Chief Operating Officer JOB TITLE: Chief Operating Officer (COO) Location: Hybrid; split between home-based and our office in Talgarth, with occasional travel to external meetings. Salary: Grade 7: £46,800 - £60,000 plus pension and life assurance Hours: 37.5 hours/week. The successful candidate may be required to work overtime hours to achieve deadlines. This is balanced through a flexitime and time off in lieu system. Holidays are 24 days annual leave (pro-rata) plus bank holidays. RESPONSIBLE FOR: Directly assisting the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in running the Foundation. INTRODUCTION TO THE WYE AND USK FOUNDATION (WUF) The Wye & Usk Foundation (WUF) is a registered charity concerned with the ecology and, more specifically, restoring the habitat, water quality and fisheries of the rivers Wye and Usk. The Foundation is a delivery organisation: working in partnership with other organisations, we raise significant sums of money to remedy problems such as habitat degradation, poor water quality and diffuse pollution, barriers to fish migration, over-exploitation of our fisheries and advance the education of the public in the conservation of our rivers. WUF is the largest rivers trust in England and Wales in terms of output. Our charitable objects are: To conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the salmon and other indigenous species of animal and plant life of the rivers Wye and Usk, their tributaries, streams and watercourses ("the River") and the banks, riparian lands and catchments of the river ("the River Corridor") and ... To advance the education of the public in the conservation of rivers, river corridors and their animal and plant life and the need for conservation, protection, rehabilitation and improvement of such environments. Our Values: Approachable – we are open-minded and value diversity Non-judgemental – we focus on the potential, not the past Inspiring – we lead by example Empowering – we enable positive change Passionate – we are absolutely committed to improving the Wye and Usk and their catchments These values inform how WUF and its staff fulfil their objectives and responsibilities. WUF is an equal opportunities employer. CONTEXT OF THE ROLE: Directly reporting to the CEO, you will be expected to understand all aspects of the WUF’s management of the organisation and have the ability to deputise when required. You will benefit from working alongside a supportive and experienced executive and a wider team. You will be joining a successful and growing river trust with a great team of people dedicated to delivering positive changes to the catchments and aquatic environment. We are setting the agenda for better catchment management. This is an integral role to the future success of the Foundation ROLE DESCRIPTION: This is a new role within the organisation created as a result of the expansion in the size, capability and remit of WUF. The key purpose of the role is to ensure that WUF retains its efficacy in efforts to restore the Wye and Usk as we expand and pivot our focus of operations in response to increasing knowledge and new opportunities. Your primary responsibilities will include: Leadership With the CEO and CFO, manage the organisation according to the strategic direction agreed with the Board of Trustees (Board) and within current legal and regulatory requirements. Foster effective teamwork and culture within and between all teams within the organisation and relevant teams outside the organisation. Operations Ensure that CEO, the Board, the Funders, and other key stakeholders have sufficient up-to-date and accurate information so that quality decisions and actions can be taken. Ensure that the operation of the organisation meets the expectations of its clients, Board and Funders. Create annual operating plans with input from the team, which incorporate programmes, special projects and services that support the strategic direction of the organisation. Keep track of the success of the organisation’s programme efforts, refining programmes and/or future planned programmes in response to that information. Draft policies for the approval of the Board and prepare procedures to implement the organisational policies; review existing policies on an annual basis and recommend changes to the Board. Stand in as and when workflow exceeds people resources or expertise in a particular aspect of work. Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operation of the organisation in line with legal and regulatory requirements. Human Resources Determine staffing requirements so that the organisation can deliver its strategic and operational plans. Establish a positive, healthy, and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations. Ensure the recruitment and selection process brings in new staff that have the right technical and personal abilities and values to help further the organisation's mission in alignment with its values. Use appropriate techniques to enhance staff performance and/or conduct; release staff when necessary, using appropriate and legally defensible procedures. Oversee the implementation of the human resources policies, procedures and practices including the development of job descriptions for all staff. Implement a performance management process for all staff, monitoring the performance of staff on an on-going basis, meeting regularly, and conducting an annual performance review Coach and mentor staff as appropriate to improve performance and encourage coaching and mentoring generally. Financial planning and Management Work with staff and the Management Team to prepare a comprehensive budget and gain approval from the Board. Ensure expenditure is approved within the authority delegated by the Board. Support the CFO and CEO in other financial matters Bidding and fundraising Write funding proposals and tenders. Ensure timely submission of grant applications and progress reports for funders. Risk Management Work with the CEO, CFO and heads of departments to identify and evaluate of the risks to the organisation's people (clients, staff, management, volunteers), property, finances, goodwill, and image and implement measures to control risk. Ensure that the Board and the organisation carries appropriate and adequate insurance coverage. Ensure that the Board and the executive understand the terms, conditions, and limitations of the insurance coverage. Marketing Oversee the content, production and distribution of all marketing and publicity materials. Oversee the implementation of the marketing and PR strategy, being directly involved as and when necessary and/or appropriate. Ensure availability of suitable staff for media/PR events as necessary QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE Essential: Significant experience of line management and understanding of accounting, finance and HR. Experience in budgeting, fiscal management and efficient and effective delivery. Demonstrable competency in strategic planning and business development. Proven ability to manage staff, developing processes that ensure the organisation runs smoothly. Ability to prioritise and communicate to staff key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organisational objectives and goals. Outstanding organisational and leadership abilities. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Office 365. Ability to work on own initiative and be proactive with a ‘can do’ attitude. Understanding of the natural environment, farming, fishing, the public, leisure sectors and industry stakeholders. Understanding of, and commitment to the Foundation’s goals. Knowledge of the issues affecting the catchments. Desirable Demonstrable expertise in fundraising and bid writing. Experience working with quality and data-driven evaluation. Experience in a membership or volunteering organisation and/or experience of working with professionals in other sectors. Experience in the not for profit / charity sector. Prior experience using databases. Experience of river restoration. HOW TO APPLY Please submit a CV (maximum 2 sides A4) and a covering letter (maximum 2 sides A4) outlining why you are interested in this role and highlighting how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria in the person specification. Please address as much of the person specification as you can. We recognise that applicants may be much stronger on some of the requirements for the role than others. Please apply by 5.00pm on Friday 24th March 2022. Applications receive after this date/time will not be considered. Submit your application to [email protected] citing ‘COO application’ in the subject line. For an informal conversation about the role (in confidence) please contact Simon Evans ([email protected]). (Privacy notice: personal information contained in the application will be kept for 12 months and thereafter securely destroyed.) RECRUITMENT PROCESS Candidates who are shortlisted at the application stage may be asked to complete a short written exercise (to be emailed back to The Wye and Usk Foundation). For those candidates then invited to progress to the interview stage, interviews will take place between 28th and 30th March.