CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT BRIEF | MARCH 2016

2 Ambition | Chief Executive

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in becoming our next Chief Executive at what is an exciting time for Ambition.

We have undergone significant change in our 90 year history. Our latest strategic plan, Leading the Way, shows how far we have travelled but we remain committed to helping organisations working with young people deliver services of the highest quality.

We have worked hard to forge partnerships across the statutory, voluntary and private sectors, developing high-profile programmes and services, and establishing Ambition as a leading voice within the youth sector. However, a changing political environment for youth services means that there is still so much more to do to ensure that our work continues to improve young people’s educational attainment, employability and health & well-being.

Our current Chief Executive is moving to lead Brook and we need an inspirational and influential individual who will continue to develop our ambitious growth plans. Last year, we took over the business activities of the Confederation of Heads of Young People’s Services and, this year, the membership services and policy functions of NCVYS will merge with Ambition.

We are looking for someone who is confident in their innovative thinking and ability to challenge. Your strong strategic leadership and business skills will be needed to build on our achievements. An important focus for our work is developing new partnerships and leading collaboration across the youth sector. You therefore need to be equally comfortable meeting politicians as speaking to our members and young people.

Ambition is a vibrant place to work and our annual survey shows that staff enjoy working for us. You will be supported by a talented team who care about the future of young people’s services and a board clear about its governance role. We are an organised and efficient organisation but with any charity there are frequent challenges to our funding and income sources. You will need to have exceptional financial management skills and be ready to respond to new opportunities.

I look forward to receiving your application and good luck!

Dr Selwyn Hodge

Chair

A MESSAGEFROM OUR CHAIRMAN

3Ambition | Chief Executive

WHO WE ARE

Ambition is the leading national youth charity, reaching over half a million young people every year across the UK. We have been giving young people in local communities the chance of a better future for over 90 years.

We enable organisations that work with young people to thrive through Ambition Quality, strategic support, funding opportunities and accredited training.

Our national network of members includes youth clubs, community projects, local authorities and housing associations.

Our innovative programmes improve young people’s educational attainment, employability and health & well-being by developing confidence, life skills and resilience.

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OUR MISSION

OUR VALUES

OUR VISION

LEADING HIGH QUALITY YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES ACROSS THE UK

TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE

WE ARE SPIRITED Our energy and determination inspire others

WE COLLABORATEWe value working with others to achieve our goals

WE ARE CREATIVE We are forward thinking and make the most of our resources

WE LEADWe are proud to use our knowledge and experience but also to listen and learn from others

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Raising the standard of young people’s services is a key priority for us. Supporting our members and partners to achieve Ambition Quality, together we will deliver and demonstrate the impact of high-quality activities and services. Through our commitment to improving what’s available, young people will get the best outcomes from local services now and in the future.

Using our knowledge, networks and expertise, we will continue to strengthen our members and partners working in communities across the UK. Our members will become more sustainable because of their relationship with us. Through our growing profile and national voice, we will offer funding and resources for our members to deliver locally to even more young people.

AIM ONEWE WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE UK

quality

WE WILL INVEST IN OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS

AIM TWO

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Young people’s needs and views will be embedded right across the organisation, actively involving them and our Youth Council in the design, delivery and evaluation of our work. Our programmes and those of our members need to be relevant; equipping young people with the tools to do better at school, preparing them for work and improving their health and wellbeing. We want to particularly work with those young people who need our help most.

After 90 years of working in local communities, our heritage is as important as ever. Celebrating this, as well as looking ahead with our ambitious growth plans, we will work hard to diversify income and invest in key relationships. Showing that evidenced quality youth work makes a difference to young people is at the heart of what we do; and this will attract and retain new supporters who share our passion. Through increased influence, profile and voice, we will make the case for investing in young people.

WE WILL LISTEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND MEET THEIR NEEDS

AIM THREE

WE WILL BE A LEADING, AMBITIOUS ORGANISATION

AIM FOUR

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Ambition Quality

Ambition Quality is fast becoming the quality mark of choice for all organisations working with young people. It enables organisations that deliver, manage or commission youth services to have confidence in how a project is being run, and the services it provides, whilst driving up standards for local delivery. This year we have secured new high-profile partners, Girlguiding and The British Red Cross, following Charity Commission endorsement.

