Chief Executive Officer Appointment Brief March 2022
Introduction Thank you for your interest in becoming the Chief Executive Officer of Devon Community Foundation (DCF). As the new CEO you will have a fantastic opportunity to build on the Foundation’s growth and the strong reputation we have across Devon. DCF’s staff and Trustees are committed to supporting and making a difference through inspiring philanthropy and partnership with our voluntary and community sector. The types of issues we are engaged with include mental health, food poverty and early years opportunities and addressing the inequalities highlighted by the Covid pandemic. We are seeking a leader with the energy, skills, and experience to make us an outstanding Community Foundation to benefit the people of Devon. Supporting the Board in effective governance and reporting on the impact of our giving and community leadership, the CEO will lead and support a dedicated staff team and build that team to ensure we have the capacity for growth. As we emerge from the pandemic, we wish to increase our scale and impact to help meet the challenges Covid has highlighted. This includes much greater use of digital technology so that we work effectively in a changing world. We are looking for a committed individual who will bring energy, vision and leadership to the role of working with communities in Devon. You will be an excellent communicator acting as an ambassador for DCF in partnership with the trustees. You will raise the profile of the Foundation and lead the fund development efforts. You will build trusted relationships with donors and key partners and maintain close relationships with key influencers from local civic society and wider stakeholders. The new Chief Executive Officer will be someone who can embody our mission and will inspire us to be a vibrant catalyst for positive change in Devon. The pack provides some information about DCF and our work and much more is available on our website. We are excited by the next stage of our development and hope that you will consider applying to join DCF and help lead that journey. Dinah Cox OBE Chair of Trustees
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Who we are Devon Community Foundation is an independent charitable foundation specialising in awarding grants across Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay to voluntary and community sector organisations. Our mission is to support greater equity and flourishing communities with opportunities for everyone in Devon by connecting communities, donors, and partners to maximise local impact together. With an endowment of over £8.5million for the long-term benefit of the communities we serve, we manage over fifty different funds, distribute community and themed grants and have given more than £18million since 1994. We lead the Wellbeing Exeter programme and are a key member of the Positive People initiative, funded by the National Lottery and EU, that works across the county. Through our Community Insights Team, we are developing very detailed knowledge about the associational life of many of our towns and urban areas.
Our values: • We are committed to building a culture that enables positive change in our communities. • We treat all people with the dignity they deserve. • We are positive, flexible and constructive. • We aspire to empower others through learning, sharing knowledge and grant giving. • We strive to work with others to achieve the best possible outcome for those they serve and support.
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During Covid local councils turned to DCF to provide knowledge about communities and channel money to organisations best placed to help the needs of families and communities. The team worked tirelessly to distribute grants from the National Emergency Trust as well as other funding and over £1.2m was given in 177 grants in the year up to the end of March 2021. For more information, please see our website: devoncf.com.
What we do: • Encourage local philanthropy. • Research and understand local need. • Strengthen the local voluntary and community sector. • Convene community resources.
About Devon Devon Community Foundation serves the whole of the historic county of Devon, which is one of the largest counties in England. Today the area is governed by Devon County Council and two Unitary Authorities of Plymouth and Torbay. The major population centres are Plymouth, Exeter, and Torbay in the south and Barnstaple in the north. There are few towns in Devon with populations over 10,000, but a large number of small towns and villages, frequently divided from each other by steep hills and valleys with poor transport connections.
Tourism provides more employment than any other industry and brings seasonal employment to the north and south coasts. The county has a significant agricultural community, a number of large naval and military establishments, and boasts three universities: Exeter, Plymouth and Plymouth Marjon. The universities are significant drivers of change and economic prosperity, enhanced by the international reputation of the Meteorological Office in Exeter. In spite of the fact that Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, wide inequalities are evident across the county, with significant pockets of urban and rural deprivation. Unsurprisingly, Covid 19 has had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable in Devon and exacerbated inequity.
About Community Foundations The 47 UK Community Foundations are a movement of place-based Foundations committed to positive social change through community philanthropy. They are usually the largest or only area-based charity and involve people from all parts of the community working together to harness local financial and other available resources to improve local people’s lives. DCF is part of the UK Community Foundation network and the CEO will benefit from UKCF representation and support, as well as from strong peer relationships.
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Our Strategy and Future The DCF mission to support flourishing communities and greater equity is achieved by developing philanthropy and working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector and other partners across the county.
