Chief Executive

Age UK Hertfordshire is looking to recruit a Chief Executive to lead the organisation on the next stage of its five year strategy. You would be joining Age UK Hertfordshire (AUKH) at an exciting time as the organisation has recently undertaken a Sustainable Transformation Programme (STP), secured a new county-wide community services contract, and is now ready to expand its income generating activities and embed new ways of working throughout our service portfolio:

The successful candidate will have proven experience of working as an executive manager at both strategic and operational levels. The focus of this role is to provide leadership, and organisational growth and sustainability. It would be suited to someone who has experience of networking, acting as an ambassador for a large organisation, and sound commercial acumen.

You will have outstanding leadership skills, with a passion for empowering others and a strong track record of working in partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders, including service users, staff, volunteers, funders, politicians, and local businesses. You will have a deep understanding of the challenges facing charitable organisations, and be committed to the development of a sustainable funding and service portfolio. Quality, innovation and new ways of working will be at the heart of what you aim to achieve.

At AUKH we are a team of highly motivated staff and volunteers with enthusiasm for supporting older people through our services; we recruit individuals who work with honesty, integrity, initiative and creativity to support our mission. The successful candidate for this role will be an inspiration to colleagues, tenacious, driven and highly motivated. You will build confidence among others, and be experienced in leading change within a complex organisational and external environment. You will also have a strong empathy for older people, their families and carers. Hungry for success and with a committed motivation to get things done you will always place the needs of service users at the centre of everything you do.

Age UK Hertfordshire staff and volunteers agree to work within our following organisational behaviours.

  • Strives for Excellence – works towards the highest possible quality in everything that they do
  • Works in Partnership- works with individuals and other organisations and ensures communication and collaboration
  • Respectful Towards Others – works together to create an environment in which people treat each other with respect
  • Innovative and Willing to Learn – embraces learning and innovation to reflect change and to meet the challenges of the future
  • Inclusive and Open- welcomes input from all, valuing openness and having a non-judgmental approach
  • Demonstrates Integrity – is honest, transparent and accountable in all dealings both internally and externally
  • Supports Colleagues – works flexibly and cooperatively to support and develop everyone involved in our charity. Promotes teamwork and assists colleagues and the organisation to achieve its goals
  • Champions the Cause – actively supports the charity, by raising awareness, promoting services and contributing towards the aims and objectives of Age UK Hertfordshire

Age UK Hertfordshire

(Registered Charity No. 1116662)

Job Description

Job Title / Position / Chief Executive Officer – Age UK Hertfordshire (AUKH)
Department / Senior Management Team
Location / Head Office, Welwyn Garden City
Hours / Full-time
Reports to / Age UK Hertfordshire’s Chair/Co-Chairs and the Board of Trustees
Direct reports / Director of Corporate Services
Director of Operations
Benefits/ entitlements / Contributory Pension Scheme and Health Care Cash Plan after successful completion of six month probationary period

AUKH’s mission is to “promote the well-being of all older people, and to help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience”. To achieve this mission we need to involve older people directly in defining needs, determining priorities and exerting control over the decisions which affect their lives; and to promote and provide high-quality services that address these needs.

The CEO, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, is responsible for the success of Age UK Hertfordshire (AUKH), an independent charitable organisation, and brand partner of Age UK. Together, the Board and CEO ensure the relevance of AUKH to older people across Hertfordshire, in accordance with the organisation’s values, and the achievement of its mission. The Board and CEO are also jointly accountable to key stakeholders, particularly its strategic partners, including Hertfordshire County Council, Clinical Commissioning Groups and the National Lottery.

The Board delegates to the CEO responsibility for management and day to day operations of the organisation; and s/he has the authority to carry out these responsibilities in accordance with the direction, policies and strategies established by the Board. The CEO has overall responsibility for implementing the organisation’s strategic plan, for delivering on the agreed budget and resource plans, and for ensuring a high standard of service delivery.

The CEO provides strategic, operational, and inspirational leadership for AUKH, and provides information, advice and support to the Board on all aspects of its governance function.Senior management provide out of hours on-call support (one month in every three).

