Head of North East Operations (NCS)

Candidate Information Pack

ContentsWelcome from the Director of OperationsAbout V•InspiredJob SpecificationPerson SpecificationHow to apply

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

WelcomeThank you for your interest in applying for the Head of North East Operations (NCS) role at V•Inspired.

V•inspired is the UK’s leading volunteering charity for 11 – 30 year olds. Established by government in 2006 we have supported over 1.25 million young people to volunteer and participate in social action, so that they can make their mark on causes they care about whilst also learning new skills that help them to fulfil their potential.

We are passionate about the power of volunteering and social action, and as we enter our second decade we want to support even more young people to take up volunteering and social action opportunities through our digital platform.

V•Inspired is working in partnership with the National Youth Agency to deliver the National Citizen Service (NCS) contract across the North East region. NCS is a life changing experience for 16 and 17 year olds in England. It brings together teams of young people to tackle outdoor challenges on a residential week away from home, work with local businesses and social leaders to learn new skills and discover more about their area, and to develop and deliver community based volunteering projects that matter to them

We are currently looking to recruit a Head of North East Operations, who has the energy and commitment to support the Director of Operations (national) and lead the team to ensure the continued successful delivery of the programme in the North East.

With a strong senior leadership team behind you, you will oversee contract performance, lead the development and implementation of systems and processes to support effectively delivery of the programme and provide a strong day to day leadership presence for the team. In addition you will use your skills and networks to further develop strategic relationships in the North East which support the ongoing development of V•Inspired locally.

We are looking for a highly motivated, dynamic and enthusiastic team player with keen strategic, financial and commercial acumen. The successful candidate will be experienced in Payment by Results (PbR) contract delivery, project and people management and be able to demonstrate highly developed negotiation, influencing and presentation skills.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer 28 days’ a year annual leave (plus public holidays), stakeholder pension scheme, volunteering leave and various other employee benefits.We look forward to connecting with you soon.

I hope this pack will be useful in helping you to decide if you have the passion and skills for this exciting role, and if so I look forward to hearing from you.

Maxine Tennet, Director of Operations

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

About V•Inspired We are experts in social action and volunteering; our digital platform provides young people with opportunities to gain new experiences and skills for life by taking action on causes they care about. And our programmes enable young people to launch and run their own social action projects and get involved with volunteering for causes they care about, to develop their personal capital and grow their networks.V•Inspired launched in 2006 and in the last decade we have made big changes in the way that young people view volunteering and the way that charities value young volunteers. You will be joining us at an exciting period in our journey, as we explore fresh ways to inspire young people and seek new, sustainable funding streams.

Our work gives young people valuable skills for life – it boosts their confidence, helps them explore their interests and abilities, and connects them with their communities.

Structure and Governance

To achieve our aims we rely on the talents of our creative and talented staff team and a host of committed volunteers. We are guided in our strategy by our board of trustees which encompasses a rich blend of talents from business and the voluntary and community sectors.

Led by young people

We run a diverse range of programmes, designed to inspire, motivate and support young people to do good things for their communities - whatever their interests and circumstances.

Whether it is by giving their time with local charities, using their creativity to set up their own social action projects, or joining mass national campaigns, we help young people tackle the issues they care about.

In the past year, almost 500,000 young people have come to our site, interested in finding out more about volunteering, with over 33,000 using our online volunteering marketplace to find volunteering opportunities with over 1,500 charities. A further 10,000 young people have done great things for great causes through our programmes.

Our StrategyDownload our strategy here.

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

About NYAThe National Youth Agency is the leading expert on youth work. Skilled youth workers build relationships that support young people to explore their personal, social and educational development. Our mission is to unlock young people’s potential by providing high quality support and opportunities, securing better outcomes for their future. We aspire to take young people’s perspectives in all we do and our work is youth –focused from its very core. Our programmes are developed in partnership with our youth advisory networks, and our young associates deliver training and evaluation.We have an extensive network of 238 partners across the UK that work with us to provide maximum reach across communities and deliver highly impactful projects.Our work falls into three categories:Championing youth work in all its many forms –incubating new approaches, celebrating its many thousands of practitioners.Professionalising youth work – training youth workers, setting occupational standards.Enabling youth work –making it happen through our networks of front line youth work providers.

www.nya.org.uk

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

Job title: Head of North East Operations (NCS)

Salary: £42,000 - £50,000 per annum

Accountable to: Director of Operations

Accountable for: The effective and efficient delivery of our National Citizen Service contract within the North East of England

Location: V•Inspired’s regional office, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle

Hours: 37 hrs per week

Term: An initial 1-year fixed term contract (with option to extend subject to funding)

