Development and Membership Director

Development and Membership Director

Candidate Job Pack

Thank you for your interest in the post of Development and Membership Director at PTA UK. In this Candidate Job Pack, you will find the following documents:

•Letter to applicants from our Acting Chief Executive

•PTA UK information

•Job description, person specification and terms and conditions of employment

•Dignity at Work statement

•Equal opportunities monitoring form.

The job description describes the main responsibilities of the post; the person specification relates directly to the job description and is a list of the skills and experience that we consider necessary for the post. Please read these documents carefully. The applicants who fit the person specification most closely will be shortlisted for interview so please make sure you tell us everything relevant to your application in your CV and covering letter.

PTA UK is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and we ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and equally. We should be grateful if you would complete the enclosed monitoring form to help us check that we are carrying out our policy of equal opportunities for all people. The information will be kept confidential and will be separated from your application upon receipt. It will have no bearing on your application.

PTA UK is committed to meeting the needs of applicants with disabilities and our Head Office is fully accessible to all.

How to apply and recruitment timetable

If you would like to apply, please provide an up to date CV together with a covering letter to Jocelyn Ridleyof JMR Consultants at by Friday 10 November 2017.

The important dates for you to note in the recruitment timetable are highlighted below for your diary. If you have concerns about any of them, please let Jocelyn know as soon as possible:

Closing date for applicationsFriday 10 November

Review of applicationsw/c 13 November

First interviews with JMRConsultantsw/c 13 & 21 November

Informal Meeting with Chair, Acting CEO, staff, etc w/c 4 December

Final interviewsw/c 11 December

If you have any questions about the process or wish to discuss your suitability, please don’t hesitate to contact Jocelyn by phone on 07976 395688 / 01225 332580 or her colleague Ann Gill on 07787 512129 / 01428 652857.

May we take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in PTA UK and for your time in considering applying to work with us.

October 2017

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in the position of Development and Membership Director at PTA UK.

This is a particularly exciting time to join us and we are looking for an exceptional individual who can bring proven professional credentials as well as the energy and creativity necessary to lead a highly experienced and committed team through the biggest change in the charity’s 61 year history.

Based at our headquarters in Tonbridge, Kent, PTA UK is the leading membership body for parent teacher associations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We are also a leading champion for all the ways parents can participate in education so that every child can thrive and reach their potential. Around 50 per cent of all schools has a PTA in our membership and we have a turnover of £1.3m.

We are refreshing our brand in 2018 to better achieve our mission to see more parents being involved and engaged in more ways and in more schools. We are ambitious to grow our reach, influence, profile, income and membership so that we can achieve this goal.

We are looking for a director who can make these ambitions a reality.

As a director at PTA UK, you need to be able to work collaboratively as part of my Executive Team and encourage every team member to strive for professional excellence, focus on achieving our strategy and make a positive impact every day. You will bring a track record of achievement and will be aligned with our core values; sharing our passion to see parents playing the fullest role possible in our children’s education and school life. This is a new role which you can shape and develop.

I hope our job pack inspires you to pursue your application. If you want to know more about the role please contact JMR Consultants and talk to either Jocelyn Ridley or Ann Gill.

I very much look forward to meeting you.

Michelle Doyle Wildman

Acting Chief Executive

PTA UK Information

We are the largest membership body for Parent Associations for all types of schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We want to make sure that every PTA reaches its potential and that every school has access to an effective PTA. We also want more parents participating in education, in more schools and in more ways, so that all children benefit.

We are proud to champion parents and to increase their voice in education. We also provide parents with information and resources on how they can get involved in school life and support their child’s learning.

Our core values are:

• Be expert in all we do
• To act with integrity
• To support parents, PTAs and schools
• To be innovative, inspiring, influential and impactful.

You will be joining a team of 25 Head Office based staff (in Tonbridge) and two field-based staff, led by PTA UK's Acting Chief Executive, Michelle Doyle Wildman. Michelle’s substantive post is as the Charity’s Policy and Communications Director. Our Chief Executive, Emma Williams is currently on long term sick leave but is expected to return to work in Spring 2018. Please see our senior management organisational structure below:

Further information can be found in our Impact Report 2016 and our Strategy 2016-18 document.

Job Description

Job Title:Development and Membership Director

Reports to:Chief Executive

Direct Reports:Membership Services Manager, Commercial Partnerships Manager, Schools Programme Manager

Responsible for:Organisational growth & income diversification; commercial partnerships: external (grant) funding & project delivery; membership & customer services; and training services

Purpose and scope of the role

Part of the Executive Team, the Development and Membership Director will drive our products and offerings for PTAs, schools, parent councils etc to maximise reach, income and parental participation in education and school life.

