Role Profile Job Role: Accountable to: Key Relationships: Chief Executive of Blackburn Youth Zone Chair and Board of Blackburn Youth Zone Youth Zone Chair and Board, Youth Zone Senior Management Team, Youth Zone staff, Blackburn with Darwen Council, OnSide Youth Zones, Patrons, Funders and Supporters, Local Youth Service providers, Local Schools and Colleges Main Purpose To lead this young, growing and ambitious charity, creating exciting opportunities for the future and ensuring it achieves its vision of improving the lives of young people from across all of Blackburn with Darwen. Key Objectives 1. To lead, inspire and motivate the Youth Zone team of staff and volunteers in the delivery of an exceptional, cost effective and relevant programme for young people, always promoting the values of an OnSide Youth Zone. 2. To promote and communicate, with passion and belief, Blackburn Youth Zone s offer to enable it to play a key role in the future development of services for young people across the borough. 3. To develop and maintain relationships with key strategic partners and stakeholders, such as Blackburn with Darwen Council, other local providers of youth services, local businesses, funders, OnSide Youth Zones and others. 4. To maintain and grow the 1.2 million annual income required to deliver and sustain the long-term future of the Youth Zone, through effective fundraising and personal involvement in the Patrons programme. Context of the Role Blackburn Youth Zone is a state-of-the-art 5 million facility for young people in the centre of Blackburn. Open 7 days a week and during the school holidays, the Youth Zone provides a wide range of sporting, artistic, cultural, recreational and targeted activities for over 2,000 members, aged between 8 and 19 and up to 25 for young people with a disability or additional need who pay 3 a year membership fee and 50 pence a visit. The Youth Zone s mission is to provide all young people, particularly those in need, with somewhere safe and inspiring to go, something to do and someone to talk to. Our aim includes supporting young people develop self-confidence and self-esteem, build positive relationships, achieve their potential, and demonstrate resilience, to help them live happier, healthier lives and prepare for a fulfilling and productive adult life. Page 1 of 6 March 2016
Facilities at the Youth Zone include a full-size sports hall with climbing wall, a rooftop 3G allweather pitch, fully equipped gym, dance studio, music space, multimedia room, recreation and games area, café and arts area. The Youth Zone also runs successful employability, mentoring and inclusion programmes. Opened in 2012, the Youth Zone was built by OnSide Youth Zones with funding received from the Government s My Place programme, on land provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council. It is now an independent charity with its own Board of Trustees recruited from the private and public sectors. However, Blackburn Youth Zone retains a close working relationship with OnSide and is part of the network of OnSide Youth Zones which includes Carlisle, North Manchester, Oldham, Wigan, Bolton and Wolverhampton. Blackburn Youth Zone employs a full time management team of 13 (including the Chief Executive), with a further 50 staff employed on a part-time / casual / freelance basis. The Youth Zone also has an army of volunteers and runs a volunteer recruitment and training programme. The running costs are approximately 1.2 million per annum, funded by a combination of income streams including Blackburn with Darwen Council, private donations and fundraising and grants and trusts. In addition, the Youth Zone relies on generous contributions from a number of patrons from the local area. Many of these are local businesses who provide support through regular and significant monetary donations and through support services. The maintenance of relationships with patrons, coupled with growth and diversification of the funding base, are critical to support this revenue budget. The Board of Trustees is now seeking an exceptional individual to provide inspiring, strategic leadership to enable the charity to achieve its vision for young people and develop a forward looking and deliverable plan for the future. This is a high profile and career enhancing role for a talented leader, who can bring passion and strategic expertise to an organisation that is already making a difference to the provision of services for young people in Blackburn with Darwen. The role offers the opportunity to work closely with the Rt Hon Jack Straw, Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chair, Andrew Graham MBE, Chief Executive of Graham & Brown Ltd, who are highly committed and engaged with the Youth Zone, along with the rest of the high calibre Board of Trustees. There will be, through this close working relationship, an opportunity through their mentoring for the successful candidate to develop their skills in engagement at the highest levels. Main Responsibilities Vision and Strategy To help the Board shape the Youth Zone vision and strategy, ensure the strategy is communicated and the team understand their role in delivering it; to proactively develop the annual business plan in line with the strategy with the Youth Zone team and support them to implement it. Page 2 of 6 March 2016
