DIRECTOR OF GOVERNANCE AND RISK

Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title:Director of Governance and Risk

Department:Governance

Responsible to:Secretary General

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week

Location:Leicester

Directly Responsible For:Health and Safety Manager

Property Manager

Governance and Operations Manager team

Clubs Executive

Key Relationships:Secretary General, Chairman of the Council (the Board of Trustees), the President, Treasurer, Area Chairs, Branches and Branch Clubs

The Royal Air Forces Association (the Association) is a member-led welfare charity whose beneficiary group comprisesthose who are serving, or have served in one of Our Air Forces, and/or their dependents. The Association has recently undertaken a complete review of its strategic direction, including a significant restructure and governance review to align the organisation with new targets through to 2020 and beyond. All of these factors signal a major change in the growth and development of the Association in the years ahead.

Main Purpose of the Job

The Governance and Risk Director is part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) with specific responsibility for the governance, data protection, health and safety, property management and the health of our branchclubs and operations related activity.

This role leads on business assurance, guiding and motivating colleagues and members throughout the Association so that compliance with statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements as well as the management of organisational risk is robust.

Given the close link between the strategic objectives of the Association and governance, the Director will also support the Secretary General and Trustees in organizational change to secure a strong future for the Association.

Functional Responsibilities:

  • Company Secretary
  • Compliance
  • Data Protection Officer
  • Property management
  • Internal Audit
  • Risk Management
  • Health and Safety
  • Corporate Support
  • Executive Support

Knowledge and Experience

  • Work with the Trustees and Secretary General, develop the governance framework of the Association to support our development, taking the lead on all aspects of corporate compliance
  • Act as the company secretary for the Association Group companies, and ensure that they comply with their statutory, regulatory and constitutional obligations
  • Ensure that robust monitoring, forecasting and reporting systems are in place, and that prompt corrective action is taken where targets, standards and expectations are (or are at risk of) not being met
  • Act as the Association’s Data Protection Officer (DPO), ensuring compliance with data protection legislation, including subject access requests
  • Working closely with the Council and the SMT, ensure effective management of Council, committee, executive and other meetings
  • Develop and implement an ‘Asset Management and Investment Strategy’ that reflects the maintenance and improvement of the Association’s directly owned properties and those for which the Association acts as the Custodian Trustee
  • Act as the lead for the development, implementation and maintain the risk framework, ensuring that robust systems are in place, which identify and respond to risks and opportunities
  • Managecorporate governance - Provide inspiring functional and corporate leadership, promoting agility and empowering colleagues to deliver a ‘great customer experience’ and the highest standards of performance, compliance and efficiency
  • Oversee regulatory, legal and contractual compliance, ensuring that effective reporting and monitoring systems are in place throughout the Association
  • Deliver the Association’s Annual Conference, working closely with the President, the Chair of the Annual Conference Committee and the Governance and Operations Manager

Communication and Relationships

  • Effective communication with all stakeholders including the membership. Lead, participate in and contribute as appropriate to trustee meetings
  • Develop and maintain excellent relationships with members of Council, members, beneficiaries, SMT, colleagues and other stakeholders including (but not limited to) regulators, funders, MPs and auditors
  • Advise and support the Council and board members to:
  • Enable them to discharge their roles and responsibilities in the most effective way.
  • Maintain a culture of compliance, reporting and accountability.
  • Maintain a culture of risk ownership and awareness
  • Co-operate and liaise with departmental and inter-departmental colleagues
  • Make presentations
  • Generate reports on activity for Council, Secretary General etc.
  • Expected to demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence
  • Required to work within the Association’s policies and procedures

People Management

  • Ensure systems are in place for succession planning, recruitment, induction, training and appraisal to facilitate effective governance
  • Set objectives for staff and ensure the effective achievement of those objectives, providing leadership, feedback, training and support as required
  • Inspire colleagues through confident, energetic and visible leadership
  • Uphold, model and promote the Association’s values and desired culture
  • Responsible for all aspects of quality assurance in the provision of the department’s services and for ensuring that customers are fully satisfied with the service they have received, resolving any difficulties quickly, efficiently, and effectively
  • Promote equal opportunities for all staff, members, supporters and customers of the Association at all times

