Principal Director for Communities and
Localities
(Fixed Term Contract – Maternity Cover)
Candidate Information Pack
June 2017
Dear Candidate
Principal Director – Communities and Localities (12 Month Fixed Term Contract –
Maternity Cover)
Thank you for your interest in this new role at the New Economics Foundation.
If successful, you will be joining NEF’s Leadership Team am at an incredibly
important time. The organisation is proud of its 30-year history and now is the time
for us to ensure that it remains relevant for the next 30 years, you will be working for:
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An organisation that works in partnership with real agents of change, locally,
nationally and internationally, from trade unions and community campaign
groups to public officials and international organisations
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An organisation where staff build an international reputation for leading
thinking and campaigns
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An organisation that is at the centre of public argument and debate, from press
and broadcast, to digital campaigns and people’s front rooms.
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An organisation that is seen to tackle the issues that matter now – from climate
change to mass migration, new ways of caring, to building a more
participatory public realm.
The Principal Director will play a key leadership role in the organisation, helping us
secure the large scale funding that we need to research and campaign effectively
whilst building their own reputation in the political economy, especially as it relates
to the ever-changing policy world.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact either me directly
([email protected])
or
Rachel
Laurence
([email protected]) who will also be delighted to help.
I look forward to meeting with shortlisted candidates and thank you for your interest
in NEF.
With best wishes
Marc Stears
Chief Executive
PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR
Communities and Localities
(Fixed Term Contract – Maternity Cover)
The New Economics Foundation aims to be the most exciting progressive think and
action tank in the United Kingdom.
Our goal is to build the case for far-reaching economic change and to partner with
other organisations seeking to build that change here and now. We believe in an
economy that is truly just and sustainable. One that takes power out of the hands of
unaccountable elites and enables individuals and their communities democratically to
shape their own future.
We have a proud thirty-year history but we are setting out in a new direction. In
October of this year, we are launching a major plan for change, along with a new
website and new branding. We have also recently appointed two Principal Directors
to provide new leadership for the organisation, in Policy and Advocacy (Andrew
Pendleton) and Unions and Business (Stefan Baskerville). We also have a Principal
Fellow with expertise in campaigns (Dan Vockins) and another with expertise in social
policy (Anna Coote).
This role is a maternity cover for the third Principal Directorship, currently held by
Rachel Laurence, who will be leaving on maternity leave in early November 2017 for
12 months. The post oversees all of NEF’s work with communities and place-based
stakeholders, covering a range of projects, from neighbourhood level community
economic development work, through to practice and policy development work with
city regional policy makers and national government departments concerned with
regional economic policy.
You would have responsibility for being, and being seen to be, a vital connector
between place based communities, community economic practitioners, and local and
regional policy makers, and NEF. The post-holder will support a substantial team of
researchers, organisers, programme managers and economist to envision and initiate
large funded projects in this area, and will also maintain a strong personal profile
beyond NEF as a major thinker in the area of public policy. The Principal Director
will also be an overall strategic leader within NEF and, as such, will help shape
NEF’s strategy and help to make NEF an invaluable part of the broader movement
for a new economy in Britain and around the world.
The key elements of the Principal Director’s role include:
Building Relationships
You will have a detailed understanding of your stakeholders and potential audience
(in this case those in the public policy world) and excellent connections within those
communities.
Your role is to know and anticipate their likely needs and to create projects and
opportunities that they will want to commission from NEF with support from external
funding agencies.
Building Profile
You will be a leading public face of NEF, translating NEF research into interesting and
powerful ideas for the public policy community.
You will build a network of external collaborative partners who can join with NEF as
we formulate and deliver new projects in public policy as it obtains to the campaign
for a new economy.
Building Support
You will build a detailed understanding of sources of funding and will work to secure
funding not only for the projects that you are developing but also for NEF’s work
more generally.
Following the securing of funding, you will work with the Director of Finance &
Operations and other NEF colleagues to help develop project delivery teams and will
then contribute to and oversee the delivery of any projects that you have created.