DCF has increasing impact with a growing endowment fund as well as ‘Wellbeing Exeter’ and the ‘Positive People’ funded Community Insights team. These programmes generate detailed knowledge about associational life in Devon. We want to build on the strengths and relationships created as we become even better at making a difference.
We recognise the need to work with communities and prioritise our grants and work to achieve impact. Our emphasis is on working with people and communities that face barriers to opportunities in life.
The new CEO will help guide the Board to create a new strategic plan, building on our strengths, and support the staff team to achieve the strategic ambitions of the Trustees.
Finances
Total incoming resources for 2020/21 This included a significant portion of income from the National Emergencies Trust, which has been distributed as grants via the Coronavirus Response & Recovery Fund. This formed part of the total £2.78m distributed as grants in the year.
DCF income is derived from voluntary income from donations, which can be “flow-through” or held as an endowment, investment income and realised capital gains from its endowed funds as well as income from involvement in the Positive People and Wellbeing Exeter projects.
Flow-through donations and a portion of returns from our endowment are used to fund our grant programmes and a levy is charged to cover fund administration costs.
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£4.2m
Total net assets March 2021
£11.2m
of which £8.4m were endowment funds.
Income and endowments for 2021
Expenditure for 2021
£238k
£122k £119k
£1.6m
Total £4.2m
£326k
Total £3.3m
£2.4m
£2.7m
Donations and legacies Charitable activities Investments
Costs of generating voluntary income Grants payable Administration of grant making Other support costs
Value of Grants by Local Authority (excluding Wellbeing Exeter) £85k
£77k
Covid-19 Emergency Funding £49k
£99k
£120k £199k £107k £154k
Total £1.8m
£399k
£198k
£216k
Total £1.5m £1.2m
£386k £112k East Devon Exeter Mid Devon North Devon Plymouth 6
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South Hams Teignbridge Torbay Torridge West Devon
Devon Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund Community Food Programme Core Cost Support Fund (C19) Advice and Support Programme
Organisation Chart Chief Executive Officer
CEO Assistant
Head of Projects & Programmes
CIT Programme Manager
CIT Advisor x 3
Knowledge Guru
Programmes Team Manager Programme Manager x2 Programmes Administrator PAP Team Administrator
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Wellbeing Exeter Programme Development Manager
Head of Philanthropy
Head of Finance & Operations
Content Creator
Finance & Operations Manager
PAC Team Administrator
Finance & Operations Administrator
Role Description Role overview
• Chief Executive Officer
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Reporting to: Chair of Devon Community Foundation
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Provide strategic leadership and deliver the strategic and operational plans as agreed by the Board. Support, the residents of Devon by working with partners, influencing policy to benefit the county and delivering impact to the community through grant making. Work with voluntary and community sector organisations to champion the sector and develop solutions to local challenges. Enhance the financial resources of the Foundation by growing endowment income from donors. Provide community leadership, developing relationships and actively influencing stakeholders. Lead, support, and develop the staff team.
Key responsibilities Governance, strategy and planning
• • • • • • •
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Develop and implement strategic, business and work plans to maximise DCF’s opportunities and meet our mission and objectives, in agreement with the Board. Through visionary leadership, ensure the participation, contribution, and ownership of plans by the staff team. Create opportunities to enhance DCF’s understanding of local needs and policy to inform future strategy, build its reputation and increase impact in the community. Monitor DCF’s grant making to ensure impact and effective use of funds as well as informing future planning. Monitor and report to the Board appropriately on achievements against agreed objectives. Work with the Chair to ensure appropriate governance arrangements and policies are in place within DCF. Work alongside the Chair to develop governance that increases Board effectiveness by championing equity, diversity and inclusion.
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• •
Provide development opportunities to keep Trustees up to date with charity responsibilities and best practice. Identify, monitor, and mitigate risks to DCF’s reputation, operations, and financial position.
Leading and cultivating a healthy organisation
• • • • •
Lead and inspire our passionate staff team to achieve DCF’s objectives. Ensure appropriate structure, systems and controls are in place for the effective management of DCF to meet the annual objectives and financial targets. Create a healthy working culture that respects all staff and stakeholders and demonstrates the organisations values. Ensure that the Foundation complies with all legal and regulatory and HR requirements and works towards standards of best practice. Ensure that the Foundation is a champion for equity, diversity and inclusion and demonstrates
• • •
a strong understanding of and support for the needs and aspirations of Devon’s diverse communities. Oversee and develop impact reports and marketing approaches that promote the work of the Foundation. Oversee the development of significant digital transformation including developing and delivering an efficient and scalable digital capability. Recruit, supervise and motivate staff and volunteers, ensuring clear objectives and targets are set and provide on-going support, supervision, training, review, and appraisal.
