Operations and Development Director

Job Description

The ChallengeEvery day 41 of Englands most vulnerable children- equivalent to more than a full classroom of pupils - are permanently excluded, with disastrous personal and societal consequences.These are the countrys most disadvantaged: 4 times more likely to have grown up in poverty, 7 times more likely to have special needs, 10 times more likely to have mental health problems and 20 times more likely to be interacting with social services due to safeguarding concerns. These children are at serious risk of knife crime. Once they are excluded, life chances are bleak. Less than 2% of excluded pupils finish school with the qualifications they need in maths and English; 50% are immediately not in education, employment or training (NEET) straight after GCSEs. This small group of pupils goes on to make up half of the prison population, and is more likely to reoffend. It is estimated that each excluded child will go on to cost the state £370,000 in extra education, health, welfare and criminal justice spending. For last years cohort of excluded pupils, thats a total cost of £2.9bn to the Exchequer.Yet too little is known about how to break this tragic cycle. While some parts of the school system have seen an evidence-led revolution, there has been insufficient research and teacher training in how to measure or move outcomes for these most complex and vulnerable pupils. This impacts teacher satisfaction. Increasing numbers are leaving the profession, disillusioned and disempowered by this lack of expertise. Meanwhile, the numbers of young people whose lives are written off through school exclusion continues to rise, year on year.Operations & Development Director - Priorities AheadThe Difference are looking for a third member of our Executive team to achieve the following:Support Business strategy - Work closely with the CEO and Directors to finalise and set out strategic finance aspirations and delivery plans for our 2021-25 Strategy for scaled impact.Develop People strategy Design of hiring, contracting and work experience processes to reflect The Differences values and strengthen our ability to achieve our mission. Implemented through hiring 2-3 new staff, preparing contracts for ~10 Programme and Recruitment contracted colleagues. Design of new talent management strategies to gain diversity of thought and skill in our organisation. Including developing a programme to give seasonal support work to young people 16-21 in the delivery of our conference and selection centres; and management of summer internships opportunities from sister public sector charities. Design of professional development offer to make The Differences staff sector-leading in their increasing specialisms. Including matching staff roles to sector-leading courses, pro bono mentors and coaches; developing performance management processes and training growing from our developing use of Objectives and Key Results; evolving organisation policies and practices to ensure staff retention, wellbeing and effectiveness. Support ongoing development of organisational culture which grows the relationships, safety and belonging alongside challenge, continuous feedback and improvement. Co-design, and coordinate our staff residential; away-days; and trustee residential. Support CEO and Chair in the Governance strategy including recruitment, training, routines and relationships of a diverse and effective trustee board.Lead Operations function Map reactive and proactive Operations work ahead in implementing 21-25 Strategy including in premises, IT, legal, governance and team logistics. Organise and line-manage the team to deliver Operations (currently 2.2 FTE) and build pro-bono relationships as necessary to meet strategy aims including leading new Salesforce build for Programme team and Comms function. Diagnosing need for and developing systems to support delivery at scale and efficiency including project management and use of IT. Lead project to find and set up The Differences post-lockdown Premises and to develop working practices as lockdown eases which promote physical safety and wellbeing.Develop Finance function Set strategic direction as part of our business strategy. Review our internal bookkeeping/payments/accounting processes and scope a specialist hire in Finance. Line-manage Development Manager (who leads fundraising) and set income generation targets for teams. Develop our team budget-setting processes, spending review and financial reporting to Trustees.The Difference Values Purpose: Our work is guided and galvanised by our values and beliefs. We are problem solvers, and do not wait to act. We are inspired by our purpose to improve life outcomes for the most vulnerable young people, and to develop the people, practice and public perception required to achieve this. Collaboration: We build relationships into our work, give to others readily and use others strengths alongside your own, to have greater impact in our work. We are inspirers and facilitators of others; able to influence and to advocate. We see the big picture and strive for better collaboration across services. Bravery: We are independent thinkers, willing to speak out, to challenge others and the status quo, where it is inconsistent with our shared aims and values. We are able to take decisions despite ambiguity, and are resilient and persistent in the face of challenging odds. Excellence: We expect the best from people and ourselves, and do not prejudge. We value quality work, tangible results, and feedback to inform continuous improvement. Pragmatism: We are able to recognise current limitations and strive for improvements within and beyond them. We are flexible in our thinking, willing to be proved wrong, and able to plan for strategic change, prioritised over shorter-term, shallow goals. Humility: We are able to be challenged and to learn from experiences and interactions. We are aware and respectful of others dignity, insight, knowledge and agency.Person SpecificationEssential - We are looking for the following skills, aptitude and experience; though you may be stronger in some areas than others Values - Your experience evidences shared values with The Difference (see above) and a personal commitment to our mission to improve life outcomes for vulnerable people. Leadership of self and others - Evidenced capacity to proactively diagnose skills and information gaps; making use of others expertise to continually grow the skills of yourself and the complimentary skills of members of your team, to make a success of tasks at hand and those on the horizon. Business Development - Track-record in building or supporting revenue-generating enterprises. Team leadership - Proven ability to manage complex work across a team to tight deadlines with quality output; and of developing coaching style and project management systems to achieve this. Growing People and Team Culture - Experience in growing productive team cultures, and developing individ