BUSINESS & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT BRIEF OCTOBER 2018
WELCOME
Thank you for your interest in the new role of Business & Operations Director at Publica Founded in 2010, Publica is a London-based public realm, urban planning and urban design consultancy and Community Interest Company. We bring cross-cutting research and intelligence to the process of urban change and provide tools for innovative and inclusive approaches to urban growth, design, and planning to help decision-makers shape policy on areas of vital importance to our communities. Our research and principle-led approach to urban change with its strong methodology, evidence-base, and industry-leading communications and advocacy for civic amenity has proved a highly attractive product for the built environment sector – a new service, pitched at the right time. Fueled by strong endorsements, we rapidly expanded our portfolio of clients and extended our services to helping public, private and third sector promoters establish critical paths for new projects and convince funders, civic leaders and statutory decision makers of a compelling case for Civic Urbanism across London and beyond. As a result we enjoy working with an exceptional client base and have an unprecedented pipeline of work. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved in the eight years since we launched and are now in a position to push our ambition and innovation by better supporting our extremely talented team, and developing our management, financial and business disciplines, enabling us to grow from a start-up to a mature player at the top its game. I am therefore looking for an ambitious Director of Business & Operations to work alongside me to drive this commercial transition. I am looking for an outstanding individual who can support the team, champion and oversee best-in-class business and management functions and build on our strong foundations to achieve an exemplary sustainable business model and grow the value of the company over the next five years and beyond. In return you will be guaranteed an exciting, challenging and rewarding experience within a progressive and forward-thinking organisation at the forefront of its field. I look forward to hearing from you.
Lucy Musgrave Founding Director
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ABOUT US
Publica is a 35-person London-based public realm and urban design consultancy operating at the heart of the debate about urbanism and cities. Our work is part of an international conversation about how to make cities more efficient, integrated, vibrant and safe, and how to preserve the vitality of urban neighbourhoods in the midst of rapid growth and development. Publica was founded at a pivotal moment in society’s thinking about the value of public space in cities, development and planning. Since then, our research-led visions and strategies have been adopted as urban policy and unlocked major public realm projects. As a result, Publica has had the privilege of restoring and creatively reimaginging some of London’s most significant streets and civic spaces. London’s diversity, complexity and openness to change has made it the ideal laboratory to test and develop this emerging field of practice. We provide intelligence and advice to planning authorities, Transport for London, the Greater London Authority, Great Estates, major landowners, Business Improvement Districts, national cultural organisations and community initiatives. The bulk of our work falls into two main service areas: VISIONS, STRATEGIES AND MASTERPLANS Publica develops principle-led visions, strategies and briefs for regeneration and restoration projects, developments, and masterplans. We investigate and analyse the social, cultural and spatial needs of a place to report on how it could successfully grow and evolve. Our engaging, visually-led documents provide a roadmap for the future, and act as advocacy tools to help our clients build consensus around new projects. URBAN DESIGN Publica designs public spaces that celebrate civic dignity and enhance everyday life. Our context-led approach to urban design includes studying the history and character of a place, analysing its complex social, cultural and spatial characteristics and proposing bold, ambitious solutions for improved enjoyment, use and function. We work with multi-stakeholder groups and collaborate with expert consultants in highways engineering, transport planning, landscape design, architecture and heritage conservation to create beautiful civic space for all types of users. We also have a Research team, which carries out studies and primary research to help influence decision-making at district, city-wide and national levels and are in the process of developing a new service, Identity and Communications, building on our reputation for strong advocacy skills and producing outstanding visual and written work.