Decision-making and Problem-solving

  • Work with the Secretary General on developing and delivering the strategic priorities agreed by the Trustees, within the strategic and annual planning processes
  • Lead on the development, implementation and testing of an Association wide Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
  • Oversee the provision of any legal advice required by the Association ensuring value for money and high quality, specialist service provision
  • Maintain a high level of external awareness, identifying opportunities that can support, and addressing risk that can derail the delivery of the strategic and operational objectives
  • Ensure that the governance structure and decision-making frameworks reflect best practice and enable effective direction, management and control of the Association
  • Co-ordinate the activities of the Health and Safety Committee and oversee the recommendations from the committee
  • Working with the Audit Committee, oversee a programme of internal audits, which ensures the robustness, flexibility and effectiveness of internal controls
  • As a member of the SMT, play a significant role in delivering the Association’s strategic and operational plans, financial objectives and targets
  • Actively contribute to decision making at senior levels in the Association; in doing so, propose evidence-based solutions as well as supporting and challenging colleagues

Financial and Physical Resources Responsibility

  • Accountable for governance delivery plans, budgets (forecast, budget, delivery and reporting) and operational delivery including meeting income targets
  • Identify areas of activity that need introducing, reforming or abandoning
  • Operate within the agreed budget by managing expenditure carefully
  • Oversee all maintenance (responsive and planned works) to the Association’s building stock
  • Responsible for developments, including feasibility studies, site acquisition, appointment of professional consultants and contract supervision
  • In conjunction with the Finance team, establish and maintain a comprehensive database and/or asset register of all facilities of all branches and clubs
  • Identify and project manage the Associations Property Improvement programmes
  • Ensuring that departmental spending is within departmental budgets and personal authorisation limits securing maximum value for money in the most economic and cost-effective way at all times

Limits of Authority

  • Signatory Powers for Contracts and Agreements: Budgeted items: Can sign contracts and agreements up to the value of £10,000; Un-budgeted items: Nil
  • Capital Expenditure Authorisation: Cannot commit capital expenditure without the consent of the Secretary General
  • Cheque Signatory Powers: Cannot sign cheques
  • Purchase Orders: Can place purchase orders up to £10,000 on own budget code and within budget
  • Appointment and Dismissal: In conjunction with the Association’s Human Resources Director the jobholder can recruit and/or dismiss in accordance with the Association’s published limits of authority as authorised by the Secretary General

Information

  • Act as the Data Protection Officer to the Association
  • Manage Data Protection Compliance and advise on legal requirements and best practice.
  • Lead contact with the Information Commissioner’s Office with regard to potential complaints and breaches, ensuring that requests for information are properly handled
  • Provide an audit role and provide monitoring data to the Secretary General and Chairman of the Audit Committee on organisational compliance and conformance
  • Develop and maintaina DPA/GDPR knowledge base for Council, colleagues and members.
  • Develop, implement and enforce a suitable and relevant DP/GDPR Policy and ensure it is reviewed on an annual basis
  • Undertake Data Protection Impact Assessments
  • Develop, implement and enforce a suitable and relevant Data Sharing Code of Practice and ensure that third parties which the Association deals with comply with the necessary practices and agreements held
  • Provide information and guidance on the processing of all personal data
  • Process, co-ordinate and respond to all requests for information
  • Educate the data owners on their responsibilities (what is data, how is it used, who has access to it)
  • Ensure that data flow maps are maintained as necessary
  • Undertake systematic Data Protection Act compliance audits in accordance with the Information Commissioners audit tool, including any third party premises where appropriate
  • Manage the Association’s governing documents and related policies and procedures
  • Required to respect confidentiality applying to all Association areas

Physical/Mental Effort

  • Required to manage a varied and demanding workload
  • Ability to budget and negotiate contracts on behalf of the Association
  • This post requires you will occasionally have to drive, (using your own car for which you must obtain appropriate insurance at your own cost) or a hire car for longer journeys

