Ministry of Stories: General Manager

The Ministry of Stories is here to inspire a nation of young storytellers. Hidden away at the back of Hoxton Street Monster Supplies (where else would you expect it?) is a new home for writing in East London that offers young people free workshops and one-to-one mentoring. These are provided by volunteers: local writers, artists and teachers, all giving their time, skills and talent for free. As General Manager, we want you to keep our volunteers at the heart of what we do, building robust systems for managing and supporting them, as well as managing our other resources: finances, operations and the building itself.

The key aim for this role is to establish rigorous and smooth-running operational management at this ambitious new charity. Working closely with the Co-Directors and a team of regular volunteers and interns, you will manage volunteers across all areas of the organisation, ensuring they get the most from the experience and the MoS benefits from their involvement. You will drive forward operational effectiveness, develop systems for Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, build good relationships with suppliers and contractors and provide efficient and effective day to day management of our resources.

You will already have significant experience of arts, young people’s or education management. Highly organised with excellent interpersonal and communications skills you will also have experience in finance, building and people management as well as a strategic understanding of and commitment to volunteering. An interest in writingand learning and enthusiasm for our programme and principles are also essential.

Main responsibilities

  1. Working with the Co-Directors and interns, to recruit, support and coordinate an enthusiastic and committed body of administrative, shop and writing mentor volunteers.
  2. To train and manage a team of administrative volunteers to support coreorganisational functions.
  3. To maintain and update MoS’s volunteer databases and website as part of effective and communicative volunteer management.
  4. To manage the Ministry of Stories/Hoxton Street Monster Supplies building to ensure a safe, sustainable and well-maintained environment for children and young people, volunteers and staff.
  5. To issue and monitor contracts of employment and service contracts with suppliers.
  6. To manage MoS equipment, materials and resources to ensure our activities and processes are of the highest quality, fit for purpose, efficient and cost effective.
  7. To manage Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, including stock control and purchase, sales – both in-shop and online; supplier relationships and management of the Retail Internship; ensuring that HSMS delivers to its financial targets and provides a welcoming experience for both children and adults.
  8. To ensure the smooth financial management of MoS and Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, including banking and invoicing, payroll and basic accounts.
  9. To commit to the principles of the Ministry of Storiesand champion our work with children and young people
  10. To support the co-Directors as and when required in all aspects of Ministry of Stories business and administrative activities
  11. All other reasonable duties, as may be requested from time to time, by the co-Directors

Person Specification

You will be an experienced and motivated individual, with significant experience of arts, young people’s or education management. Highly organised with excellent interpersonal and communications skills you will also have experience in finance, building and people management as well as a strategic understanding of and commitment to volunteering. An interest in writing and learning and enthusiasm for our programme and principles are also essential.Please note that this post will require CRB clearance.

Essential

  • A minimum of 3 years management experience for an arts, young people’s or education organisation.
  • Highly organised, with experience managing databases and leading and managing teams of people – separate out, database and people management are two different skill sets and people management is really key here.
  • Experience of financial and budget management, with a proven record of developing and maintaining smooth running systems
  • Experience of venue management
  • Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal skills with proven ability to build strong working relationships internally and externally
  • A strategic understanding of and commitment to volunteering, with the ability to develop streamlined and thorough practices to enhance the organisation’s work
  • Ability to prioritise and manage own workload, and work effectively under pressure.
  • Enthusiasm for the Ministry of Stories and empathy with its values and aims

Desirable

  • Experience of working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and with a diverse range of needs
  • Experience of current child safeguarding and health and safety best practice
  • Experience of delivering training and facilitating groups
  • Experience of managing volunteers
  • Experience of retail management, including stock control, supplier relationships and order fulfilment.

Terms and Conditions:

Title of Post: General Manager

Reports to: Co-Directors

Hours: 40 hours per week, including some evening and weekend work.

Salary: £25 000 per annum

Contract: 12 month fixed term in the first instance

Ministry of Stories is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Ministry of Stories is a registered Charity No. 1138553.

Deadline for applications: 12 noon, Monday 3October