Philanthropy and Fund Development
• • • •
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Provide leadership on the importance of community philanthropy and development within Devon. Develop and implement a fund development plan with targets for increasing core running costs, flow-through funding, and endowments, in agreement with the Board. Attract new funding and resources to ensure the growth and sustainability of DCF through the development of major individual/family donors, public sector funding, corporate giving, and trusts and foundations. Develop and maintain high level relationships with existing and potential donors, influential persons, and other external contacts.
Appointment Brief | 2022
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Ensure the effective management of grant making programmes which meet the needs of target groups and the priorities of the DCF and fund holders.
Marketing and Communication
• •
Oversee the development of a marketing and communication plan that engages with stakeholder audiences. Increase positive awareness of DCF; consolidate and develop relationships and partnerships with other organisations, individuals, local policy makers and the media.
Finance and Operations
• • • •
Ensure the financial robustness of DCF and oversee all governance and statutory responsibilities. Work with the Head of Finance and Governance to ensure preparation and review of budgets, management accounts and forecasts to enable Trustees to monitor financial performance. Work with the Finance Trustees to implement DCF’s investment policy and monitor performance. Work with the Trustees, and external experts to develop and deliver a digital strategy to improve the effectiveness of DCF’s work.
Person Specification Essential experience required:
Personal qualities:
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•
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Proven track record of senior leadership in a notfor-profit, public or commercial organisation. Track record of leading or working with peers to successfully develop, deliver and report against strategic and business plans. Experience of developing an organisation to maximise its ability to fulfil its mission. Proven track record of either income generation, fund development or partnership building through developing new and existing personal relationships. Experience of building and managing relationships and communications with existing stakeholders as well as developing relationships both locally and nationally to ensure an even wider recognition of the impact. Proven track record in successful team building and organisational development. Experience of managing income streams and ensuring effective financial management and processes. Ability to empower staff to get the best out of team members to deliver DCF’s objectives. Familiarity with managing good business practices – business planning, scrutiny, resilience, compliance, risk management, quality assurance and governance. An understanding of good governance and ability to work successfully with a Board. Understanding and commitment to digital transformation and impact measurement. Understanding and commitment to implementing equity, diversity and inclusion practices. Experience of working within or in partnership with the not-for-profit sector. Understanding of community development. Ability to analyse data, identify needs and opportunities, and direct resources to priority areas.
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• • • • • • • •
A leader who is a strategic, visionary and entrepreneurial. An innovative thinker, able to formulate and implement strategies within a small team on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Ability to influence, build and maintain strong relationships across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, as well as with national organisations. Committed to and a champion for diversity in all its forms and to ensuring equity and inclusion for all. Effective at leading and managing change in a dynamic and growing community. Flexible in outlook including attention to detail and a willingness to learn. Brings an energetic and enthusiastic approach, and a sense of perspective. Sensitive to the need to support staff in their professional and personal lives through good emotional intelligence. An excellent team leader and player.
Benefits • • • •
Salary: Up to £65,000 full time equivalent. Hours: 30 hours per week, Monday to Thursday. Additional hours may be available by negotiation. Pension: DCF contribution of 3% (employee 5%). Annual leave: 21 days annual leave full time equivalent plus bank holidays. Additional 1 day’s leave per year worked up to 26 days full time equivalent.
How to Apply To apply for the role please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (maximum two pages of A4) on the Prospectus website at the link below. Please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable. At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire. Applications should be made via the Prospectus website at: https://jobs.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/HQ00180408
Recruitment timetable
Queries
Deadline for applications: Monday 11th April 2022
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Anna Gardet or Amelia Gungah at Prospectus with a copy of your current CV:
Interviews with Prospectus: 19th - 27th April 2022
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Engagement meetings with staff and Chair: 5th and 6th May 2022
anna.gardet@prospect-us.co.uk amelia.gungah@prospect-us.co.uk
Interviews with DCF: 13th May 2022
If you require this document in an alternative format, please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email: executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk
Appointment Brief | 2022
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Appointment Brief | 2022