Thank You for Your Interest in the Post of Head of Member and Corporate Communications

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in the post of Head of Member and Corporate Communications.

The National Housing Federation is one of the nation’s most effective campaigning organisations, having secured a number of campaign and lobby victories.

At a time of dramatic change to the operating environment of housing associations it is vital that we ensure excellent communication with our members, through a range of channels, in order to explain what stance we are taking on government proposals and why.

It is also critical that we inform members about our major campaign and lobbying positions, our key successes, and keep them apprised of our meetings with ministers, shadow ministers, MPs and other key stakeholders.

When completing your application, you should demonstrate how you meet the skills, knowledge and experience required for this role, with examples to demonstrate why you are suitable.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact me directly on 020 7067 1026, or arrange a phone consultation by speaking to my PA Tricia Prince on 020 7067 1024. The deadline for completed applications is.

Yours sincerely

Teresa Richardson

Assistant Director – Campaigns and Communications

Direct Tel: 020 7067 1026

Email:

Role Profile

Job title: / Head of Membership and Corporate Communications
Directorate: / Campaigns and Neighbourhoods
Responsible to:
Responsible for: / AD Campaigns and Communications – Corporate Communications
Five members of staff
Grade: / 2

Overall Purpose of the Role

This role will take the lead in developing and managing the Federation’s corporate communications with key stakeholders (members and staff). Developing strong branding, corporate messaging and first class communications channels in both print and e-communications mediums.

You will do this by taking a pro-active approach across all the Federation’s communications, working with Regional teams to develop a comprehensive membership and corporate communications strategy that epitomises best practice and contributes to delivery of the Federations aims and objectives. You will lead and manage the Membership and Corporate Communications teams ensuring the continued development of key communications channels such as the website.

As Head of a team, you will actively contribute to the development of the organisation in terms of conditions, policies, procedures and financial success. You will lead others and as such be a role model. You will be accountable for your decisions and must ensure that you work in accordance with our values and enforce them where needed. This strategic role carries with it the responsibility for interpreting policies and procedures correctly and consistently, ensuring that they are carried out effectively.

The role requires you to represent the National Housing Federation at a senior level. You will be expected to keep up to date with issues within the Federation and in the operating environment. You and your colleagues at this level will take much responsibility for how the organisation performs and will be the customer face of the Federation, working with members and regional executives to ensure regional perspectives are taken fully into account and represented appropriately; this makes excellent communication skills a crucial element of your role.

Competencies

The Federation has a competence-based approach to its assessment of performance and behaviour. The following are the specialist competencies for this role; these are followed by the Federation’s values. We expect individuals to demonstrate the specialist competencies and that they share the Federation’s beliefs and values.

Specialist Competencies

Setting the Direction / The ability to discuss and agree forward strategy for the organisation and disseminate this information to both internal and external audiences. The ability to balance competing and complex interests to define and convey a direction that is clear and understood by a variety of internal and external audiences.
Developing Organisational Performance / The ability to improve performance at an organisational level through innovation and revising practices and procedures where appropriate.
Developing a delivery culture / To ensure that the Federation translates policy into practice and ideas into actions which achieve results
Releasing Potential / The ability to create an organisational climate which encourages employees to give their best to the Federation and which is open to new ideas.

Working in a strategic team

/ The ability to make a positive contribution to and impact on the work and dynamics of senior teams.
Leading Change / The ability to understand the change management process and lead by example. The ability to bring about change in the sector’s performance and operational framework.
Influence and political acumen / The ability to build a strong and credible external profile for the Federation. The ability to encourage the building of a knowledge base to increase members awareness of the role of the Federation.
Communication / The ability and willingness to give and receive clear concise and open information in a manner that is relevant to achieve understanding for all.
Developing yourself and others / The ability to identify development needs and opportunities and the willingness to take action and improve the abilities of self and others.
Information & Communications Technology (ICT) / The ability to understand, foster and utilise the appropriate technology for the job.

