Nominet Trust - Head of Development Research

Based in Oxford with opportunities for flexible working * Full-time * Competitive Salary

Job purpose
Lead the Research, Development and Evaluation strategy and implementation for the organisation. Manage the development and maintenance of strategic and project partnerships to ensure that the impact and influence of the Trust’s investments are maximised. Position the Trust as a thought leader and influencer by contributing to policy discussions, staging innovations workshops and managing a world-class Knowledge Centre.
Post responsible to: Director of the Trust
Key responsibilities
  • Lead the development and delivery of the Research, Development and Evaluation strategy
  • Stage workshops that convene different disciplines to explore areas of need that might be addressed by the internet
  • Work closely with Trust-support initiatives, ensuring that they are challenged and supported in order to enhance their impact
  • Identify and secure project partners to increase the reach of Trust investments
  • Identify strategic partnerships to increase the influence and impact of the Trust and work with the Director to secure and manage these partnerships
  • Submit proposals formatched project funding to foundations, high net worth individuals, government agencies, etc
  • Manage teams and individuals ensuring that they are both challenged and supported in their roles and have the necessary skills and resources to fulfil their objectives.
  • Identify new social investment opportunities and, where appropriate, commission projects that will meet the Trust’s area of focus
  • Contribute to the selection of investments, making recommendations to the Director and Board of Trustees
  • Share information about external, related projects with the Trust team
  • Represent and advocate Nominet Trust with external audiences including Board meetings, conferences, one-to-one meetings with senior representatives of other organisations, workshops and other events.

Internal & External Relationships
Internal
  • Director to determine areas of focus for the Trust’s investments and review ways to increase impact; report monthly on progress against operational plans; liaise regarding key messages to key partners and prospective funders
  • Researcher to identify partner requirements and areas of focus
  • Communications Manager in development and delivery of communications strategy
  • Projects Manager on investment selection and management
  • Executive Assistant for administrative support
  • Chairman and Board of Trustees to shape developmentstrategyand report progress.
External
  • Current and prospective project and strategic partners of Nominet Trust - private sector companies, associations, government agencies, public sector bodies
  • Organisations sharing/contributing to the Trust’s agenda, including government agencies, third sector organisations, industry, academia
  • Nominet Members and team to engage in Trust’s investments and research
  • Press and broadcast media –writing features and commenting to press
  • Nominet Trust audiences - representing Nominet Trust at external events

Qualifications, Skills and Experience
  • Educated to degree level and/or with relevant professional qualification or with the equivalent level of experience working in a series of progressively senior roles relevant to the post.
  • The ability to command respect amongst senior figures in the internet and social responsibility fields
  • 5 years’ experience of multi-sector partnership development and consortium building in order to deliver high impact, large-scale change
  • Proven track record of securing project funding
  • Experience of developing effective online communities of interest and practice
  • Experience of staging multi-disciplinary workshops to generate new ideas and approaches
  • Good network of contacts in the digital industry, policy and third sector
  • Experienced in motivating staff, setting objectives and managing performance.
  • Good inter-personal skills, able to understand people’s concerns and be confident in addressing them. Experienced at providing feedback which leads to positive outcomes.
  • Can demonstrate a coaching-style to develop and mentor other team members
  • Able to clearly communicate the strategic direction to reports and team members, in such a way as to engage and motivate them.
  • Strong communication and writing skills, able to articulate complex ideas and put across strategies with confidence to a variety of audiences, including writing for and presenting to audiences in diverse sectors.
  • Proven ability to ‘see the big picture’, step back from the immediate issues and analyse the position and direction of the organisation. Able to determine where impact needs to be made and how.
  • Be politically astute and show an awareness of governmental issues with particular reference to the internet as a tool for social good.
  • Skilled in strategic thinking to position the organisation in the wider world realising its strengths and weaknesses and responding to opportunities and threats.
  • Analytical approach to determining actions for the organisation and forecasting the likely consequences.
  • A team player, with a helpful friendly manner, who will play a full part in a closely knit, small team which is dedicated to the provision of an effective service.
  • An interest in technology as a medium for positive social change and a commitment to the objectives and activities of Nominet Trust
  • Computer literate – competent with Microsoft Office.
  • Need to be able to work out of hours and be willing to travel for events.

OCTOBER 2010 – CONFIDENTIAL

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