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LUCY MUSGRAVE
Publica was founded – and is owned – by Lucy Musgrave, a leading voice in the debate about urbanism and the public realm. Over a 30-year career, Lucy has played a key advisory role in policy recommendations, strategic planning and the advocacy of design quality. A highly regarded expert in her field, Lucy holds numerous advisory and board roles across the industry, is regularly invited to sit on the jury for design competitions and is regularly invited to take part in panel debates and give public lectures in the UK and abroad. She is currently a Mayor’s Design Advocate and sits on the Mayor’s Night Time Commission and the Sounding Board for the Mayor’s Public London Charter and a Board Member of Public Practice. She is also a member of the Barbican Centre Board and the National Infrastructure Commission’s Shadow Design Group and Expert Advisory Group. Prior to founding Publica, Lucy was Director of the Architecture Foundation and subsequently founded General Publica Agency (GPA) with Clare Cumberlidge, a creative consultancy working in regeneration and cultural strategy. Lucy is a co-author of Design and Landscape for People: New Approaches to Renewal, a Thames & Hudson publication on examples of international regeneration practice. In 2001 she was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
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OUR STRATEGY AND AMBITION
Publica has produced a Seven Point Plan which outlines our priorities – and an action plan for delivering them – for the years ahead. In summary, our goals are: 1 H elp our clients make our cities more sustainable, successful, functional and beautiful; as well as more socially, culturally and spatially fair working through visions, strategies and masterplans. Publica is best-known for producing thorough and rigorous evidence-based social, cultural and spatial visions and strategies for public spaces and neighbourhoods. Our services enjoy strong demand from landowners, developers, investors and planning authorities who view Publica as a byword for best practice in integrating new development and setting effective design briefs for the public realm. Clients particularly value: •
Our in-depth research into – and analysis of – neighbourhoods and sites.
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The high standard of our visual communication and drawings.
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Our in-depth understanding of national and regional policy and a good working relationship with planning, policy and governmental bodies.
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Our strength in facilitating and building consensus with multiple stakeholders.
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Our strong in-house design skills.
We are also increasingly being commissioned to develop masterplans, such as our work setting out a new spatial strategies which establish the principles for land-use mix and resulting architectural briefs. Our recent projects in this field have been applauded by our clients as the long-term investment tool for decision-making and delivery they have been keen to achieve. Our aim now is to develop systems which allow us to produce this work more efficiently and hence more profitably, develop and promote our expertise as masterplanners and to build on our reputation to win more work not only in London but across the UK and abroad. 2 B uild our reputation as experts on the city, people who listen carefully, research well and come up with bold ideas. With our strong track record and reputation we are often asked to provide insights studies and original research to help influence decision-making at district, city-wide and national levels. Our intellectual capital includes:
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Surveys and analysis of over 80 urban neighbourhoods.
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An extensive database of research into examples of best practice in urban design and public space initiatives across the world.
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Over 110 publications documenting findings from our last decade of research and practice.
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A body of national and international research on urban issues facing London and other cities including housing renewal, transport and active travel, heritage and conservation and the creative industries, culture and public art. Much of this research has been published and communicated in the interests of wider dissemination and debate.
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Books, publications and reports produced by Publica on specific projects or urban issues.
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A substantial archive of articles and talks on various aspects of Civic Urbanism produced by Publica over the last eight years.
Collectively, this body of work supports Publica’s over-arching intellectual interest in defining – and acting as pioneers in – the emerging field of Civic Urbanism. Our challenge is to raise Publica’s profile and increase our influence both in the UK and abroad and to translate our expertise and intellectual capital into commercial reward. 3 6Design beautiful spaces that celebrate civic dignity and enhance everyday life. In 2012 The Howard de Walden Estate suggested that Publica should build on its strength in producing evidence-based visions and strategies to develop a physical design. This small catalytic project was followed by commissions across Central London redesigning Bond Street, Hanover Square and a number of streets and spaces across the city including in the Waterloo and South Bank area. Our challenge is to build awareness of Publica’s design work, invest in the people and technology needed to retain our competitive edge, establish new partnerships to increase our influence and firepower and expand into new geographic markets across the UK and internationally. 4 Communicate and celebrate the great things that are happening in our cities. Publica prides itself on the quality of its communications. Over the last eight years we have developed ways of using drawings, photography, narrative and film to explore ideas about – and for – the city and have created a wide range of outputs including maps, drawings, publications, books, exhibitions, websites, animations and films. We have a highly respected graphic design department and a strong track record of articulating and communicating complex ideas in a way that is accessible, elegant and clear. We should not under-estimate the value of these skills. In a sector which is inherently collaborative – and which depends on political and public support – strong communication skills are worth their weight in gold.Our challenge is to use our communications capability to grow Publica’s profile and reputation in the UK and abroad and to develop Identity & Communications as a service in its own right. 5 B uild partnerships between public, private and third sector players – and places – in
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London, across the UK and internationally. We are very much aware of changes and uncertainties in the development sector particularly in response to Brexit. Whilst our primary market will continue to be Central London we plan a significant push towards international work as a means of securing our global reputation and offering some insurance against the threat of recession in the UK. We are currently working in Toronto with prospective projects in New York, Edinburgh, and Moscow. We view our emerging global reputation and strong international network of contacts as giving us a competitive edge. Our challenge is to establish a reputation as experts in international best practice and for collaborating with the most interesting practitioners, academics partners and civic leaders across the world – and to convert this positioning into commercially attractive collaborations and projects. 6 Perform at the highest levels as a profitable, efficient and sustainable exemplar of a creative, principled and pioneering business. We need to ensure that we are equipped to capitalise on our track record and profile, manage our resources well to translate our market positioning into sustainable financial success. The challenge is to: •
review internal processes – and introduce sound financial controls – to make sure that we are working in the most efficient and profitable way.
