Brief for the position of Chief Executive, April 2020 Credit: Christine Burke Contents

Chair’s letter 1 About us 2 History of The Kennel Club 3 What we do 4 Impact 5 Role 6 Person specification 7 Overview of the Executive Structure 9 How to apply 10 CANDIDATE BRIEF | THE KENNEL CLUB

Chair’s letter

I am delighted you are considering applying to be the Chief Executive of The Kennel Club. For nearly 150 years, we have been committed to making a difference for dogs. We are the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting the health and welfare of all dogs. Besides being a voluntary register for pedigree dogs and crossbreed dogs, we offer dog owners and those working with dogs an unparalleled source of education, experience and advice on puppy buying, dog health, dog training and dog breeding. We also own and run , the world’s greatest (indeed, one of the largest consumer events in the UK), as well as running or licensing over 4,000 other events for dogs, including Discover Dogs, London’s biggest dog event. The Kennel Club is governed by a Board of 24, elected from the Club’s 1,540 Members and is run by a committed professional staff of 215 people across health and education, canine activities, events, product and service development, marketing and communications, operations and corporate support functions. The Club is also fortunate to have a team of thousands of volunteers drawn from associated clubs and societies across the country from the dog breeding, veterinary and sporting communities and the wider dog economy. The Kennel Club has enjoyed remarkable stability in its executive leadership with Rosemary Smart very recently having stepped down as Chief Executive after 18 years. We are now seeking a charismatic, strategic leader to take The Kennel Club forward, working with the Board to develop and implement strategy in pursuit of its 2030 vision. Our new Chief Executive will bring a passion for improving and ensuring the health and wellbeing of dogs. The Chief Executive will also bring energy and emotional intelligence, building constructive relationships with The Kennel Club’s Membership, staff and other stakeholders and taking them on the journey to a new level of success, enhancing The Kennel Club’s reputation and delivering its mission of making a difference for dogs. Tony Allcock OBE Chairman

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About us

Formed in 1873, The Kennel Club is the UK’s leading canine authority, dedicated to promoting responsible dog breeding, training and care. It’s our role to ensure standards are not just maintained but constantly improved, so that each generation of dogs can be healthier and happier than the last.

•• We help aspiring dog owners find the right exhibitors to organise world-class events and pedigree for them, as well as to develop the resources they need to thrive promote the rewards of good breeding and •• And through The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, training to a dog-loving public we work with like-minded partners to improve •• We work with breeders, judges, competitors and the health and welfare of dogs of all breeds.

We believe that owning and working with dogs is one of life’s greatest joys. Responsible dog breeding and ownership is an important part of building a more humane society and at The Kennel Club, we’re here to help, every step of the way, throughout your dog’s life.

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History of The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club was founded in 1873 by S.E. Shirley and 12 other gentlemen who wanted all dog shows and field trials to be run fairly and honestly and with the welfare of the dogs in mind. They set up The Kennel Club to govern these events nationwide, whilst also creating a register of pedigree dogs.

The very first sport we recognised was field Today, with an annual income of £22m The trials, which test the skills of working gundogs. Kennel Club represents the interests of all Over time, we started to govern a wide range of responsible dog owners to ensure that dogs are other canine activities such as working trials, welcome throughout society and so that they can obedience, agility and heelwork to music. In live happy, healthy lives. This is delivered through 1939, we acquired the world-famous Crufts dog our education and awareness programmes on show (founded in 1891), following the death of puppy-buying, responsible breeding, health its founder, Charles Cruft. It has now become issues, dog training and day-to-day dog welfare. our flagship annual event and showcases a wide range of these canine activities to the public. Since 1949, we’ve been investing in veterinary and scientific research projects to improve the health and welfare of dogs. Modern health testing was developed in the 1960s, and now, in conjunction with the British Veterinary Association, we manage a wide range of health testing schemes and publish results for a whole range of inherited conditions. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, founded in 1985, has since it was formed distributed grants totalling over £11m to a wide variety of causes supporting its charitable purposes across canine health and research, support dogs, welfare and rescue. The Kennel Club Educational Trust, founded in 2007, aims to provide opportunities to educate the public about dogs, and to promote positive messages about the responsibilities of dog ownership to the general public. Credit: Oscar Sutton

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What we do

Working across two main sites, in London and in Aylesbury, we run the UK’s largest registration database for pedigree dogs. Our registration database helps us collate important health information, which enables us to fund research and initiatives that can improve the genetic health of pedigree breeds.

We encourage breeders to protect the health We also provide event, training and seminar and welfare of their litters through various facilities in our Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh, schemes, including our UKAS accredited as well as a centre of excellence for working dogs Assured Breeder Scheme, which is the only at our 7,550-acre estate in Northumberland. scheme in the UK that monitors breeders. There are many more initiatives that we We also help people to enjoy fun sports and work on, such as lobbying the government activities with their dogs. We run the world’s to improve dog welfare and running Petlog, greatest dog show, Crufts, and license more than the UK’s leading microchipping database. We 4,000 other dog shows and events each year. are a not-for-profit organisation and all of our profits go towards the pursuit of our mission Dog training is an important part of responsible of making a difference for dogs, either through ownership, which is why we run the UK’s largest The Kennel Club’s own activities or through dog training programme, the Good Citizen Dog its connected charities. Scheme, as well as promote the importance of finding the right breeder and breed for you.

