WORLD VISION UK
DIRECTOR OF
STRATEGY
REALISATION
AND CHANGE
Cyrah May, 4, and her family receiving
provisions from World Vision after
Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines.
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INTRODUCTION
World Vision UK is part of the World Vision Partnership, working in close to 100 countries. Every day we bring
real hope to millions of children in the world’s hardest places as a sign of God’s unconditional love.
We are known for the excellence of our work. We have more than 60 years experience, are often the first on
the scene after a humanitarian disaster and benefit from long term relationships in the communities we serve.
We have been investing significantly in impact and evaluation allowing us to be leaders in the sector for measuring
the difference our work makes.
CONTEXT TO THIS ROLE
We last reviewed our strategy in 2010 with a mission “to inspire the UK to
take action that transforms the lives of the world’s poorest children” and we
set goals to 2015. We closed that period celebrating that we have supported
9m children since 2010 – 1m more than planned, delivering record income of
£90m in 2015 (up £18m from 2014) and growing our supporter base for the
first time in the period of the strategy. Our staff engagement also rose and for
the first time we achieved 3 stars in the Sunday Times Best Companies survey
with our ranking rising from 52nd to 9th in the table of best non-profits to
work for.
However, we did not get close to our original target of engaging 500,000
people in the UK in our work and while we delivered a record income,
propelled by successes in winning grants, we have not grown our base of
committed givers as we had hoped, shrinking again in 2016. This matters
because these committed supporters give us legitimacy when they speak
out on issues, they support us in prayer and they provide the core funding
we need to support the most vulnerable children. It also matters because
inspiring people in the UK is central to our distinctive vision - for every child
to experience life in all its fullness and for every heart, the will to make it so.
Also, with the agreement of the Global Sustainable Development Goals
for 2030 and the fact World Vision International was conducting a strategic
review, the time was right for us to conduct our own comprehensive strategy
review which is now complete.
We discerned that God is calling us to focus on the most vulnerable children
and to embrace our faith as a strength in all we do. This process also
confirmed the value of our highly integrated operating model that builds on
the foundation of our committed supporters and amplifies the impact we
have in the field through advocacy, campaigning and providing evidence of
the change created. However, this also confirmed that in time this integrated
business model will come under threat if we cannot return the support base
to growth. While the following imperatives are for the next 5 years, we are
calling that we need to get the committed support base on a path to growth
in the next 18 months to check this is on course and specific targets will need
to be set to reflect this:
Our organisational effort will be mobilised around our cause – We will
stand with the most vulnerable children – Join us.
We will live out our Christian faith with boldness and humility.
We will return our committed support base to growth.
Nine-month old Lalin, gets weighed at
Krang Lova Health Centre, in Cambodia.
We will intentionally grow unrestricted income.
We will amplify our impact through grants while driving down the cost
to the organisation.
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JOB PURPOSE
As a full member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the post holder will share the leadership of the organisation
with the other members and have prime responsibility of the realisation of our new strategy over the next 18
months. This will require a combination of planning, execution and change management and managing the
approach via which the entire organisation mobilises around the strategy. This ambitious strategy implies a level
of change that will require us to develop new capacities. A central part of your task, therefore, will be to build
the following capacities in the SLT and their teams:
Outward-focused: we must continually seek to understand and deliver on the unique value we offer UK
audiences and the children we seek to serves, where our cause of standing with Most Vulnerable Children
overlaps with the change they want to see in the world.
Innovative: we must innovate at speed, embracing the principles of ‘test and learn’ and ‘fail fast’ and not
committing significant funding until the benefits are clear.
Flexible, agile and able to absorb shocks: we must build flexibility into the financial and operating models,
seamlessly work across the organisation and partnerships and be able to match variability of income with the
nature of programming.
Simple: we must set clear priorities and simplify the ways we work, recognising that perfectionism is
sometimes the enemy of good progress. We will make a conscious effort to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
Digitally enabled: we live in an increasingly digital world and will need to make effective use of technology
to both deliver on our strategic imperatives and work effectively as an organisation.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Participate as a full member of the senior leadership team as well as leading own area.
