DDE Director Appointment, Information Pack, September 2012
Director
The Trustees of Devon Development Education seek a Director to lead this successful and dynamic educational charity in the next stage of its development. We are looking for an outstanding individual with proven skills in leadership and income generation and a strong commitment to development education. Based at our Global Centre in Exeter, you will work across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to promote and deliver our educational activities. You will lead a committed team of staff, volunteers and associates working with both schools and the wider community.
This post is initiallya one-year contract, for 22.5 hours per week at £27,000 p.a. pro rata, worked over 3-4 days. We hope to be able to renew the contract following a successful first year.
For further details please download the post information pack from our website www.globalcentredevon.org.uk. Apply by downloading and completing the application form (also on the website),and send it by e-mailto or in the post to Rachel Hone at DDE, to arrive by 12 noon on Monday 1st October 2012. Interviews are expected to be held on 11th or 12th October.
Devon Development Education – information for potential Director candidates
DDE provides workshops, CPD and resources for all aspects of education for global learning, as well as a vibrant programme of community events. We work across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay in the school and Early Years sectors and in the wider community.
Devon is one of the largest counties in the country. It is predominantly rural, with over 300 primary schools, often small village schools. Most of the population, especially in rural areas, are from a white British background. There are few people from black and minority ethnic (BME) background, which means children and adults have very limited opportunities to experience other cultures in their everyday life. Plymouth and Torbay are urban areas, each with a larger group of BME residents. However, a multi-cultural experience and a sense of being part of multi-cultural Britain, does not always reach pupils. Much of our work aims at filling that gap.
Our Mission is to provide a wide range of global learning opportunities for communities and schools in the South West, which increase their knowledge and understanding of global issues and enable them to take appropriate action.
Our Broad, long-term aims:
In common with other Development Education Centres, we seek to enable people, including children and young people:
1. To understand the links between their own lives and those of people throughout the world
2. To increase understanding of the economic, social, political and environmental forces which shape our lives
3. To develop skills, attitudes and values which enable people to work together to bring about change and take control of their own lives
4. To work towards achieving a more just and sustainable world in which power and resources are more equitably shared.
In addition, we seek to give people in Devon and the South West experience of local and global diversity.
Our activities and products include:
· Food for Thought – linking primary schools inthe UK and Uganda, with a focus on food growing
· Take Mali – a teaching pack for Key Stage 2/3 French, winner of two awards in 2011. Its Spanish-teaching follow-up, Hola Peru, is about to be launched
· Cultural Champions – offers trained local residents from other cultures who can visit school to work with children of all ages
· CPD programme – a wide range of training for educators in global learning
· Creative Footsteps to Inclusive Education in the Early Years– a training manual for practitioners
· Telling out Stories, Finding our Roots – a new project that will bring together local people to find out about Exeter's rich and varied past.
· Fairtrade Devon – DDE co-ordinates the campaign for Devon County Council
· A termly programme of events at the Global Centre, including discussions, talks and a book club
DDE is fortunate in having a committed team of staff and volunteers. The DDE Centre Manager handles marketing and financial management and co-ordinates day to day administration, with the help of an admin assistant, a book-keeper and several volunteers. A number of education staff work for us on an associate basis: most of these have run projects for DDE in the past. We currently have one project officer, running Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots. Our Board has 9 Trustees, with a range of experience in the education, development and charity sectors.
As for many charities, our traditional sources of income no longer provide for all our needs and we have been working to diversify our activities, while still meeting our aims. We now have a number of products that can act as income sources, including our language teaching packs and our CPD programme. A key aspect of the Director’s role will be to build on and develop this base to ensure us a sustainable future .
DDE’s current strategic plan runs from 2012-15. Trustees, staff and volunteers worked together to produce objectives for this plan, which have been developed in detail for 2012-13. We will seek the new Director’s input in developing plans for the following years.
The current post-holder is stepping down after a period of 10 years which have seen DDE expand from a tiny base to cover a wide range of projects and activity. The current environment is challenging, but the need for development education remains strong and DDE has great potential. We seek an inspirational and innovative Director to lead the organisation to the next stage of its future.
