The Development Trusts Association Wales

The Development Trusts Association Wales

RENEW WALES – Sustainable Steps Programme

Renew Wales Programme Director

Background:

DTA Wales

The Development Trusts Association Wales is the national body for development trusts in Wales. We are a membership organisation supporting a wide range of members across Wales involved in community owned assets and community enterprise. We also deliver a range of peer support programmes and services such as Enterprising Solutions and the Energy Action Group to support and develop the third sector across Wales. DTA Wales has a small and busy office with, currently, a small team of 5 people, based in Cardiff Bay.

Renew Wales

In July 2012, RENEW Wales was established, by a partnership of community climate change practitioners, to support communities across Wales take first steps and action, in response to Climate Change, through advice, training, mentoring, peer and technical support, from other experienced community practitioners. DTA Wales hosts and manages the innovative RENEW Programme, on behalf of its Steering Committee and is backed by locally based third sector coordinators and a pool of Wales wide Peer Mentors.

RENEW Wales has been delivering social change on climate change across Wales for over 5 years using an award-winning peer-support network. It has supported over 400 communities to take action on climate change - more than half of whom had not previously taken any action. The RENEW model is based on the following principles:

●  Community groups will engage with and learn more from their peer group – people from other communities who have travelled the same road.

●  The programme is distributed – and builds on the experience, knowledge of existing networks.

●  It is community led and empowering - supporting the needs and aspirations of communities to make lasting change through their own efforts.

●  The programme is inherently cost-effective and supportive of the third sector because the mentors’ and coordinators’ organisations are paid for the support delivered.

Responsible to: DTA Wales, Director

Managed by: DTA Wales Director

Reporting: To DTA Wales and Renew Wales Sustainable Steps Steering Group

Core Purpose of the post:

To manage and co-ordinate the RENEW Wales Programme funded by the Sustainable Steps Programme of the BIG FUND and develop opportunities to use the model in other areas and make the Programme sustainable in the long term. The aim of the Programme is to develop the capacity and engage communities, across Wales, to take action on Climate Change through mentoring, action planning, peer to peer support, training and technical or other advice.

Key Roles

·  To manage and oversee the Renew Wales programme to budget and deliver on established KPIs

·  Recruitment, Training and Management of Renew staff as required

·  Recruitment of 25 Coordination Officers and supervise their management, to ensure successful delivery of Renew

·  Ensure the project contracts are well managed and oversee the quality control of those delivering work on behalf of the programme.

·  Recruitment of all necessary Peer and Technical Mentors, to support the delivery of Renew

·  Oversee the Coordination and management of the Peer and Technical Mentors (bearing in mind all Wales coverage)

·  Explore and develop opportunities for the strategic growth of Renew Wales developing future opportunities through grant funding, income generation and other sources of finance.

·  Attend events and conferences and promote Renew Wales and building on the Renew Wales brand and network

·  Management of the three main contracts for Training, Marketing and Web Development, and Project Evaluation

·  Oversee the project administration including finances, information recording, and evaluation

·  Reporting against timescales, outcomes, indicators and finances to DTA Wales, the Big Lottery Fund and the Steering Group.

·  Supporting and communicating with the Steering Group.

·  Ensuring effective marketing and promotion of the Renew Wales programme and its achievements to al partners and the media.

·  Overseeing the agenda and organisation of Conferences and Training as appropriate

·  Identify best practice and relevant learning from the experience gained by community sustainable development practitioners and evaluation of the Programme.

·  Signposting and developing strategic relationships with other agencies who work in partnership to support communities and action on climate change.

·  Deliver the Renew Wales strategic plan for the next 2 years.

Additional activities:

·  Identify and secure additional investment opportunities for community action on climate change projects

·  Identify and assess the feasibility of a range of other potential opportunities for DTA Wales and its partners to assist with the growing climate change, sustainable development and community energy sector

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

·  Degree level or equivalent qualification

·  A good awareness of the third sector, community development, community enterprise and regeneration.

·  Excellent customer care and communication skills.

·  A strong track record of successful project management

·  Excellent programme management skills – the ability to deliver complex projects on time, to specification, and within budget.

·  Experience of policy development and building strategic relationships and partnerships across and within sectors

·  Experience of successfully delivering business and strategic plans

·  Experience of developing new initiatives and enterprises

·  Experience of fundraising and successful grant applications

·  A creative problem solver with a high degree of motivation and drive.

·  Experience of managing sub-contractors.

·  High degree of IT literacy

·  High standard of finance and budget management and reporting

·  A willingness to travel around Wales in the course of work.

·  Able to work on occasions evenings, weekends and to stay away from home overnight, with prior notice, on Renew Wales business.

·  A driving licence and use of an appropriate vehicle, available and insured for business use.

Desirable:

·  A high degree of knowledge of and commitment to Global and Local Climate Change Action

·  Direct experience of the Development Trusts Association’s work or works of social enterprises

·  Ability to communicate in the medium of Welsh

·  Excellent marketing and communication skills.

·  Knowledge of community action on climate change.

Main Terms and Conditions:

·  35 hours per week as required (with flexible working hours, in agreement with the Head of Enterprise, including some essential evenings and weekends when deadlines or conference and events determine this). No paid overtime, but time off in lieu for weekend or evening work by arrangement in advance.

·  Salary circa £33,000 per annum (depending on qualifications and experience) plus 4% contributory pension to personal Pension, after successful completion of a six month employment period.

·  25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (and 3 Days between Christmas and New Year holiday period).

·  Reimbursement of essential car journeys (not including travel to work) as agreed by the Director and relating to DTA Wales business and this post in your own vehicle will be paid at DTA Wales rates and for second class rail or other travel by prior agreement.

·  Based mainly at the offices in Cardiff Bay and working across Wales, when required, for DTA Wales and Renew Wales Sustainable Steps Programme meetings, events and seminars.

·  This Post is funded by the Sustainable Steps Programme of the Big Fund in Wales for two years and any extension of this Post beyond that time is subject to funding.