UKELA Executive Director
The UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) is seeking a new Executive Director to succeed the current Executive Director, Vicki Elcoate, who has been in the role over ten years.
Job description
UKELA has over 1400 members around the UK, from a mixture of professional backgrounds (including solicitors, barristers, academics, consultants, civil servants and students). It is for anyone interested in Environmental Law and in UKELA’s mission of making the law work for a better environment.
UKELA has eleven topic based working parties and eight regional groups. In 2012 it organised about thirty events around the UK including its major annual conference and annual Garner lecture. It submitted twenty consultation responses to UK governments. The turnover in 2012 was about £180,000 and the outturn was balanced.
UKELA has a public information website, Law and Your Environment, which attracted 300,000 visits in 2012. A key task for the Executive Director is to oversee keeping it up to date. The Lord Nathan Memorial Fund for the Environment provides a focus for UKELA’s fundraising efforts. In addition 2013 is UKELA’s 25th anniversary as a charity, which is also putting a spotlight on fundraising for UKELA and its work.
The Executive Director heads up a team of three staff – all roles are part-time and home-based. Some functions are contracted out and a huge volunteer effort needs co-ordinating by the staff.
The Executive Director reports to the Chair of UKELA and the Chair and Executive Director consult regularly on management issues. UKELA is ultimately governed by a Council of 22 volunteer members, meeting on a quarterly basis. A smaller Executive Committee deals with management issues delegated to it by the Council. The Executive Director attends both the Council and Executive Committee meetings. The Executive Director is also expected to liaise with the regional and working group convenors, UKELA’s patrons and UKELA’s President Lord Carnwath, of the Supreme Court.
More information about UKELA can be found in its current Strategic Plan and operational guidelines.
Start date: the next Executive Director is expected to start work about mid July 2013.
Principal accountabilities:
1) To provide staff leadership to the organisation, working closely with the elected Chair, Council (board of trustees) and Executive Committee
2) To help the organisation deliver its aims set out in the Strategic Plan and to ensure the aims are fit for purpose by regular monitoring and strategic planning review
3) To manage the finances of the organisation, working closely with the Treasurer, and to support fundraising efforts and member recruitment
4) To ensure that UKELA’s extensive events’ programme meets the expectations of members and delivers its charitable objects
5) To ensure that the available people resources (paid and voluntary) meet the organisation’s needs
6) To support and facilitate UKELA’s internal and external communications, including managing UKELA publications, social media, press releases and other media contacts
Benefits
Holidays: FTE 28 days (17 days pro rata), pension contribution
Experience and skills required
Essential
- Experience of a senior management role in small charitable organisation or similar
- Interest in UKELA’s mission of making the law work for a better environment
- Strategic thinker
- Experience of helping an organisation meet its targets
- Knowledge of the law governing charities and good governance guidelines (either by work or by being a charity trustee)
- Ability to manage a budget (current turnover c. £180,000 p.a.) and raise funds
- Experience in event organisation and managing event budgets
- Experience in staff and volunteer management and the ability to motivate others
- Web based skills (eg website updating, social media)
- Experience of working with corporate partners
- Experience/knowledge of using technology to support remote working (cloud technology, communications for remote meetings)
- Ability to work in a home (or other remote) office
- Highly motivated, self starter able to respond flexibly and efficiently to the needs of the organisation
- Ability to attend evening meetings, mostly in London but sometimes further afield
Desirable
- Knowledge of employment law
- Training in strategic planning and risk management
Qualifications
Essential: Degree level education
Desirable: Environmental or Charity/Business Management post graduate qualification
UKELA does not have an office. You will need to be able to work from home or in another remote location and be able to travel to London regularly and other parts of the UK occasionally. Travel and essential office expenses are covered by UKELA.
Further information
Salary: Salary: £40,000-£50,000 FTE dependent on experience (3 days pro rata)
Contract type: Permanent
Job reference: UKELA ED
How to apply: Application form only - apply by 5pm April 5th 2013
Application deadline: 05-Apr-2013
Contact Name: Alison Boyd
Contact Email: alisonboyd.ukela@ntlbusiness.com
Contact Tel: 01306 500090
Email applications to: alisonboyd.ukela@ntlbusiness.com