“We commend the Ambition Quality + system as one of the ways in which charities can demonstrate probity, good governance and accountability. We only endorse quality systems that meet our challenging benchmark for comprehensive, robust and objective assessments of how charities are run.”

Paula Sussex, Chief Executive, The Charity Commission

Corporate Partnerships

Corporate partnerships are an essential part of our future direction. We were delighted to work with organisations who share our passion for improving the lives of young people. Data loyalty experts Aimia (the team behind Sainsbury’s Nectar Card) helped us better collect and analyse customer data to inform our marketing and communications strategy.

Staff from Niketown London volunteered to deliver sport taster sessions to young people in London, helping to improve fitness and promote positive experiences of sport.

Graduates from the John Lewis Partnership used their retail marketing expertise to advise us on brand development and income diversification. A member of the team has also joined Ambition’s board of trustees.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR SUCCESS

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HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS Ambition Programmes

Ambition’s programmes provide young people with vital skills for work and life, helping them make the most of opportunities and overcome adversity.

Action Up offers 10–17 year olds the chance to make a positive contribution to local communities through leadership training and volunteering. It provides them with the skills, confidence and qualifications to help shape their futures.

Preparing young people for the future is a key priority. Skills for Adolescence empowers 8–14 year olds to resist peer pressure and develop positive personal relationships. As the UK’s licence holder of this evidence-based early intervention programme, we are working with youth clubs and schools to deliver this project.

Something Constructive saw young people refurbish long-term empty homes in Liverpool as social housing for the local community; gaining accreditation and valuable employability skills.

Our Youth Council is a group of ambitious young people who work closely with our leadership team and board of directors to ensure we embed the views and needs of young people within our work.

Ambitious Growth Plans

Over the next three years we will expand our national policy and public affairs work and implement a campaigning strategy to demonstrate positive outcomes for young people. Critical to this will be establishing a scheme to recruit and reward high-profile ambassadors and donors.

We’re also pleased to announce the recent merger of membership services and policy activities from NCVYS (National Council for Voluntary Youth Services) and this move strengthens the membership benefits enjoyed by our current and new members. Ambition will also take responsibility for NCVYS’ much-valued policy information service and other key work programmes, and we look forward to offering these extended services to our members.

OF OUR SUCCESS

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INCOME

Ambition has diverse income streams and in 2015/16 received funding from charitable trusts and foundations, corporate partners, individual donors and legacies, and our property sales. Over the last few years, we have significantly increased our commercial trading income delivering strategic planning and fundraising advice as well as training and Ambition Quality. We see this as a growing area for the organisation.

In July 2015, Ambition bought-out its pension liability using the proceeds of our property assets and closed the historical pension scheme. Our income for the year ended March 2016 is estimated to be £1.4 million with a healthy surplus and reserves exceeding our policy of three months’ operating costs. We are in a strong financial position to deliver our strategic plans.

For more information on Ambition, including this year’s Success Report and 2015-2018 Strategy please visit http://www.ambitionuk.org/

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Location: London

Terms of Appointment:• Circa £85,000

• Annual leave of 28 days increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service (including three days at Christmas/New Year when the office is closed).

• Group personal pension with Friends Life with employee contributions up to 5% matched

by Ambition.

• Group life insurance scheme following probation period of 4 times salary.

• Rewarding Excellence Scheme based on annual business plan achievement.

• Annual healthy living contribution towards sporting equipment or activities after 1 years’ service.

• Employee Assistance Programme.

Reporting to: Chair of the Board

Direct Reports: Director of Development and Partnerships

Director of Strategy and Membership

Head of Central Services

Head of Quality and Training

Purpose:• To provide strategic leadership to develop further

Ambition’s mission of leading high quality young people’s services across the UK.

• To promote the strategic vision ensuring that operational development, financial performance and delivery are effectively implemented.

• To strengthen Ambition’s key cross-sector relationships to build organisational voice

and reputation.

ROLE DESCRIPTIONCHIEF EXECUTIVE

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Development and delivery of strategic vision

• Work with the Chair and Board to lead the design and implementation of the organisation’s strategic vision with clear aims and objectives.

• Understand and effectively communicate the context within which Ambition operates to drive change.

• Be creative in identifying growth opportunities for the organisation.