Overview

The role holder will champion the cause of older people in Hertfordshire, using a multi-media approach, to increase public awareness of the needs of older people, and of the work of AUKH, and supporting campaigns on key issues affecting older people, including their rights, interests and social entitlements.

You will establish and maintain excellent relations and effective partnerships with key stakeholders, including strategic partners, statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and community groups. The CEO will also represent AUKH on the following committees including (but not limited to):

  • the Hertfordshire CEO Network,
  • Hertfordshire County Council Co-production Board,
  • Hertfordshire Dementia Strategy Steering Group,
  • Hertfordshire Community Resilience Group,
  • East of England Age UK Regional Meeting and the National Services for Older People committee.

Service Delivery is a critical part of our organisation, ensuring that AUKH provides high quality services that address the needs of the older people of Hertfordshire; and that meet government and sector standards. You will promote relevant research to support the adoption of new and innovative service delivery models and ways of working, ensuring that AUKH achieves continuous business and service improvements for the benefit of older people.

You will support the Board to develop annual Business Plans, and develop related policies, strategies, action plans and budgets, risk assessments and monitoring and evaluation systems.

Helping the Board to fulfil its governance role is key, through providing timely information, advice and support. Your responsibility is for partnership governance and cross-organisational/sector working. Managing the operations of the organisation will come naturally to you and you will maintain all necessary quality standards, and, in particular, meet the standards that ensure AUKH remains a member of the Age UK federation.

You will ensure that the organisation complies fully with government legislation, and with good practice. This includes compliance with charity and company law, and with financial standards, health and safety, employment, and equal opportunities legislation.

Financial viability is essential and requirements ensure it is maintained at all times, to enable AUKH to implement its business and operational plans, and to fulfil its responsibilities. This includes overseeing all fiscal activities, identifying new sources of income, and negotiating funding agreements and contracts. You will ensure that programmes and services are delivered in a cost-effective manner, taking into account quality, economy and value for money, and that there are effective internal and external audit procedures in place.

People are key to our organisation and therefore you will ensure that appropriate human resources are recruited, developed, retained, managed and rewarded, in order to develop and maintain a positive, enabling and productive organisation culture.

What we are looking for

  • Considerable high level management experience and leadership in both strategic and operational roles, ideally in the charity sector with the ability to inspire and empower senior managers and staff to maintain a culture of high performance (Essential)
  • Proven financial management and knowledge of income generation (Essential)
  • Experience of dealing successfully with a Board of Trustees or similar body; and with stakeholders such as local politicians and officials (Essential)
  • A track record in initiating and sustaining strategic and operational partnerships (Essential)
  • A good level of higher education, ideally with a post-graduate qualification; and an excellent command of written and spoken English (Essential)
  • Experience and qualifications in management, business, finance, human resources or another relevant field (Essential)
  • Membership of relevant associations / bodies (Desirable)

Skills and Abilities

  • Excellent analytical, planning, reporting and organisation development skills, together with a wide range of management styles for different situations (Essential)
  • Ability to quickly win the trust and confidence of the senior management team and trustees; and AUKH’s clients, staff and volunteers (Essential)
  • Sound political and business acumen, and awareness of changing policy and legal environments (Essential)
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills both written and verbal; highly articulate and confident with groups and individuals (Essential)
  • Comfortable in acting as the public face and voice of AUKH (Essential)
  • Proven ability to deal appropriately with confidential and sensitive issues relating to clients, staff, volunteers and partners (Essential)
  • Understanding of, and empathy with, older people and the issues facing them, their families and carers (Essential)
  • An open minded and dynamic approach to work and change (Essential)
  • A strong commitment to achieving results, to quality standards, and to good governance (Essential)
  • Full driving licence and daily use of a car (Essential)
  • A willingness to travel around Hertfordshire to other AUKH offices, and to regional or national meetings as required (Essential)

Knowledge

  • Understanding of strategic relationships and partnership working (Essential)
  • Understanding of equality & diversity policy and practice, confidentiality and data protection (Essential)
  • In depth knowledge of charity-related legislation and regulation, including its application and best practice (Desirable)
  • Knowledge of services available to older people and their carers, and the issues affecting their sustainability in the home (Desirable)

DBS (CRB): An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post