The Development and Membership Director will provide strong leadership and a commercially-focussed approach to maintaining and growing our membership in a developing market place. Responsible to the Chief Executive for all aspects of Membership, grant funded projects and commercial partnerships, the post holder is also expected to lead a team that will generate additional business and meet income and performance targets in line with the organisation’s strategic objectives and in collaboration with the Charity’s Trustees.

Key duties and responsibilities:

LEADERSHIP

You will have proven leadership skills in order to:

• Lead on the design, development and implementation of strategies to deliver agreed income, expenditure and communications targets year on year, in line with our strategy
• Provide leadership and line management to all direct reports, offering direction, support, and guidance while building an effective and motivated team
• Present to the Trustees regular and appropriate progress reports towards the achievement of agreed targets
• Contribute to the strategic planning process, working with the Executive Team and the Senior Management Team
• Ensure suitable risk management systems are in place for all activities, with potential risks and assumptions identified and analysed
• Deputise for the Chief Executive occasionally in her absence.

ORGANISATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME DIVERSIFICATION

PTA UK aims to grow from a £1.3 million turnover organisation to at least £2 million by the end of 2020. This will require the Director to have an excellent overview of all the current and potential income

generating areas of the organisation as well as an understanding of the education and community development sectors and how the organisation needs to be positioned to enable it to capitalise on them.

You will be required to:

• Develop and deliver a strategy to grow the overall income of the organisation beyond membership income
• Support the Commercial Partnerships team to develop a wide range of commercial opportunitiesto maximise value, reach, profile, impact and income
• Oversee the development of and successfully execute new income generating areas such as grant/external funded projects. This will include ensuring that all possible fundraising areas are considered and regularly reviewed to maximise revenue. The post holder will ensure a high level of project management skills and understanding of grant application procedures are in place together with timely and accurate review processes
• Work with the Marketing and Communications team to develop sponsorship relationships in line with our commercial objectives
• Engage effectively with consumer brands, specialist PTA or educational suppliers, social enterprises and other charities who operate across the UK to explore advertising, sponsorship and in-kind opportunities.

MEMBERSHIP & CUSTOMER SERVICES

You will ensure we maintain our position as the leading membership body and go to organisation for PTAs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and explore the potential to expand into Scotland.

You will be required to:

• Work collaboratively with other teams (especially Marketing and Communications) to develop and diversify our services and membership offering and benefits so that our membership and reach grows among PTAs, other parent groups and with schools - in terms of numbers and income
• Provide expert support and guidance to our members that meets their needs and is delivered in a cost-effective and professional manner particularly via our member support team
• Oversee robust, authoritative member support on governance, fundraising and community engagement and maintain and refresh a suite of member benefits which make membership attractive
• Be responsible for the insurance cover offered to Member Associations ensuring the most cost effective, comprehensive cover in line with the needs of PTA UK’s members.

SCHOOL, PTA AND PARENT TRAINING

You will support team members in developing and delivering programmes of parental engagement and parent council training for head teachers, governors, staff, PTAs and parents that are profitable and help create a culture of parent-friendliness in our schools.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To keep abreast of relevant educational policy and legislation affecting PTAs
• To be flexible within the broad remit of the post and undertake other duties as reasonably requested
• To attend and participate in PTA UK’s performance, development and training programmes
• To abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices
• To be responsible for the health, safety, welfare of self, other members of staff and visitors
• To represent the Chief Executive at meetings, conferences and events as directed by the Chief Executive and from time to time to deputise for other members of the Executive Team.

This job description may be amended from time to time and does not form part of the Employment contract.

Person Specification

You will be expected to demonstrate the following:

• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to be strategic and forensic when appropriate (financial management, monitoring and reporting, programme management and business planning)
• Extensive experience in the successful development and implementation of new services and products
• Proven track record in devising and delivering commercial/partnership projects
• Experience of working in partnership with other stakeholders
• Business growth and strategic planning
• Comfortable managing a budget and able to forecast effectively
• External (grant) funding bids and consequent project delivery
• Managing successful third party contracts and relationships
• Strong team leadership undertaken at a senior level
• Membership/customer services

• Worked at executive board level
• Knowledge of charity law and fundraising best practice
• Bid writing
• Experience of using CRM/Stakeholder management systems
• PTA or other volunteering involvement