Job Summary: The successful candidate will take day-to-day responsibility for the successful delivery of NCS including performance management, staff and financial management, and will support the Director of Operations in building strategic relationships and networks across the North East

Specific Duties:

Contract Delivery Actively manage overall contract performance in order to maximise

profitability Ensure the contract is delivered to a high standard and complies with

contractual requirements Lead the development and implementation of systems and processes to

ensure effective real time monitoring of contract performance Identifying potential underperformance or areas for improvement in both

quantitative and qualitative terms Responsibility for the accuracy and interpretation of data to inform

prioritisation, decision making and contract reporting Support the effective management of our supply chain to ensure

subcontractors deliver in line with requirements and maximise performance

Manage the Risk Register, taking action to prioritise, report and mitigate risks as appropriate

Provide accurate, robust and realistic performance reports to partnership Identify opportunities to engage with external stakeholders in order to

improve contract performance

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

Support the health & safety and safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the safe delivery of the NCS programme

Financial Management Lead the delivery of effective financial performance and accurate

performance forecasting in support of accurate financial planning Budget management responsibility for contract delivery based on sound

processes and controls Drive VFM across the organisation to maximise contract profitability Support any procurement or commercial negotiations including the

negotiation of key contracts

Leadership Line manage the Head of Quality and Compliance, and the Head of

Performance, to ensure that volume targets are achieved, and that delivery at all stages remains exceptionally high quality, and compliant, in line with contract requirements

Matrix management of a multi-disciplinary team, ensuring a coordinated approach across all areas of contract delivery

Provide strong day to day leadership across the team, acting as a clear role model for collaborative and partnership working across all parts of the organisation

Other Deputise for the Director of Operations as and when required Contribute to the continued development of V•Inspired in the NE Undertake any other duties as required and commensurate with the level

of this post

ConfidentialityThe post holder will have access to confidential information and is expected to ensure thatthe highest level of confidentiality is maintained at all times, complying with both organisational policies and the Data Protection Act 1998.

SafeguardingThe postholder will be required to have knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding Children and working with vulnerable adults. You will be required to consent to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the service.

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

Requirement Essential DesiredEducation Degree in relevant discipline or relevant

experience Level 5 Management Qualification

Experience Significant experience of directly managing contracts

Significant staff management and leadership experience

Use of project management tools and techniques Management of contracts with a value over £5m Financial planning and budget management

Experience of managing and delivering projects with young people

Experience of managing Payment by Results contracts

Financial profiling of contract income based on variable forecasts and scenarios

Skills Planning, organisational and analytical skills Project management Staff development Facilitation and presentation Innovation and problem solving Verbal and written communication Relationship management and influencing Ability to think strategically

Business development

Knowledge & Understanding

Good working knowledge of applying safeguarding in practice

Good understanding of VCS and youth sectors Good working knowledge of MS Office systems

Working knowledge of audit process and procedures

Use of CRM system, preferably Salesforce

Personal attributes

Able to deal confidently with a range of diverse internal and external stakeholder

Able to work on own initiative Ability to build and maintain positive working

relationships Able to contribute productively to a lead a multi-

disciplinary team Resilience and ability to lead others through

change and ambiguity

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017

Summary of terms

Hours:                        37 hours per week

Holiday:                     28 days annual leave plus public holidays

Pension:                    V•Inspired operates a Stakeholder pension scheme, into which it pays a contribution equivalent to 3% of basic salary

Other benefits:       Interest free travel loanEnhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption PayVolunteering leaveReimbursement of Professional Membership fee Childcare VouchersMedicash Healthcare CoverCritical Illness Cover

How to apply For an informal discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact

lynn.aplin@ncsnortheast.co.uk or linda.simpkin@ncsnortheast.co.uk to arrange an informal telephone discussion

Make an application via CV and cover letter summarising your experience, skills, knowledge and understanding, linking to the requirements of this job, as set out in the person specification, by 16th

October 2017 Complete the Equal Opportunities Recruitment Monitoring form

(download separately)

Your CV and cover letter should be returned to HR, NCS North East, Cobalt 3.1 Business Centre, Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE27 0QJ or by email to: jobs@ncsnortheast.co.uk Please note we reserve the right to close vacancies early if sufficient applications are received before the closing date.

Interviews are expected to be held at our offices in Newcastle, NE27 0QJ on 30th October 2017

As a charity we endeavour to keep our costs to a minimum and therefore will only contact candidates selected for interview. If you have not heard from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion, you have not been successful.

AccessibilityPlease let us know if you have any special requirements which we might need to consider in relation to the selection process. Any requests will be taken into account and do not affect your equal opportunity in the selection process.

V•Inspired Head of North East Operations (NCS), candidate information pack. September 2017