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win new clients and increase the range of services we provide for existing clients and ensure that we are properly rewarded for the value that we bring.
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develop our capability in terms of developing long-term commercial partnerships and negotiating sales.
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stabilize the business, build reserves, establish a clear commercial plan for growth.
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make sure we have the structures and resources to allow the company to flourish and grow.
7 K eep, attract and nurture talent and create a team culture where all staff contribute to – and benefit from – the company’s commercial success. Publica has an exceptionally talented team. We are particularly strong in the areas of spatial and urban design research and analysis, design, graphic design and communications. The team is young and exceptionally talented and one our challenges is to retain, attract and nurture our staff and to develop internal and external talent to take on senior roles, to encourage the team to take collective responsibility for Publica’s commercial success and to introduce a bonus and profit share system to ensure they share the gains.
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CORPORATE CULTURE Publica has a tight-knit team united by a shared passion for the city – its complexity, its challenges and its potential. The team is highly collaborative with an emphasis on discussion, debate and intellectual curiosity and a commitment to producing work of the very highest standard. We are at an exciting moment in our evolution. We want to engender the same commercial sensitivity demonstrated by our clients, maintaining the passion and commitment to quality and integrity which our clients have come to expect and which gives Publica its competitive edge. We are confident that this will put us on a sound commercial footing and allow the company to flourish and grow.
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
FO U N DIN G DIREC TO R
DIREC TO R O F IN N OVAT IO N
DIREC TO R O F RE S E A RCH & S T R AT EGY
HEAD OF GR A PHIC D E SIGN
DIREC TO R O F U RBA N D E SIGN
PROJ EC T DIREC TO RS
DIREC TO R O F BUSIN E S S & O PER AT IO N S ( VAC A N T )
S T R AT EGIC CO M M U NIC AT IO N S
S T U DIO M A N AGER
30 S TA F F U RB A N D E SIG N , PL A N N I N G, PO L IC Y, RE S E A RC H , G R A PH IC D E SIG N A N D CO M M U N IC AT IO N S
S TA N DA RD S ERV ICE S PU B L IC RE A L M S T U DI E S
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A RE A S T R AT EGI E S
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S T R AT EGIC V I SIO N S
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CO M M U N IC AT IO N S A N D A DVO C AC Y
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CO N C EPT D E SIG N FO R T H E PU B L IC RE A L M
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S TA K EH O L D ER EN GAG EM EN T
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M A S T ERPL A N N I N G
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D E SIG N OV ERSIG H T
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G UI DA N C E O N B E S T PR AC T IC E
PU BL IC A’S PU BL IC RE A LM & U RBA N DESIGN CONSU LTA NCY
PUBL IC A’S COMM UNI T Y IN T ERES T COM PA NY (CIC)
PRIM A RY CL IEN T BA SE
PRIM A RY CL IEN T BA SE
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PU B L IC S EC TO R
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C U LT U R A L S EC TO R
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PRI VAT E S EC TO R
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CHARITIES
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BUSI N E S S I M PROV EM EN T DI S T RIC T S (BI DS)
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CO M M U N I T I E S O RGA N I S AT IO N S
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AC A D EM IC I N S T I T U T IO N S
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L A N D OW N ERS A N D D E V ELO PERS
FINANCIALS
Publica has an annual turnover of circa £2m. The company’s sole source of income is the fees we charge to clients on a project by project basis. Our current strategy is to: •
focus on key clients who account for our most high-profile work.
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secure retainers and framework agreements with existing clients.
