Director of Communications

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

World Horse Welfare is an international horse charity dedicated to giving horses a secondchance in life. Founded in 1927, and formerly known as the ILPH, today we work tirelessly alongside our supporters, turning their passion for horses into the power to help countless more live happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives. We do this by stamping out suffering, campaigning for improved treatment, and teaching owners how to provide their horses with better care.

We are looking for a Director of Communications to spearhead a strategic communications programme designed to position World Horse Welfare as the number one horse charity established to support the welfare of horses worldwide.

The charity is governed by a Council of Trustees, who appoint a Chairman. There are a minimum of 12 Trustees on Council, which meets a minimum of 3 times annually. There are four sub-committees of Council, which include the General Purposes and Finance Committee (GP&F). Membership of the GP&F is made up of the Chairman, Vice- Chairman, Treasurer and at least two other trustees. The GP&F make recommendations to the full Council regarding the operation of the charity. The other sub-committees are the Communications Committee (see below), Investment Committee and International Training Committee.

The charity consists of 7 departments: UK Welfare, International Training, Campaigns, Communications, Finance & Administration, Fundraising and Resources. The Senior Management Team of the charity is comprised of the Chief Executive and six Directors (UK Welfare, Campaigns, Communications, International Training, Finance & Administration and Fundraising). The Directors report to the Chief Executive, as does the Head of IT, the Head of Human Resources and the Executive Officer. One of the Directors acts as the Deputy Chief Executive (currently the Director of UK Welfare).

Responsibility and Relationships

The Director of Communications will be responsible for delivering a strategic – and measurable – integrated communications programme designed to promote World Horse Welfare as the number one horse charity both within and outside the equine community.

The Director of Communications will lead and manage a team of five communications specialists, ensuring effective teamwork and delivery against key business objectives.

As a Director of the charity, this post will have several key relationships in addition to the Chief Executive. Internally these will include World Horse Welfare Trustees and the other Charity Directors, especially the Director of Fundraising. Externally these will include the consultants, freelancers, key media contacts and service providers who work for the Campaigns and Communications Departments, and other charity partners. The Director of Communications will also participate in the Communications Committee, whose members include Charity Trustees with considerable communications experience. The Director of Communications reports to the Chief Executive.

The principle roles of this post are:  Strategic communications: defining and ensuring effective ongoing delivery of an integrated programme of activity, which targets key opinion-forming audiences and addresses the charity’s corporate reputation and business goals. The programme will broaden the perception of the charity outside the equine community and deepen understanding within it  Management: leading, managing and motivating a team of communications specialists whose remit includes national, regional, trade and sector media relations; opinion former and supporter publications; social media, internal communications and the website  Member of the Senior Management Team: contributing to and advising on issues relevant to the perception and corporate management of the charity

Main areas of responsibility

Communications

 The development and implementation of an integrated strategic communications programme. This programme will be reviewed every six months and updated accordingly, ensuring full integration with the charity’s business goals, as well as its fundraising and operational objectives  The creation and delivery of innovative national and regional communications initiatives to secure profile with new opinion forming audiences and deepen understanding among the equine community  The creation and maintenance of relationships with key opinion-forming media, often acting as spokesperson for the charity  Regular formal and informal contact with the fundraising and operational teams, ensuring integration and co-ordinated delivery with all communications initiatives  Support for all relevant charity employees and Trustees in carrying out communications roles  The management of the charity’s corporate reputation and image through all communications activities, internally and externally  The design and development of an ongoing evaluation system of communications activities and their impact on key opinion forming audiences  Presentation of, and responsibility for, strategic communications at the Communications Committee

Management

 Contribution to the strategic planning and management of World Horse Welfare through membership of the Senior Management Team  Management of the Communications Team, defining and tracking their work, helping them develop their roles, meet objectives and deliver goals, but also inspiring a team culture and co-ordinated sense of purpose  Direction and management of any work undertaken by external consultancies and agencies  Preparation and management of operational budgets for the Communications Department, including directing the work or external consultants and agencies  Development and maintenance of a structured training programme for all staff in the communication team, ensuring that all team members – including the Director – maintain a leading edge knowledge of communications best practice

 To ensure the provision of adequate resources to allow for the effective implementation of a suitable system for Managing the Health and Safety risks of the organisation and to ensure a commitment to continuous improvement  To monitor the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Management system and the level of staff compliance in order to reduce the risks as low as reasonably practicable  To record the results of regular reviews of the Health and Safety Management system  To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required of a Director

Location and Rewards

The Director of Communications will have the opportunity of working from offices in Central London and Norfolk. The role will require spending a minimum of two days a week in Norfolk, directing and managing the Communications Team there but also remotely when working in London.

This is a full time role. The salary will be paid at the market rate and is available upon request. Rewards include: pension scheme (6% employee/12% employer), private health scheme, 28 days holiday (including Bank Holidays) and extended Christmas shutdown. Person Specification Experience

EDUCATIONAL/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION ASSESSED Educated to degree level – preferable CV Management qualification or training – desirable CV; refs Professional association membership - desirable CV KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE 10 years communications experience either within an organisation CV, Refs or a consultancy 5 years of managing and developing teams, defining targets and CV, Refs enabling them to achieve goals Strong relationships with national opinion forming media, and a key CV, Refs, Interview understanding of how to create a profile for a national charity within this audience Demonstrable success in defining and delivering strategic CV, Refs, Interview communications programmes, spanning a variety of audiences and media Experience of sound financial management and managing budgets Refs, Interview and financial forecasts SKILLS AND ABILITIES Ability to make presentations to the Chief Executive and Trustees Interview, Refs and to gain their confidence in delivering against business objectives Ability to prioritise and organise own work schedule and manage Interview, Refs those of others effectively Excellent interpersonal skills at all levels Interview, Refs Entrepreneurial approach and an ability to think creatively, with a Interview, Refs positive approach to problem solving Ability to motivate a team and effectively set and monitor team Interview, Refs tasks First class oral and written communication CV, Interview, Refs First class networking skills IT literate, including basic word processing, spreadsheet skills and Interview, Refs use of media contact databases To have an understanding of, and an ability to promote and Interview implement, best practice in all areas of workplace management ATTITUDES AND VALUES A commitment to the vision, values and objectives of World Horse Interview Welfare Confident, robust and outgoing personality Interview Patience, tact and diplomacy to manage relationships with the full Interview; Refs breadth of World Horse Welfare stakeholders Self-motivated and results driven Interview