To act as a source of inspiration to all employees, members, Board members, volunteers, supporters and wider stakeholders, and to uphold the Youth Zone s strong, shared sense of identity, commitment and cooperation. To take appropriate steps to identify and effectively manage risks. Fundraising With the support of an active Board, to be accountable for the delivery of the Youth Zone s fundraising strategy, activities and events, working with the senior management team and alerting the Board to maximise all income generation opportunities to support the Youth Zone. To implement new sources of income from the private and corporate sector, working with staff, Board members and external organisations. To develop grants and trusts funding, assisting with major bids and meeting potential and existing funders where appropriate. Management and Leadership To manage senior staff, supporting them to set targets and strategies and be accountable for their performance and regularly reviewing the performance of the staff. To allocate organisational resources, manage ongoing challenges and opportunities and support the senior management team to do likewise. Delivery To set and oversee the standards of the Youth Zone delivery and operation, working with and supporting the appointed staff members and keeping a finger on the pulse across all the Youth Zone s activities. To ensure the Youth Zone delivers the outcomes laid down in the Local Authority Service Level Agreement. To establish and monitor agreed performance measures and to implement the OnSide evaluation framework across all programmes of delivery. To ensure that comprehensive and appropriate policies, covering all facets of the Youth Zone s operation, are developed, maintained and observed, particularly ensuring that policies for Child Protection and Safeguarding are in place and practised. Employees and Volunteers To lead the team of staff and volunteers with charisma and vision. To determine staffing requirements based on agreed budgets. To ensure all legal obligations relating to staff are observed and to be responsible for all matters concerning the recruitment and employment of staff. To oversee the policy with regard to volunteer recruitment and training. The Youth Zone in the Community To promote and enhance the reputation of Blackburn Youth Zone. To promote and lead the Youth Zone s working relationships and partnerships with the Council, key partners, schools and colleges and other local organisations. Page 3 of 6 March 2016
To promote and develop the Youth Zone brand and ensure a high level of awareness across the community. Governance To ensure the Board is fully informed, supported and challenged and to support the Chair in maintaining the capabilities and leadership of the Board. To understand and clearly communicate to Board members and others, the views and needs of young people, particularly those who are disadvantaged in the context of today s society. To work with the Board in fulfilling the charity s constitutional, regulatory and legal obligations, especially in the areas of safeguarding, child protection and health and safety. To provide the Board with comprehensive reports, summarising all aspects of the Youth Zone s operational, financial and statutory performance. Finance and Assets To be responsible to the Board for the financial accountability of the Youth Zone. To prepare and submit annual budgets and regular financial monitoring reports to the Board. To ensure effective financial management, including a successful annual audit. To be responsible for all the capital assets of the Youth Zone and ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of the buildings, vehicles and equipment owned or leased by the Youth Zone. Page 4 of 6 March 2016
Person Specification Experience Experience of successful business development / income generation Any background which demonstrates sound commercial, financial and business management skills Experience of inspiring and leading teams at a senior management level Experience of managing significant and / or complex financial budgets Experience of organisational legal responsibilities, including effective corporate and operational governance Proven track record of strategic business planning, decision making and implementation Experience of the voluntary/charitable sector and/or working with young people (paid or voluntary) Skills and Abilities Excellent leadership qualities and people management skills Strong relationship building and influencing skills Ability to sell concepts and identify opportunities through discussion, a savvy and effective sales person Effective communicator, both spoken and written A self-starter, with the ability to generate new income streams Ability to work within a wider network framework and translate it into a locally relevant delivery model Knowledge and Understanding Knowledge and awareness of issues affecting young people Youth Work Qualification Personal Qualities Personal authority and credibility at senior level A results driven, dynamic and ambitious approach, resiliently focussed on solutions rather than obstacles Able to move comfortably from the strategic to the practical and hands-on Organised and systematic Ability to manage effectively under pressure Flexibility to work unsocial and sometimes long hours A believer: a genuine passion for making a difference to young people s lives Essential Desirable Page 5 of 6 March 2016
General Information Location The main place of work will be Blackburn Youth Zone, based in Blackburn town centre, although the successful candidate will be expected to undertake such travel as is necessary to fulfil the requirements of the position. Working hours The hours of work are those necessary to fulfil the requirements of the position. This will involve working unsocial hours in evenings and at weekends during Youth Zone sessions or at events, and also working during the day. Remuneration package Salary: 48,000-55,000 (a higher salary may be available for an exceptional candidate) Holidays: 33 days inclusive of 8 Bank Holidays Pension: Eligible, after six months service, to join Blackburn Youth Zone Pension Scheme; 3% of salary is contributed by the Youth Zone, if the employee contributes 3% or more. Notice period: 3 months Disclosure and Barring Service Check In accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced DBS check. Application Process Please email a CV to chiara.mallia@onsideyouthzones.org, together with a concise covering letter setting out your reasons for applying for this position. In addition, please provide the following information: 1. Details of your current or most recent remuneration package; 2. If you are currently employed, your notice period; 3. If you have at any time been convicted of a criminal offence, please provide the details in strict confidence. Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 11 April 2016 First interviews: Monday 18 April 2016 Assessment day: Monday 25 April (full day) 2016 Meeting with Board: Thursday 28 April (morning) 2016 Page 6 of 6 March 2016