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seek new, profitable, partnerships and clients.
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attract additional sources of income e.g. grant funding from academic and/or philanthropic partners to support our research programme and work through our CIC.
Our aim is to build our reserves, increase profits and give the company the sound financial footing it needs to forge ahead.
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JOB DESCRIPTION
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Job Purpose: The Business and Operations Director will work closely with Publica’s Founding Director to build a long-term sustainable business model, growing the value of the company, and creating opportunities for our staff. Responsibilities: Working in close partnership with the Studio Manager and Senior Team to contribute to the sustainable growth of the company by: •
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Ensuring we attract, nurture and retain talent within the business and have appropriate human resources to service existing business and growth. Creating a long-term sustainable business model which identifies opportunities for significant revenue growth in 2019 and beyond.
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Ensuring that the company is profitable and has the necessary financial reserves to underpin its sustainable long-term success.
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Establishing strategies to increase Publica’s profile and influence, building on our growing reputation of expertise and excellence.
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Working with the Founding Director to identify business priorities, excellent business functions and convert existing client relationships into retainer and framework agreements.
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Preparing the necessary information, financial analysis, briefing notes, plans and research to frame and lead discussions on strategic opportunities, issues and risk.
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Reviewing the structure of key roles and the executive and establishing clear areas of responsibility, reporting and communication across the business and all line management for effective working.
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Developing the company strategy for profit share and succession.
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Exploring, developing, testing and securing commercial partnerships.
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Exploring, developing and testing the feasibility of new service offers for clients.
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Developing our beyond profit work through the Community Interest Company to ensure it is a dynamic, ambitious and financially sustainable operation that attracts relevant philanthropic partners.
Implement effective operational control of the company by: •
Developing and implementing immediate and longterm efficiencies to ensure that we deliver profitable projects and build competitor advantage.
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Following through initial sales pitches to secure instruction.
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Establishing client expectations, service level agreements, fee proposals.
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Working with our finance team to prepare realistic financial modelling, scopes, fee proposals, programme and resources.
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Working with our finance team, ensure tight financial controls over all parts of the client work cycle from budgets to invoicing.
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Reviewing contracts and negotiating terms (i.e. IP and liability).
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Implementing procedures to ensure that project directors are accountable for their financial management and quality of their projects.
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Overseeing human resource, including appraisals, staff benefits, remuneration structures.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Required Skills/Experience: •
The ability to think strategically and operationalise into high quality business plans.
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Demonstrable leadership experience, including building and maintaining high performing teams.
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Highly analytical, with strong business acumen and experience of financial and service modelling to improve profitability.
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Experience of implementing the robust operational structures to take a small entrepreneurial company to the next stage of development, putting the processes in place to ensure its long term sustainable growth.
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Strong negotiations skills with experience of agreeing contracts.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Personal Attributes •
An inspirational team player, who can champion our mission, philosophy, ethos and creative capital.
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Values driven, always striving for excellence.
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Personal gravitas and credibility to engage with the most senior stakeholders.
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Entrepreneurial and fast paced.
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The appointed candidate will share our interest in making our cities more sustainable, succesful, functional and beautiful.
Knowledge of the built environment, architecture, design and the development sector desirable but not essential.
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HOW TO APPLY To apply in confidence to become Business and Operations Director at Publica, please forward your CV together with a 1–2 page supporting statement outlining why you are interested in the opportunity and how your application addresses the requirements for the role and person specification. 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 indicative timetable. Finally, please do not supply any reference details on your CV at this stage, these will be requested as required. Applications should be made via the Prospectus website at: https://www.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00173755
TIMETABLE Published advert closing date: 18.11.2018 Preliminary interviews at Prospectus: 22.11.2018 - 05.12.2018 Panel interviews with Publica: 13.12.2018 Second interviews with Publica: w/c 17.12.2018 These dates may be subject to change and candidates will be advised in advance should this happen.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS If you have any questions on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information or wish to have an informal discussion, please contact Ami Jenick and Eva Farina on 020 7691 1920 or via email at: ami.jenick@prospect-us.co.uk eva.farina@prospect-us.co.uk
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CREATED BY THE PROSPECTUS TALENT AT TRACTION TEAM. PROSPECTUS LTD 20–22 STUKELEY STREET LONDON, WC2B 5LR