Programme Manager
- Location:
-
West Kensington, West London (W14) jobs
- Salary:
- From £22,000 plus a defined contribution pension scheme
- Company:
- First Story
- Job type:
- Permanent jobs
- Date posted:
- 21/11/2009 22:00
- Job id:
- 45871177
- Contact:
- Katie Waldegrave
- Ref:
- Totaljobs
Programme Manager
This is a key role within a new charity at a critical stage in its development. It offers the opportunity to shape the organisation as it expands its activities and grows in size. We are looking for a highly motivated, highly organised and enthusiastic Programme Manager who is committed to First Story’s vision.
ABOUT FIRST STORY
We arrange and pay for acclaimed authors to be writers-in-residence in challenging state schools across the country.
The programme operates in schools where more than 30% students are eligible for free school meals and/or where less than 50% achieve grades A*-C at GCSE. We aim to celebrate and foster creativity and literacy in young people and to create new audiences for the written word. We're cheerleaders for books, stories, reading and writing. We've seen how creative writing can build students' self-esteem and self-confidence.
In each school, groups of up to sixteen students (aged 15-18) attend weekly extra-curricular creative writing workshops with an internationally renowned author. The sustained contact they have with the writer, who becomes a mentor figure, is unique and powerful. Each school publishes its own professionally produced book and holds a public reading and book launch.
Since September 2009, we have had fourteen residencies under way at schools in London and Oxford. We are looking to expand into at least 20 schools by September 2010 and to develop a model for scaling up the programme beyond that. See www.firststory.co.uk for more details.
PROGRAMME MANAGER - JOB DESCRIPTION
Relationships
The Programme Manager will report to the Executive Director and will be supported by a Programme Officer, they will interact on a regular basis with the following:
·Executive Director and the Trustees and the Advisory Board of First Story with whom they will work to set the vision for First Story.
·Programme Officer and volunteers.
·Writers, School teachers and School students.
·Donors and the Fundraising Committee.
·Other charitable organisations with whom First Story has developed links and external agencies such as accountants, publishers, marketers and the media.
The programme manager will be responsible for the following activities:
Managing the First Story Schools Programme
·Implementation and management of an outstanding programme of creative writing workshops in challenging schools.
·Maintenance of relationships with schools, teachers, writers and other outside organisations. The role will involve proactive building of relationships to ensure the development and smooth running of the programme.
·Becoming a key player in setting out the long-term strategy of the charity.
·Attending and reporting on various site visits.
·Supporting the Executive Director and Programme Office in data gathering and the development of tools to monitor and analyse the effectiveness of the programme.
·Preparing creative writing resources for teachers and writers, which will include updating the First Story Book for 2010-2011.
·Managing the publication of the First Story anthologies. This will involve managing deadlines, copy-editing material and liaising with designers and publishers.
Financial tasks
- Management of the budget with the Executive Director.
- Liaising with the bookkeeper and accountants.
- Gather/analyse financial information and preparing reports including monthly finance reports.
Board Support and other responsibilities
- The Programme Manager will work in partnership with the Executive Director to prepare board papers.
- Attend Board Meetings and take the minutes.
- Manage Programme Officer/consultants, volunteers and work experience candidates throughout the year.
- Oversee the Work Experience programme.
·Supervising students at events and trips.
·Ensure compliance with Child Protection policy and requirements.
- Maintain contact databases.
Event management, marketing and PR
·With the Executive Director the Programme Manager will organise, manage and attend events. These will include fund raising events, school/teacher/writer events and literary festivals.
·Representing First Story at events and conferences.
·Develop of marketing material to promote the charity and expand its reach.
·Compiling information and writing copy for newsletters, journals, newspapers and press releases.
·Regular updates of the News and Gallery sections of the Website.
·Assist in the preparation of fundraising applications.
Personal characteristics and Skills Required
It will be essential for the successful candidate to demonstrate the following:
·Strong organisation skills.
·Comfortable working in a dynamic, changing organisation
·The ability to prioritise workload and manage your time independently.
·Excellent people skills and relationship building skills.
·Bookkeeping and budget management experience.
·Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
·Strong IT skills, including sound knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint. Website design skills desirable.
The successful candidate will have 3-5 years experience in working in private, public or charitable organization, good numeric skills, knowledge and understanding of the schools sector, fund raising, and management experience.
LOCATION
·First Story, 4th Floor, Charles House, 375 Kensington High Street, London, W14 8QH.
To apply:
Please send a cover letter (with ref: Programme Manager in the subject line) and your CV to Katie Waldegrave: info@firststory.co.uk . Interviews will be held in central London.
Benefits Include:
A fulfilling job, working on a range of challenging issues with a diverse team. Flexible working, 25 days Annual Leave per annum plus all public holidays and a defined contribution pension scheme for all employees.
Salary: From£22,000, full-time.
Please note:
Only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
First Story welcomes applicants regardless of race or colour, nationality or national or ethnic origin, religion or religious belief, sex or marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age.