For more information about our work to help dogs and how we improve their chances of living long, healthy lives with responsible owners, please see our Annual Report.

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Impact

Over 600,000 Grants awarded from Nearly 3,000 Assured dog training The Kennel Club Breeder Scheme members, certificates awarded Charitable Trust – over producing 17,500 to dog owners £11million to date puppies in 2019

22 DNA tests Supporting 336 Over 200,000 developed for more than 50 breed rescue puppies registered dog breeds, and 65,000 organisations with us each year dogs tested

Over 4,000 Kennel 1,540 members Nearly 7 million Club licensed shows people visit our throughout the year website each year

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Role

Responsible for the leadership of all aspects of the business within the authorities delegated by the Board, including business and financial planning, strategy development, budgetary management and building constructive and mutually beneficial relationships with the Membership, commercial partners, staff and other stakeholders.

•• Lead the development and the execution •• Ensure that agreed strategies, as approved of the organisation’s vision, values and by the Board in support of the mission, are strategy, in close collaboration with the delivered via robust business planning, Board, to deliver The Kennel Club’s mission budgeting and performance management of “Making a Difference for Dogs” •• Ensure that financial results, business •• Establish a close, open relationship of trust strategies and appropriate targets and with the Chair, reporting key developments in milestones are communicated to the Board a timely manner, seeking and providing advice and that the flow of information to the Board and assistance as appropriate. Support and is accurate, timely and clear closely collaborate with the Chair and the Board •• Develop, retain and attract a high-quality to ensure the highest level of governance leadership team to ensure delivery of the •• Establish and build positive relationships with strategy the Board, Kennel Club Membership, executive •• Deliver an energising organisational culture, staff and wider stakeholder groups consistent with agreed values, that motivates •• Protect, nurture and grow The Kennel and inspires staff to be the best they possibly Club’s reputation and good name, continually can in support of the Kennel Club mission, improving its public profile, acting as an vision and strategy effective ambassador and spokesperson. •• Lead and encourage a culture of continuous Build and grow relationships with the dog improvement and on-going evolutionary breeding, sporting and welfare communities development to ensure collaboration, efficiency, and with the wider dog economy in support financial sustainability and high-quality of The Kennel Club’s mission standards across the entire organisation.

Credit: Yulia Titovets © The Kennel Club

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Person specification

Knowledge and experience •• Successful track record of senior level •• Digitally aware with an understanding of leadership in complex organisations with new technologies, their potential to impact a focus on nuanced stakeholder navigation the external strategic environment and the and engagement contribution this can make to internal systems, •• Charismatic and inspiring leader with a strong along with delivering value for money track record of developing and empowering •• High level of ability to influence and build support high performing teams to gain buy-in and momentum for change •• Track record of sensitively and successfully •• Ability to take difficult decisions in a way that leading an organisation through evolutionary maintains morale change, including culture shift and increasing •• Politically savvy – highly adept at navigating digital adoption to improve efficiency and complex relationships whilst achieving effectiveness strategic aims •• Demonstrable budgetary and financial •• Big picture thinker, with the ability to identify accountability experience, along with the and exploit synergies between varying mental agility to successfully handle the activities across The Kennel Club’s portfolio – hybrid Kennel Club governance structures and to inspire and enable a ‘one Kennel Club’ •• Extensive and successful experience of working approach throughout the organisation collaboratively with a Board and building on the •• Good level of understanding of the dog distinct roles of the executive and the Board in economy or a strong curiosity, ability and delivering organisational objectives willingness to learn •• Bringing a high level of external ambassadorial •• Ability to work effectively and deliver results experience including influencing public policy, alongside a fully non-executive/elected Board. high-level networking and leadership to take people with them to deliver goals •• Entrepreneurial approach to opportunity in support of organisational strategy, along with a track record of attracting income through commercial activities, corporate partners and major donors.

Skills and attributes •• High levels of emotional intelligence •• Passion for improving and ensuring the health and wellbeing of dogs •• An inspirational and dynamic leader, self- motivated with energy and commitment •• A strategic thinker with commercial acumen •• Strong customer/member focus and exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage positively with key stakeholders at every level

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Overview of the Executive Structure

The Kennel Club Organisational Chart Overview

Chief Executive Officer

Chief The Senior Products Chief Legal & Chief Library & Marketing & Events Kennel Head Club Health & & Services Financial Disciplinary Operating Collections Communications Executive Club of HR Manager Welfare Executive Officer Executive Officer Manager Officer Secretary Manager

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How to apply

Please apply by submitting a CV and cover If you would like an informal conversation letter. The cover letter should address how about the role before submitting your you meet the criteria and outline why you are application, please contact Eliza Jones or interested in the role. Please also complete Elizabeth Theobald on 07793 529 508 or the Equalities Monitoring Form at the end of at [email protected] or the application process. [email protected] The preferred method of application is online at: Please note that the closing date for www.odgers.com/75686 applications is 10th May 2020. If you are unable to apply online, please email your application to [email protected] All applications will receive an automated response. The Kennel Club is an equal opportunities employer and requests all candidates complete an online equal opportunities monitoring form which will be found at the end of the application process. This will help us to monitor selection decisions to assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved. Any information collated from the these forms will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.

Personal data In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your sensitive personal data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your sensitive personal data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to us to use this information. Please ensure that anyone whose details you include, e.g. referees, have given you consent. Credit: Rachel Oates

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