Head of Operations
Role Profile
Hours: 5 hours per week worked flexibly, 38 weeks during term time, initial 1 year contract
Pay: £20 per hour
Statutory holiday entitlement: 23 hours per annum
Location: home based plus travel within Hertfordshire for meetings or service delivery as required.
Start date: From January 2020
DS Achieve’s Mission
Empowering Families, Fulfilling Potential
DS Achieve’s Vision
We believe that by empowering families, we will enable every child with Down Syndrome to be given the opportunity to achieve their potential in every aspect of their life.
About DS Achieve
DS Achieve is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation formed by parents of children with Down Syndrome. We empower the families of children and young people with Down Syndrome to enable them to fulfil their potential, whatever that may be – and it will be different for every child or young person. Geographically, we are focused on families in and around Hertfordshire. The DS Achieve team currently consists of five Trustees, two employees and a number of volunteers. There are currently three main services in place:
Little Achievers – a weekly, term time, early intervention and play group for children aged 5 and under.
Young Achievers – a monthly social development group for school-aged children.
Training – for parents, carers and professionals.
Job summary
The Board of Trustees is seeking to appoint a Head of Operations who will be responsible for implementing the management and administration of the organisation following the strategic direction developed by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees will expect the Head of Operations to contribute their views and reflect the needs of the service users to assist the Trustees with setting the charity’s strategy.
Responsibilities:
CHARITY SERVICES
To deliver charity services to a high quality, through effective planning and organisation and excellent customer focus.
To deliver efficient and effective management of the charity services, including leading and implementing the day-to-day requirements.
People management – to lead and line manage employees and coordinate volunteers, ensuring they are supported in their roles and their development.
FINANCE
Working with the Treasurer (and other Trustees where appropriate) to deliver a sustainable financial strategy based on effective fundraising sources. The financial strategy must ensure that the charity has sufficient resources to deliver its services and maintain adequate levels of financial reserves.
To work collaboratively with the Treasurer and the Trustees to deliver and review budgets, accounts, and the financial performance of DS Achieve. To have responsibility for delivering the operations of DS Achieve within the budget set by the Trustees.
RAISING PROFILE
To build and grow the profile of DS Achieve by further developing and maintaining positive relationships with the DS community, (social) media, other local relevant charities and business, and funding organisations.
To be the key ambassador for DS Achieve.
COMPLIANCE
To comply with all regulatory and legal requirements for DS Achieve, ensuring a culture of good practice and robust governance. To comply with all regulatory and legal requirements for DS Achieve thereby contributing to a culture of good practice and robust governance.
Requirements:
Experience of working at a strategic level, and leading a team to achieve strategic aims and objectives.
Track record of high performance.
The ability to get on well with people and a strong desire to work with and manage people. Previous people management experience desirable.
Either experience of or a desire to work with disabled children and their families.
Strong numeracy and literacy skills. Experience of budgetary processes is desirable but not essential.
Able to work both with high-level information and to get involved in detail
Enhanced DBS check.
Safeguarding trained at minimum level 1 (or willing to undertake training at level 1).
Excellent administrative, IT (MS Word, Excel or Google Docs/Sheets) and organisational skills.
Excellent soft skills - friendly and welcoming, good listener, clear communicator, good facilitator, happy to ‘pitch in’, able to deal with incidents should any occur e.g. first aid
Desirable, but not essential:
First Aid trained
Experience of working with children with Down Syndrome and their families
Please note that successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Right to Work in the UK and reference checks prior to appointment.
If you think you may be suitable for this role and would like to find out more, please contact Gillian Warwick-Thompson, Chair of Trustees on 07826 086511.
To apply, please email your CV to us at info@dsachieve.org.
Deadline: 17th January 2020
Interviews: Week beginning 27th January 2020