Catalyse the organisation to mobilise around the new strategy.
Develop plans to execute the new strategy.
Stay aligned with the strategy implementation process at World Vision International which is occurring at the
same time.
Initiate new planning process to shift from our current very heavy annual cycle to one that can better balance
the need to set targets with the need to respond to the circumstances we find.
Identify approach to organisational change required in particular around our key enablers of 1) Outward focus,
2) Innovation, 3) Agility, Flexibility and Absorption, 4) Simplicity and 5) Digital.
Deliver some central projects needed to support the organisation overall.
Identify internal expertise / competencies needed in the internal strategy unit and find innovative approaches
to resourcing.
Manage external relationships with providers who can bring us specific expertise we need.
Support and oversee execution of change initiatives.
Provide a robust combination of challenge and support to the other directors who will retain responsibility for
delivery of the changes needed in their areas.
Ensure communications with the organisation and the Board are first rate.
Utilise data and feedback from stakeholders to ensure the strategy implementation is continually aligned to the
mission and values of the World Vision Partnership.
Utilise knowledge and experience from personal networks and the wider World Vision Partnership to help
shape the direction of the new strategy.
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Sponsored child San Sreyning, 10,
at her family’s rag mop making
workshop, in Cambodia.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Extensive experience in delivering strategic implementations and change at an organisational level.
Experience of working with leaders at all levels including board members.
Possess a working network of contacts that can be utilised to challenge our way of thinking and help create a
strategy for this time in our history.
Can bring a mixture of analytical, financial, marketing and innovation skills and experience to the role.
Experience of working in a global federated partnership.
Knowledge of World Vision or another INGO with similar challenges.
Strong evidence of commercial acumen.
Experience of operating in the most senior team of an organisation.
Alignment with World Vision’s vision, mission and values including a mature Christian faith and a passion for
children living in the world’s toughest places.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The role is expected to last for 18 months, will allow flexible working and World Vision will consider a part time
working arrangement. It will be based out of the London or Milton Keynes offices with time needed at both
locations. The salary will be circa £75,000 depending on the competencies and experience of the successful
candidate relative to other staff members. The package also includes a contribution to a pension and 25 days
annual leave (3 to be taken between Christmas and New Year) plus 8 bank holidays.
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MORE INFORMATION ON WORLD VISION AND OUR VALUES
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WORK, PLEASE SEE:
Our latest Impact Reports: www.worldvision.org.uk/our-work/impact
Our 2015 Annual Report: www.worldvision.org.uk/who-we-are/annual-report
World Vision has six core values that guide and determine our actions, and each value is a challenge that we seek
to live and work to every day.
We are Christian - We follow the teachings of Jesus who calls us to love our neighbours, care for children
and challenge injustice.
We are committed to the poor - We are called to serve the neediest people of the earth, to relieve their
suffering and to promote the transformation of their well-being.
We value people - We believe that every person is created equal and entitled to freedom, justice, peace
and opportunity. We celebrate the richness of diversity in human personality, culture and contribution.
We are stewards - We take great care of the resources entrusted to us by others, whether this is money,
time or trust, and we are open and transparent in our reporting.
We are partners - We work together with all those who care, recognising that more is achieved through
cooperation than competition.
We are responsive - We respond to need whenever and wherever we can. We shall never rest while
children suffer in situations that can be changed.
HOW TO APPLY
World Vision is working with Macaulay Search to conduct
this critical appointment process.
The closing deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday
18th January. Interested candidates are directed to email
their application to [email protected]
Your application should comprise:
A covering letter of not more than one and a half pages
outlining your motivation and relevant experience for
the role. Please specify clearly how your Christian faith
is related to all aspects of your working life.
A full CV, including educational and professional
qualifications, a full employment history showing the
more significant positions, responsibilities held and
relevant achievements.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend interviews
at World Vision’s offices in the last week of January.
Thank you for your interest in the work of World Vision.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with Macaulay
Search using the above email address should you have
any questions regarding this appointment process.
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