Director - Age UK Group : Job Details

Age UK are recruiting for a Director of Network Engagement & Support.

In this new, impactful role, you will be responsible for mobilising and subsequently continuously improving a new network engagement and support function. The aim of the function is to significantly enhance the understanding the of needs, views and priorities of local Age UKs and the way in which the national organisation connects with, engages, and supports them.?

Working collaboratively with local Age UKs and national teams, the Director of Network Engagement & Support will be responsible for developing and implementing a network engagement and support strategy. This includes driving forward changes that may include the type of support provided, the way in which it is delivered and how it is monitored and measured to ensure our approach is responsive, sustainable and supports the strategic objectives and operational needs of the network.

This will require collaborative working across a range of teams to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach. This role and team will engage directly with local Age UK leadership, be the owner of the organisational overview of the network and network interactions, ensuring risks and issues are appropriately managed and that there is an effective and transparent flow of information across the organisation and network including into formal governance mechanisms.?? ?

The Director of Network Engagement & Support will ensure the effective delivery and operation of several formal and informal network engagement activities, for example Chief Officer induction. Whilst taking responsibility for providing team strategic direction and management to achieve objectives, the role holder is also expected to be a visible and constructive participant within both the wider Age UK senior management team and the senior team of the Network division.

Please see role description for full responsibilities.

This is a hybrid opportunity, linked with our central London office. Travel to other Network locations is required and may involve overnight stays.

Must haves:

• Experience of designing, leading and building high performing teams including bringing teams together to achieve change.?? ?
• Experience of developing, implementing and continuously improving a support or relationship function setting standards for delivery i.e. KPIs/ SLAs including using technology effectively.?? ?
• Demonstrable experience of building productive stakeholder relationships at executive level, with an ability to influence and negotiate and overcome barriers particularly in relation to delivering strategic objectives.?? ?
• Proven track record as a strategic thinker, ability to recognise and navigate the overall operating context of an organisation, and think critically about evidence, business requirements and user needs.?
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders in a complex environment.??
• Good influencing, negotiation and persuasion skills with senior managers and stakeholders to enable the delivery of positive solutions.? ?
• Excellent organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise workloads, maintain systems, manage competing demands and work calmly and confidently under pressure.?? ?
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a flair for adapting tone and message for different audiences.? ?
• Proven ability to analyse complex information and make decisions/formulate recommendations quickly, communicating information clearly and accessibly.?
• Proven experience of improving outcomes for stakeholders through collaboration and coordination along with an ability to use own initiative to take action.?

Great to haves:

• Knowledge of the role of statutory, voluntary and private sectors in relation to service provision for older people.
• Knowledge of services for older people, with a particular focus on those provided by local Age UKs.
• Well-developed understanding of the environment affecting statutory, private and voluntary sector organisations

What we offer in return

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

All CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role at Age UK. Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.