Our values

Relevant / we listen to our customers and deliver their needs
Assertive / focussed on our aims and tenacious in pursuing them
Proud / of housing associations and of the work we all do
Inclusive / working collaboratively to promote diversity and opportunity for all
Driven / motivated, effective with imagination and integrity

In addition, we require you to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Experience of developing and managing the full range of stakeholder communications ideally in a membership organisation

Demonstrable experience of developing branding, messaging and managing production of communications outputs across all mediums, print and e-comms

Experience of leading the design, development and delivery of websites and other e-communications

Experience of managing the commissioning and production of a publications programme

Demonstrable experience of developing strong internal communications channels

Knowledge of the essential elements of managing people and resources effectively in order to achieve desired outcomes

Ability to motivate staff members at all levels of the organisation and ensure appraisals, reviews and training are undertaken fairly and within the correct timeframe.

Ability to manage projects and budgets and to secure financial control by staff to whom authority is delegated.

Ability to translate policies and procedures into actions and ensure that your directorate implements the agreed direction for the National Housing Federation.

Ability to write clear, concise and persuasive copy, briefings and presentations.

Demonstrate through your actions that you value the contribution everyone makes to the organisation and recognise the importance of developing others to achieve the desired outcomes.

Ability to think strategically, along with the capacity to act as a champion and catalyst for change in a complex working environment.

Shows an appreciation of the range of needs of a diverse membership which a trade association seeks to service.

Demonstrate a flexible approach to the role and encourage others to do likewise.

Actively demonstrate a commitment to the values of the Federation and in particular to take a lead to promote equality and diversity.

Commitment to achieving the desired outcomes of the Federation through the most effective route.

Ability to act as an ambassador of the Federation

September 2012

Terms and Conditions

Salary

£57,363 – 68,289 pa

Contract

Open-ended

Hours of Work

This role is a 35-hour week. Attendance at Federation conferences, party conferences and a certain amount of evening meetings will be required including some overnight stays.

Probationary Period

This post is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Annual Leave

The holiday entitlement 30 days, in addition to public holidays, including three days paid holiday leave taken between Christmas Day and New Year's Day inclusive.

Occupational Sick Pay

The entitlement to sick pay is service-related, starting with one month's full pay during the first year of service and rising to six months full pay after 5 years service.

Pension Scheme

We currently offer the following two pension schemes:

Membership of CARE (career averaged related earnings) scheme - this is a defined benefit scheme. Contributions to this scheme will be 10.1% (employee).

Membership of a defined contribution pension scheme. Contribution rates for both the employer and employee will be 3%.

To find out more about these schemes please visit the SHPS website, where further details can be obtained:

Private Health Care

The Federation will pay for you to become a member of the Simply Health scheme, allowing you to benefit from early diagnosis of medical conditions, access to surgery and complementary medicine e.g. physiotherapy. You may also opt to pay for your partner and/or children to become members too, and take out dental and optical cover.

Child Care Vouchers

We offer a childcare voucher scheme to employees with childcare responsibilities. This is a salary sacrifice scheme and is a tax efficient way of paying for childcare.

Interest Free Loans

We provide interest free loans to pay for annual season tickets for travel to and from work. We also have a bicycle loan scheme for employees wishing to cycle to work for all or part of their journey.

Place of Work

This role is based in Holborn, London. Our head office is based in London and we have regional offices in Bristol and Manchester.

Learning and Development

The National Housing Federation is looking for a candidate, with the appropriate skills and experience to fulfil this role. In return we provide an excellent working environment. The Federation has an organisational development programme which provides individuals with training and support to develop their skills. We also actively encourage individuals to participate in corporate project groups and development centres. We support individuals to undertake professional development and personal study, whilst encouraging a culture that supports a work-life balance for its staff. Our aim is that our staff should also be able to have fun at work.

Equality and Diversity

The Federation is strongly committed to developing a positive organisational culture which values people from all sections of the community and the contribution each individual can make to our work. This is in addition to statutory responsibilities to promote equality and diversity in all our activities.

Behavioural Standards

Carry out the work of this post in line with Federation policies, statutory requirements and responsibilities, corporate and professional standards including the Federation’s core competencies framework.

Health and Safety

All staff at the National Housing Federation must give full support to its health and safety policy. We seek from every member of staff active co-operation with those responsible for the effective planning, organisation and monitoring of our health and safety.

Please visit our websites at and for further information about the Federation, our members and our work.