More information about DDE is available on our website, www.globalcentredevon.org.uk. If you would like to discuss this role before applying please contact the Chair of Trustees, Sue Kay on 07814 152577, . You are also welcome to arrange a visit to the Global Centre for a brief, informal introduction by calling 01392 438811. We are open on Mondays to Thursdays from 9:30 am to 5 pm.
Job description
Post Title: Director of Devon Development Education
Employed by: Devon Development Education, Registered Charity no. 1102233
Responsible to: Board of Trustees
Hours: 22.5 hours per week, worked over 3-4 days. The details of hours worked will be agreed with trustees and some flexibility will be needed
Location: The Global Centre, Exeter Community Centre, 17 St David’s Hill, Exeter EX4 3RG
Salary: £27,000 pro rata
Contract: Fixed-term, initially for 12 months, renewable by mutual agreement
Summary
The post-holder will provide leadership to enable DDE to achieve its educational goals and ensure financial sustainability. Income generation, from new and existing sources, is a key aspect of this role. The post-holder will work within the structure of DDE’s vision and values, as articulated in the strategic business plan.
Key responsibilities
The post-holder will:
1. Provide inspirational and participatory leadership to staff and volunteers; give adequate oversight and direction while delegating appropriately.
2. Broaden and secure our income streams, whilst increasing our impact, including:
a. proactively developing new business opportunities, especially within the education sector in Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and beyond
b. ensuring appropriate costing and marketing of products (including courses, materials, public meetings and consulting)
c. developing a rapidly expanding and cost-efficient donor-supporter initiative, building on the start already made
d. seeking new project grants
e. monitoring sales of goods and services
3. Be accountable to the Board of Trustees for implementing approved strategy; assist in developing new opportunities and setting future strategy.
4. Ensure the sufficiency and appropriateness of our financial, human resource, and administrative systems; take overall responsibility for these systems, with the assistance of the DDE Centre Manager.
5. Ensure the production and delivery of materials, activities and resources for all educational sectors, including schools and early-years.
6. Oversee the delivery and further development of community sector initiatives and resources, including a vibrant and significant Global Centre.
7. Stay abreast of educational developments, locally and nationally; maintain links with school and other education providers, including Local Authorities, Diocesan Boards of Education and Learning Communities.
8. Maintain a high profile for DDE in the education sector and the wider community; effectively communicate, and appropriately celebrate, our work.
9. Develop and maintain links with related organisations locally, regionally and nationally; maintain overseas links.
10. Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of DDE’s activities.
11. Ensure that DDE complies with relevant legislation, including charity, company, employment and Health and Safety law.
Person Specification
Post Title: Director of Devon Development Education
Notes
This person specification should be read in conjunction with the Job Description. DDE has an equal opportunities policy which applies to this post.
Criteria
The post-holder will demonstrate, through experience and/or qualifications:
1. significant capability and experience of inspirational and participatory team leadership
2. significant capability to broaden and secure income streams within a staffed enterprise including as many as possible of the following categories:
a. selling courses, materials, public meetings, and consulting
b. developing private donor support
c. writing grant proposals and tenders
d. retail sales
3. the ability to lead strategic planning and the implementation of development plans
4. understanding and experience of financial and administrative practice and of effective personnel management
5. the capability or experience needed to be persuasive within a school context (e.g. experience of teaching or training, or a teaching qualification)
6. a capability to produce and deliver educational material, training and resources relevant to the school sector
7. a capability to develop and deliver adult-related community sector initiatives and resources
8. the ability to communicate with groups, individuals and the public in a variety of ways
9. knowledge of the sectors within which DDE operates, including:
· global learning, global citizenship and development education
· the UK education system and current developments
· global development issues and news
· the charitable sector
· UK networks relevant to DDE’s work
10. experience of a culture different from their own, either in the UK or abroad
11. a capability in operational monitoring and evaluation
12. awareness of UK charity, company, employment and Health and Safety law
13. commitment to the principles, aims and ethos of Devon Development Education
14. commitment to equality and diversity practices, equal opportunities and inclusiveness.
The post-holder will also:
15. Be able to offer some flexibility in working hours
16. Be willing to travel to all parts of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and further afield where necessary, organising transport as appropriate