Your primary responsibilities
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Work with the CEO, Director of News & Media and Director of Finance &
Operations and other Principal Directors to define strategy and share
fundamental oversight of NEF, particularly its fundraising and impact
Provide expertise and guidance for NEF staff in translating original research
into tangible ideas for public policy
Build and sustain deep relationships within the public policy community
Display an ability to build key partnerships in that sector
Develop and sustain a personal profile for quality work that has the potential
to be internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance, and impact
Provide management for a group of staff
Maximize fundraising opportunities across the organization
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Develop project ideas capable of securing NEF’s position as a think tank
capable of shaping public policy
Work with the Finance & Operations Director to ensure NEF is financially
sustainable in both the short and long term
Work with the Finance & Operations Director to ensure that NEF resources are
well utilized and delivering against funder requirements
Work with the Director of News and Media to shape the news agenda, making
it an essential part of the delivery design
To work to tight deadlines delivering against specific KPI’s
A typical day might involve
Knowing that the new mayor of Bristol has promised to solve Bristol’s housing crisis.
Understanding what research and thinking might assist him in achieving his goals. Knowing who
else would be interested in this project and how it might be funded. Recognising the skills within
NEF that could contribute to this project but also know what external expertise might be
necessary and knowing how to find it. Knowing where the funding might be and then, using your
knowledge and contacts, persuading the Mayor’s team to partner with NEF, find the funding and
get the project off the ground… OK this might be too much for a single day but you get the idea…
How we’ll measure success
The new role of Principal Director is critical to the ongoing success of NEF. We will
be looking to measure how effectively each of these new roles operates and what
contribution they make to achieving NEF’s goal of transforming the economy so that
it works for people and the planet. To do this we will consider:
 The number, breadth and geography of new projects developed
 The impact that those projects have and the traction they get in the media and
elsewhere
 The breadth of the strategic partnerships developed
 The funding generated and its overall contribution for NEF’s financial health
Knowledge and Experience
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Recognised excellence in place based community transformation policy and
practice, in a relevant field (such as economic development, public services,
community development)
The capacity to lead a group of colleagues in delivering key work goals
Track record of working in partnership with relevant actors to develop projects
capable of delivering tangible change that funders will be excited to support
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Appreciation of the importance of good project design and sound financial
management in order to ensure successful delivery
Practical experience of working in a Think Tank, campaigning, or for
Government at a local or national level, other NGO’s, politics or a branch of
academia
Demonstrable experience of successful fundraising
Experience of shaping the news agenda to make it an essential part of design
and delivery
Key Skills
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Commitment to building a personal profile
Excellent fundraising skills
Ability to foster deep relationships with a diverse range of actors, potential
supporters and campaigners
Ability to deliver ideas of originality, significance and impact
Ability to work to tight deadlines whilst delivering challenging KPI’s
Demonstrable ability to work with the Director of Finance & Operations to
manage NEF’s overall resources and maximize returns
Demonstrable understanding of how public policy is created and shaped,
particularly at the national and local level
Excellent at public speaking, writing for mainstream media, appearing on TV
or digital communications
How to Apply
If you are interested in joining NEF and believe you can help us to shape the future to
enable real change to real people we want to hear from you.
If you would like an informal discussion, please contact Rachel Laurence, current
Principal Director for Communities and Localities, on 0207 820 6300
([email protected])
Process
To apply for this role please send a current CV and a covering letter in Word format
to [email protected]
Please include a daytime contact number as well as a personal email address.
The closing date for the role is 9am on Tuesday 18th July 2017.
Interviews will be held on Monday 24th July 2017.
Terms and Conditions
An offer will be made subject to two satisfactory and current references being secured,
along with your eligibility to work within the UK without restrictions.
The remuneration is £45k - £60k, in addition to a generous benefits package consisting
of:
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25 days holiday increasing to a maximum of 30 days after 5 years
3-4 days of extra annual leave per year to cover the Christmas break (nontransferable)
Contribution of up to 7.5% into the Pension Scheme on joining the
organisation, or into a Long Term Savings Scheme after completion of 6month probation
Free Gym membership
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme with up to 6 face to face sessions for free
Interest free travel card loan
Childcare vouchers
Refund of an eye test and £50 towards cost of glasses if needed for use with
VDU’s