Health and Safety Responsibilities

Directors’ responsibilities are to:

  • Integrate and manage the health and safety policy, its management systems and arrangements with monitoring and reporting arrangements within their team’s service provision and activities
  • Put in place management structures with delegated responsibilities within their teams
  • Provide leadership and promote a positive health and safety culture, safe systems of working, legal compliance and good standards of practice
  • Ensure health and safety is an agenda item for all team meetings supported by documented minutes and actions
  • Establish and maintain competencies, providing policies, procedures supported by training, instruction and supervision to meet statutory requirements and to support safe systems of working
  • Investigate significant accidents, incidents and significant events to identify root causes and promote team and organisational learning
  • Monitor accidents, incidents and significant events to assess performance with legal compliance and risk control
  • Prioritise actions to control risks arising from risk assessments, team meetings, accident and incident monitoring and reporting systems, identifying actions for improvements to practice and organisational learning
  • Review health and safety monitoring, audit, regulatory inspection and performance reports and provide reports

Other

This job description outlines the main functions and responsibilities of the post. The post holder may be required to undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.A Disclosure and Baring Service check is required for this post, as the post holder is the Association’s designated Child Protection Officer.

Training requirements

One of the objectives of the Association is to build an organisation based on quality. Accordingly, there will be an ongoing need to review the training requirements of staff to meet the changing demands of the organisation. Training requirements will be discussed at the review meetings.

Must attend the health and safety course ‘Directing Safely’.

Review procedures

There will be an annual review of the post and job contents. In addition, there will be an interim review 6 months after the annual review.

Key Performance Indicators:

Annual Key Performance Indicators will be defined by the Secretary General.

Director OF Governance and RISK

Person Specification

Essential / Desirable
Knowledge and Experience / Fully qualified member of ICSA or similar professional organisation
Experience of company secretarial working at a senior level, preferably within the not for profit sector.
Sound understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements affecting Registered Providers and organisations that deliver care services.
Strong understanding of corporate challenges of GDPR and Data Protection
Able to demonstrate vision and appropriate, excellent leadership
Broad business and commercial acumen at a senior management level, including a working knowledge of the legal obligations of charities
Excellent knowledge of charity governance
Health & Safety management
Change management experience at senior level
A record of accomplishment of achieving outstanding results
Contracts management
Evidence of continuous professional development
Previous experience of running a large event / Legal qualification
Health and safety qualification
Property management qualification or experience
Management or leadership qualification
Previous experience as a DPO
Project management experience
Awareness of the work of the RAF Association
Communication and Relationships / To have excellent networking skills and the ability to form and develop strong, respectful, professional relationships with wide range of stakeholders
To be able to present articulately, confidently and enthusiastically to large audiences
Evidence of well-researched, factual and persuasive written communication (e.g. strategy, business plans, annual report, formal reports)
Professional manner and attitude
Consultative and listening, good at engaging and motivating others
Previous experience of writing and delivering key business strategy at Board level
People Management / Experienced leader and manager at senior level
Experience of managing , developing and motivating staff
Decision Making and Problem Solving / Able to work with high level competing demands and under pressure
Able to prioritise workloads and for staff of their team
Excellent planning and organisational skills
Hands-on approach to managing problems
To be able quickly to absorb and interpret reports, guidance and information
Forward thinking and able to anticipate and resolve problems
Creative, innovative and ability to think laterally
Good influencing and negotiating skills
Able to make and be accountable for sound, evidence-based judgements.
Able to assess risks and identify opportunities
Manage a complex workload, prioritising as required, and delegating and monitoring functional activity
Financial and Physical Resources Responsibility / Able to manage resources effectively and safely
Responsibility for Information / High level IT literacy and a keen adopter of digital technology
Experience of data management and control
Understanding of social media
Working Conditions / To be prepared to work, on occasions, weekends and evenings at RAF Association functions and events that take place throughout the UK
To be prepared to undertake some unpaid overtime on occasions
Physical/
Mental Effort / Insured for, and able to use own car for business use (if required to use own car for work)

July 20171

July 20171