (on behalf of the CEO)
To provide oversight to the effective management of the organisation on behalf of the CEO
To ensure that effective corporate decision-making is achieved through the Board of Directors
To assist the CEO in the overall delivery of results by the organisation
To ensure that, by leadership and example, IRW’s overall aims, objectives and purposes are shared throughout the organisation
To have significant influence in advancing IRW’s goals

Responsibility for resources:

Working for the CEO and assisting in the management of global Directors, the COO has oversight of significant organisational resources
The COO would have top level influence over the central IRW budget second only to the CEO.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The COO is accountable to fulfil his or her roles and responsibilities in line with Islamic values and principles, and to report to the CEO regularly and on the basis of annually defined key performance indicators (KPIs).

Leading and managing people

To support the CEO in leading and managing the Board of Directors and to ensure that its decisions are effective and its performance is efficient
Maintaining a clear focus on the cross-organisational integration of key deliverables
To ensure that the Directors meet their annual objectives set by the CEO
To ensure that staff are motivated to fulfil IRW’s aims and objectives through the management, remuneration, reward and staff development policies
To ensure that staff performance is monitored and improved across the organisation
To support the CEO in leading and directing IRW’s approaches to team working and internal collaboration
To manage employee relations issues with the Human Resources Department
To develop and maintain a learning-conducive environment within the organisation
Ensure that organisational and divisional strategies are developed, compatible and implemented efficiently across IRW divisions.
To lead, coach and develop leadership in the organisation with an emphasis on developing capacity

Strategy and Quality

On behalf of the CEO the COO to actively lead the implementation of the IR Global Strategy throughout the global Family
To build a strategic approach in the organisation’s culture
To hold account all relevant leads in the strategy for strategy implementation
To ensure the implementation of Islamic Relief’s quality standards
To contribute to the development of the overall organisational strategy, key policies and primary processes
To contribute to organisation-wide decision making and continuous learning, change and improvement processes as well as supporting the organisation to respond to new and emerging challenges and opportunities

Planning and Managing Resources

To oversee, within IRW’s operational planning system, the allocation and application of resources determined by the Board of Trustees and to keep these under review in-year against corporate priorities and targets and ensure value for money
To ensure that IRW has effective and efficient planning also a review of systems to deliver its work and utilise its resources, including the organisations’ finances, people and materials
To take responsibility for the review and signing of contracts with partners, institutions and other donors, on behalf of the CEO

Decision Making

To advise the Trustees, Main and Subsidiary Boards and Committees on strategies, policies, resources, external relations and, as appropriate, management and personnel matters
To make CEO level strategic and operational decisions when they are delegated

Analytical, Innovative Thinking and Problem Solving

To recommend to the Trustees, and to the Directors, the level of resources and their application required to carry out IRW’s remit and achieve its priorities
To guide the development of IRW’s policies and strategies for the approval of the Trustees

Central Compliance and Risk Management

Ensure that all activities of the charity meet the requirements of the Charity Commission, The Charities Act 2006, Companies Act 2006 and the obligations of the Health and Safety at Work Act, The Data Protection Act, Equal Opportunities Legislation and all other relevant statutes
To ensure that systems, procedures and guidance are in place and reviewed periodically in order to secure regularity, propriety and probity in the use of resources, as set out in the Financial Manual
To ensure that processes and structures are in place to fulfil the Audit Needs Assessment and that the programme of Audit is undertaken to fulfil Government audit requirements
To lead risk mitigation and rectification processes where compliance issues arise

Other

Where necessary representing the CEO at meetings internally and externally in the CEO’s absence
To ensure and proactively promote and foster a culture in which Islamic principles, values and approaches which are adopted by IRW are consistently respected, applied and complied with in the delivery of the country / division / unit objectives and in the conduct of its employees
Responsible for maintaining his/her own professional development
To comply with IRW’s policies and procedures in undertaking the above roles and responsibilities
To undertake any other reasonable duties that are consistent with the job and at its level of responsibility as and when required by the CEO

PERSON SPECIFICATION

It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and empathy with Islamic Relief’s values and principles as well as a commitment to IRW’s vision, mission and values.

EXPERIENCE

Significant experience and a proven track record at a high-level leadership role in a multinational organisation in a fast-moving and dynamic environment
Significant organisational management experience
Experience in management of business planning
Experience in management and implementation of Trustee-level (or equivalent) goals
Experience in management of finance and resource management generally
Experience in direct oversight of employee relations in a successful manner
Experience of developing and establishing strategies and work plans which help to deliver the wider organisational objectives
Experience of working in different international environments
INGO sector management experience particularly within the charitable aid sector
Leadership experience: ability to determine, direct, guide, advise, delegate and empower
Experience of working in a regionalised/decentralised organisational environment is a significant advantage
Experience of working in both the charity and corporate sector in Europe or USA is an advantage

SKILLS

A strong understanding of how to build, guide and motivate teams that have an innovative direction as well as working collaboratively as part of a high performing senior team
Ability to motivate and inspire staff
Excellent knowledge and sound understanding of the voluntary INGO sector and the business support needs that flow from this
Strategic and critical thinking skills: ability to think ahead, to ensure that appropriate strategies and policies are developed and implemented
Ability to analyse the working environment of the organisation and to advise/decide on appropriate strategic responses
An ability to think strategically and critically to ensure appropriate strategies and policies are developed and implemented as well as advising and deciding on appropriate strategic responses
Innovation and creativity: ability to identify new ways of doing things, to provide new insights, to provide solutions for resolving problems, and to act as a facilitator of organisational learning and change
An ability to think innovatively and creatively, providing agile solutions for resolving problems
Possesses political antennae, enabling work with different divisions/departments and within partner organisations, sensitively and diplomatically, towards the agenda of the stakeholder
An ability to build up rapid credibility with a wide range stakeholders including internal leaders and staff as well as civic/political figures, other NGO leaders and key partner bodies
An excellent communicator in a wide variety of internal and external audiences both verbally and in writing

Flexibility and energy that is required for a high level of self management and awareness
A strong understanding of how public sector bodies operate

Fluent written and spoken English; a working knowledge of Arabic will be a significant advantage. Knowledge of a European language particularly French or Germanwill also be positively considered also or an Indian subcontinent national languages particularly Urdu

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualified to MBA or Postgraduate/Masters level in a relevant field
Professional accreditations a clear advantage

KEY PERSONAL QUALITIES

A global role model for IR both internally and externally: committed to integrity and IR Values, upholding the highest standards in conduct
Strong affinity with humanitarian and Islamic issues and in depth understanding and knowledge of Islamic values, cultures and the ability to integrate this knowledge in the humanitarian sector at a senior level
Able to work as part of an executive team and promotes, maintains and encourages positive working relationships and team working throughout the organisation
Acts professionally and with honestly and integrity whilst upholding the integrity of the organisation
Strong emotional intelligence and resilience, and able to maintain composure - acting in a calm and measured way, in difficult situations
Has a positive demeanour and disposition, and able to overcome setbacks by motivating others
Is highly flexible and able to adapt to changing situations and priorities
Must be able to work flexibly outside normal office hours in response to work demands and be able to travel periodically to field offices and partner officers both nationally and internationally
Has a learning attitude and a continuous improvement philosophy