Strategy & Planning Manager Executive Office Location: London Closing date: 27 September 2015

Transcription

1 Job title: Strategy & Planning Manager Executive Office Location: London Closing date: 27 September 2015 Contract type: Permanent About Teach First How much you achieve in life should not be determined by how much your parents earn. Yet in the UK, it too often is. We are an education charity. We work with like-minded people and organisations towards a day where every child has the education they are entitled to. We train people with leadership potential to be inspirational teachers in schools in low-income communities across the country. These leaders go on to work in schools and other sectors of society towards our vision: a future where no child's educational success is limited by their socio-economic background. For more information on the work we do and which regions we operate in, please visitwww.teachfirst.org.uk. Job purpose Teach First is currently working towards delivering an ambitious 10-year strategy which lays out a clear vision that No child s educational success is limited by their socio-economic background. Supporting this vision are the 2022 Impact Goals: five statements of progress towards achieving the vision over the next decade. The Strategy and Planning Manager will play a critical role in supporting Teach First s strategy development and implementation to maximise our ability to achieve the Impact Goals. The Strategy and Planning department exists to ensure that the organisation sets a robust and ambitious strategy, implements this strategy and keeps the organisation travelling in the same direction during the strategy. The department provides the organisation with a full end-to-end view of organisational strategy - from strategy and business development through to project implementation. As the Strategy and Planning Manager, you will work closely with the Head of Strategy and Planning on organisational strategy development, review and implementation. The Strategy and Planning Manager plays an important role in ensuring cross organisational alignment, guidance and clarity of vision to every individual at Teach First. The role will identify issues and gaps across the organisation and develop solutions to address these. The Strategy and Planning Manager will provide strategy and planning support to the COO and Executive Director, External Relations to support the development of strategic priorities in the Operations and External Relations divisions, lead on business planning, support cross-divisional alignment and ensure robust performance metrics are in place within the department. The role will work closely with department leads within the Operations and External Relations divisions, providing support and challenge in order to ensure that all divisional activity is aligned to the organisation-wide strategy. The role will provide strategy and planning support to at least two of Teach First s key workstreams within the organisations strategy. This will involve providing thought partnership to the workstream leads, supporting them to in their oversight of the workstream, to manage project plans and business planning and representing the leads on internal governance groups. The role will also manage the organisation s annual Strategic Planning Cycle, including developing the tools, templates and materials to facilitate the process. Key accountabilities Divisional strategy and planning Support the COO and Executive Director, External Relations on strategy and planning activities for the Operations and External Relations divisions Work closely with department leads within External Relations and Operations, providing support and challenge in order to ensure that all divisional activity is aligned to the organisation-wide strategy, organisational goals and the 2022 Impact Goals Work closely with the Strategy Managers in other divisions to ensure cohesion between plans

2 Lead on business planning in the Operations and External Relations divisions, ensuring key deadlines are met and plans are aligned with the strategy and other divisional plans Ensure the development of robust divisional performance measures that align with the organisational strategic direction and the 2022 Impact Goals with specialist support from Research, Evaluation and Impact Support divisional effectiveness by, for example, facilitating the sharing of good practice, providing solutions to interim challenges and ensuring teams delivery plans are joined up Work with key stakeholders, including the divisional leadership team, to ensure that divisional strategy priorities are developed collaboratively and implemented effectively Provide flexible resource to the COO and Executive Director, External to problem solve barriers to progress and lead on strategic projects within the division as required Lead on divisional reporting systems to ensure performance is managed effectively Support divisional course correction and prioritisation to ensure achievement of organisational goals and KPIs if necessary Work closely with the COO and Executive Director, External to support the development and effective utilisation of divisional meetings, including strategy days and conferences, leading sessions where appropriate Be a point of contact for cross-divisional collaboration and acting as an inter-divisional liaison, including developing systems and processes that support divisional and cross-divisional effectiveness Workstream strategy and planning Work closely with workstream leads, providing support and challenge in order to ensure that all divisional activity is aligned to the organisation-wide strategy, organisational goals and the 2022 Impact Goals Work closely with workstream leads to ensure that project management is strong and that workstream activities and projects are implemented effectively Lead on business planning in the workstream, ensuring key deadlines are met and plans are aligned with the strategy and other divisional plans Provide thought partnership to the workstream leads Work closely with the Strategy Managers supporting other workstreams to ensure cohesion between plans Ensure the development of robust divisional performance measures that align with the organisational strategic direction and the 2022 Impact Goals with specialist support from Research, Evaluation and Impact Support workstream effectiveness by, for example, facilitating the sharing of good practice, providing solutions to interim challenges and ensuring teams delivery plans are joined up Provide flexible resource to the workstream leads to problem solve barriers to progress Support workstream reporting systems to ensure performance is managed effectively Support workstream course correction and prioritisation to ensure achievement of organisational goals and KPIs if necessary Organisational strategy and planning Work closely with the Head of Strategy and Planning and the other divisional Strategy Managers to: o support the implementation of the strategy at an organisational, divisional and workstream level o support the review of the strategy in 2017 and the development of the strategy o support the development of the organisational goals, measures and KPIs that reflect the strategy, and ensure alignment of divisions and workstreams o support the effective use of, and development of content for, senior meetings as appropriate (Executive Committee and Senior Leadership Team meetings and strategy days), leading sessions where appropriate Manage the Strategic Planning Cycle (SPC) across the organisation Own and develop the necessary tools, templates and guidance for the SPC Undertake annual SPC review and make recommendations to continuously improve the SPC Work with the Communications department to ensure employees understand their responsibilities and timeframes of SPC Technical competencies Strong strategic thinking and ability to present thoughts and recommendations in a coherent manner Strong written and verbal communication Strong operational and strategic planning Strong project management Experience of strategy development Ability to plan and prioritise own workload