• Creative and entrepreneurial approach, and willingness to innovate and take measured risks
• Leadership and vision in managing staff and programmes
• Proven programme and project management expertise
• Commercial acumen; driven by financial goals
• Able to devise and implement effective operational plans
• Able to work on own initiative, prioritise work and handle pressure
• Able to inspire, challenge and debate persuasively
• Able to take day to day decisions on the running of the organisation
• Goal-driven and motivated
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to operate and excel in a fast-paced and progressive environment

• Track record of driving positive change in complex organisations
• Ability to analyse data and develop information into reports for wider dissemination or presentation

• Educated to degree level of equivalent

• Commitment to own continued professional development and member of appropriate (chartered) professional organisation

• Able and prepared to work unsociable hours

Outline Conditions of Service

Job Title:Development and Membership Director

Hours:35 hours per week

Reports to:Chief Executive

Responsible for:Organisational growth & income diversification; commercial partnerships: external (grant) funding & project delivery; Membership & customer services; and Training services

Salary range:circa £50,000 depending on experience

Hours

Working hours are 35 hours per week (9:00 – 17:00) with one hour unpaid lunch break per day.

Holiday entitlement

Annual holiday entitlement is 25 working days, plus statutory public holidays.

References

An offer will be made but a contract will only be issued subject to two satisfactory and current references being secured.

Notice

This appointment is subject to three months’ notice of termination of employment by either side, after successful completion of the probation period.

Probation

Appointment is subject to the successful completion of a six-month probationary period during which the following conditions apply:

• two weeks’ notice of termination of employment by either side

Pension Provision

PTA UK operates a Stakeholder Pension Scheme which you are eligible to join when you commence employment. After three months in post you are entitled to receive an employer’s contribution of 7.5% of your gross salary. Should the Pensions Act 2008 require contributions in excess of this amount PTA UK shall be required to deduct any additional amounts from your salary as employee contributions.

Group Income Protection Insurance

PTA UK operates a Group Income Protection Insurance policy for employees up to the age of 65 or state pension age if later, and you will be added to this scheme after one year’s continuous service. Subject to a successful claim and meeting the requirements of the sickness absence policy, the Group Income Protection scheme provides a continuance of salary should you be absent due to sickness or injury. Full details of the policy will be made available when you join.

Death in Service Benefit

PTA UK operates a Group Death in Service policy, and you will be added to this scheme after threemonths of service. This policy provides for a lump sum benefit of four times your basic salary should you die whilst in employment.

Dignity at Work

PTA UK is committed to valuing diversity and seeks to provide staff with the opportunity for career and personal development on the basis of ability, qualifications and suitability for the work as well as their potential to be developed into the job.

We strongly believe that the working environment should be supportive of the dignity and respect of individuals. If a complaint of harassment is brought to our attention, it will be investigated promptly and appropriate action will be taken.

In line with the Sex Discrimination, Race Relations and Disability Discrimination Acts we will not tolerate direct or indirect discrimination against any person on grounds of age, disability, gender, marriage / civil partnership, pregnancy / maternity, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment or sexual orientation whether in the field of recruitment, employment terms & conditions, career progression, training, transfer or dismissal. This applies to job applicants, employees, self-employed people and contract workers alike.

Our Dignity at Work Policy is applied throughout our Recruitment procedures as follows:

•Job descriptions and person specifications are regularly reviewed to ensure that they accurately reflect the responsibilities of the post and contain no indirect discrimination

•The person specification provides the basis for the objective criteria for selection of candidates for short listing and appointment

•Applicants receive a job description, person specification, and an equal opportunities form for details of sex, disability and race that will be used for monitoring purposes only

•Interview panels will be kept to a minimum size and panel members will be briefed on the application of the policy and the inadmissibility of discriminatory questions

•Candidates selected for interview will be asked the comparable questions. Candidates required to sit recruitment tests will be set the same tests.

Senior Management fully supports this policy and everyone associated with the organisation should work to the same aims and hold the same values. We will not tolerate acts that breach this policy and all such breaches or alleged breaches will be taken seriously, be fully investigated and may be subject to disciplinary action where appropriate.

Grievances

Anyone who believes that there has been any breach of the Dignity at Work policy or has a grievance in respect of any act of sexual or racial harassment or any other discrimination should raise the grievance in accordance with PTA UK’s Grievance Procedure. Anyone who doesn’t feel able to do this should raise it with the Chief Executive or if that is inappropriate, the Chair.

Discipline

An employee who harasses or discriminates against any other employee or recruitment candidate on grounds of race, ethnic or national origins, disability, marital status, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age or religious beliefs will be dealt with under PTA UK’s Disciplinary Procedure. Such harassment or discrimination will normally be regarded as gross misconduct so that, on completion of the investigation and the relevant stage of the Disciplinary Procedure, the employee will be summarily dismissed.