• Ensure that appropriate resources and operational systems are available to turn strategy into reality.

• Develop the annual business plan and budgets with the team and Board to deliver the strategy.

External relationships

• Raise the organisation’s profile with policy makers, politicians, youth sector partners, local authorities, education providers and others to increase Ambition’s impact on work with young people.

• Establish new and strengthen existing relationships that build organisational voice and reputation.

• Maintain and develop strong relationships with Ambition’s existing and potential members.

• Maintain relationships with Ambition’s Royal President, Patron, Vice Presidents and Ambassadors.

• Lead an advocacy and lobbying strategy that ensures Ambition demonstrates positive outcomes for young people and communicates key organisational messages.

• Maintain and build a network of contacts across charities, local authorities, government bodies, senior civil servants, think tanks and other agenciesof shared interest to ensure Ambition remains informed of developments and is able to maximise potential opportunities.

• Act as an ambassador for the organisation demonstrating high levels of credibility.

ROLEDESCRIPTIONRESPONSIBILITIES

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ROLEDESCRIPTIONManagement of the organisation

• Lead a culture of performance management within the organisation with challenging targets.

• Provide exceptional leadership which motivates and inspires the staff within Ambition to achieve.

• Ensure that exceptional organisational and individual performance is rewarded and that staff feel valued.

• Work with the Audit & Risk Committee of the Board to identify, manage and mitigate risks to the organisation ensuring these are regularly reviewed.

• Plan and monitor resources to improve services and respond to new business opportunities.

• Ensure that Ambition is able to effectively evidence and demonstrate the impact of its work on the outcomes for young people.

Finance, fundraising and income generation

• Produce the annual budget for Board approval and ensure regular forecasts.

• Maintain robust financial controls, risk management systems and sound administrative processes.

• Lead the audit process and ensure regular financial reports to the Treasurer.

• Oversee the custodian trustee role for youth club properties.

• Develop and grow the organisation’s income generation capacity.

• Pro-actively diversify funding sources and community fundraising activities.

• Strengthen relationships with donors.

• Ensure open communication with the Board on financial and organisational performance against agreed key performance indicators.

RESPONSIBILITIES

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Experience

• Considerable experience of leadership in an organisation where growth and income generation are key features, ideally at Director or CEO level.

• Experience of strategic planning/business planning and performance management frameworks

• Experience of identifying and building partnerships with external stakeholders

• Experience of policy and public affairs work to shape public policy

• Outstanding track record of financial management, performance and income generation

• Proven track record of successful people management and development to motivate and inspire others

• Outstanding communicator at all levels including presentation skills and public speaking

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong commercial acumen and an entrepreneurial approach.

• Highly developed financial literacy.

• Able to negotiate complex issues and secure buy-in at all levels.

• Exceptional strategic and inspirational leadership abilities.

• Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of people and organisations.

• Exceptional personal credibility to act as an ambassador for the organisation.

• Able to drive and influence change while taking people with you.

• Excellent political awareness with sound judgement.

• Knowledge of the youth sector and Ambition’s role within it.

• Excellent planning, analytical, evaluative and organisational skills, with high level of attention to detail and working to tight deadlines

Personal Qualities and Attitudes

• Passionate about making a difference to young people’s lives.

• High energy levels, resilience and tenacity.

• Creative, innovative and confident to lead business growth.

• Commitment to promoting equality and diversity at work.

PERSONSPECIFICATION

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PERSONSPECIFICATION

To apply, please forward a comprehensive CV together with a supporting statement (maximum two pages of A4). You should give the names, positions, organisations and telephone contact numbers of two referees, relevant to this role. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted. Please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable. Applications should be made via the Prospectus website at:www.prospect-us.co.uk/executive/job/HQ00164217

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications: April 19

Interviews with Prospectus: April 27 – May 5

Interviews with Ambition: May 19 and May 26

Queries

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Linda Griffiths or Sam Taylor at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or e-mail:

Linda.Griffiths@prospect-us.co.uk

Sam.Taylor@prospect-us.co.uk

HOW TO APPLY

15Ambition | Chief Executive

371 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY Registered charity number 306065

ambitionuk.orginfo@ambitionuk.orgt @ambitiontalkl Ambition (Charity)

Prospectus Ltd 020 7691 1925 www.prospect-us.co.uk

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