3 Strong stakeholder management Strong critical thinking and analytical skills Skilled in relationship building and influencing Strong problem solving Experience of financial planning is also desirable. Competencies required Commitment Championing Teach First Takes responsibility for the whole teams understanding of the Teach First mission, values and vision and encourages them to always take account of how their work fits with them. Creates an environment for the team that is positive and challenging yet healthy and balanced and fits with the ethos of the values. Achieving results Empowers the team to use own judgment and take decisions. Takes wider decisions that may impact the team/department and monitors effectiveness of decisions taken by the team and provides ongoing feedback. Confidently takes people decisions including hire, talent development and performance management. Takes ownership for the team s performance and accountability for required result and quality, also reviews progress towards achieving goals. Supports AD/RD in managing team expenditure and use of resources, ensuring value for money is always achieved. Integrity Managing and developing self Leads by example in their management behaviours, inspiring the team to generate high standards of work. Shows awareness of their own management style and how to flex and adapt it for best results. Understands the learning process and proactive in following this process and developing as an individual and a future leader. Seeking, accepting and giving feedback Initiates regular feedback conversations with manager and team (at least fortnightly) ensuring both parties follow the Teach First feedback model. Develops a feedback mechanism to measure the stakeholder s satisfaction with their team s performance. Encourages open and honest feedback within the team, facilitating discussions in this area regularly. Collaboration Communicating and influencing Uses management communication processes effectively such as 1:1s, appraisals and team meetings. Manages conflict between people helping both parties appreciate different viewpoints and work to resolution. Takes responsibility for disseminating the key messages to the team. Ensures the team are effective in their own communication, supporting them where they need help. Exerts a positive influence over the whole team, building trust and respect. Developing relationship and team-building Adapts management style to ensure productive relationships with others. Forges new external relationships which benefit Teach First and understands how to leverage networks. Works inclusively and reinforces a positive and open team culture in the department encouraging team working, team development activities and celebration of team successes.

4 Excellence Prioritising, planning and organising Works with individuals in the team to identify, prioritise and review their objectives, ensuring they are linked to the organisation. Plans and manages the team s workload. Ensures team is organised and processes run efficiently and effectively, e.g. meetings, regular reporting. Innovating, adapting to and managing Nurtures independent thinking in the team to grow their critical thinking and solution focus. Ensures team applies a sense of possibility to their working approach. Leads the change process with the team by communicating carefully, and managing expectations. Takes responsibility for ensuring the team implements changes to required standards and in required timeframes. Leadership Managing, empowering and developing others Sets high standards for individuals and the team, provides overall direction and supports them to ensure they are achieved. Delegates appropriately to ensure success of tasks/projects and the development of individuals. Motivates the team to give their best and regularly recognises and praises good work from individuals and the team. Maintains balance and harmony within the team, dealing with any conflicts in a timely and constructive manner. Manages profile of the team, sharing challenges and successes with others. Contributes appropriately to the recruitment and selection process for new employees in their team. Implements performance management processes correctly and objectively, e.g. reviews and appraisals. Helps individuals to identify training and development needs, and implement new learning. Confidently applies people processes, recruitment, training & development and performance management. Providing strategic direction and vision Develops and provides a vision for their team. Sets goals and KPIs in collaboration with AD/RD. Reports on progress against KPIs. Contributes to the department s vision and strategy. Location National & London Local Area Office, 4 More London Riverside, London SE1 2AU Salary band 35,750, increasing to 40,070 on successful completion of the 6 month probationary period Roles based in London will also receive the 3,000 London Weighting Allowance Benefits Teach First s core benefits include 27 days holiday per annum (7 of which must be taken during the two weeks of Christmas and New Year office closure), participation in the pension scheme (with an employer contribution of up to 6%), life assurance, income protection and private healthcare. Through our flexible benefits platform access to childcare vouchers, interest free travel season ticket loan/bike loan, dental membership, health screening, discounted gym membership, travel insurance, Give As you Earn (GAYE) and the option to buy/sell annual leave. How to apply

5 To apply for a vacancy at Teach First you are required to complete an online application form. Please have your CV and covering letter ready to upload. If you are an internal candidate please apply via your HR Self Service menu. Next steps We aim to provide feedback to all applications within 10 working days from the closing date. Please note that first stage interviews are likely to take place on 1 October, with second stage interviews following on 6 October.