REPORTING TO Operations Manager

LOCATION 3 Woodins Way, Paradise Street, Oxford, OX1 1HD

JOB PURPOSE To ensure the effective delivery and development of the South Planning Aid service.

CONTEXT

Planning Aid England provides free, independent and professional planning advice and support to disadvantaged groups and individuals unable to afford professional fees through a planning advice helpline and community planning activities. Planning Aid England is part of the Royal Town Planning Institute and the service is provided by local staff in 9 English Regions and the service is coordinated by a national team based in Birmingham. Planning Aid for London, a separate independent company and charity, covers the London area. This post is for the South Planning Aid Service and covers the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Management

1. In close consultation with the Regional Planning Aid committee and/or steering group prepare a strategy for delivering the Regional Planning Aid Service through the production of an annual business and delivery plan with an agreed and approved budget.

2. Produce regular reports for the RTPI Regional Activities Committee and the Regional Planning Aid Steering Group and attend meetings when required.

3. Co-ordinate and supervising the day-to-day running of the region office(s) including home based offices.

4. Manage all staff employed in the delivery of the regional service including monitoring the implementation of staff work programmes and carrying out regular staff appraisals and supervision meetings.

5. Overall responsibility for the promotion to, development, recruitment and retention of volunteers.

6. Control the regional finances including donations and authorising expenditure and ensuring expenditure is within budget.

Service Delivery

1. Responsible for the day-to-day organisation and delivery of the Regional Service in line with the strategy, business and delivery plans and relevant RTPI policies.

2. Ensure regional targets and service delivery standards, including quality assurance, are met.

Promotion and Development

1. Promote and publicise the work of Planning Aid to clients, partners, stakeholders and other key opinion formers, through a range of different media: press, web, newsletters, articles, photography, leaflets and brochures. To have in place an agreed strategy for achieving this with clearly defined outcomes

2. Providing a lead on organising the National Planning Aid Conference programme when this is held in the Region.

Projects

1. Secure additional funding for the regional service through the development of projects and initiatives compatible with aims and the priorities of the service.

2. Manage the development and delivery of the externally funded projects including staff.

General

1. Undertaking any other duties commensurate with the general level of responsibility of the post, as the Planning Aid Manager may consider necessary.

 

DIMENSIONS

1 Line management of Regional staff
2. Responsible for an annual budget.
3. Responsible for raising additional external funding for projects.
4. Overall responsibility for the promotion to, recruitment and retention of volunteers in accordance with policies, recommended organisational practices and in conjunction with national team.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Proven experience in the following areas.

Management

• Ability to manage the delivery of the service including projects, budgetary and line management responsibility.

• Ability to manage the volunteer network

• Ability to work with volunteers and an appreciation of the issues facing volunteers in an organisation

Embrace Diversity

• Knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by disadvantaged members of the community and the ability to deal sensitively with them.

Influence and Impact

• Ability to represent the service in the region and network effectively with a range of organisations and stakeholders.

Managing workload.

• Ability to plan, organise, manage and review activities effectively.

• Ability to manage multiple externally funded projects

• A willingness to travel and to work outside normal office hours as the circumstances of the job may demand

Communication – oral and written

• Ability to communicate effectively internally and externally at all levels
• Ability to make effective and professional presentations to a varied audience.
• Ability to write accurate and concise reports including material for the media.

Analyse and Problem Solving

• Ability to anticipate and manage risk.
• Ability to address and solve problems as they arise.

Resilience

• Ability to work on own and with a minimum of supervision
• Ability to deal with difficult situations if they arise

Strategic Planning

• Ability to produce strategic plans and implement them.

Gets Results

• Ability to ensure that regional targets and service delivery standards are met.

Team Focus

• Ability to work with staff on a regional and national basis.

Passion for customers/clients

• Ability to ensure a customer/client focused service.

Awareness of Quality

• Ability to deliver the quality standards as required by the service.

IT

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of MS Office applications and databases

Specialist/technical expertise

• Knowledge of the town and country planning system

• Knowledge of fundraising and the voluntary sector

• Knowledge of basic financial and project management

Education.

• A degree or equivalent in a relevant subject