Chief Officer

Job description

**Background information**

Halifax Society for the Blind CIO provides a range of services to support people with sight loss living within the Calderdale area. Our aims include the provision of support, opportunity, learning, and friendship to people with a visual impairment. Working with partners we aim to maintain people’s independence as much as is possible. Our staff work alongside volunteers to ensure our members receive high quality services tailored to individual needs.

**Main purpose of the role**:
To maintain and develop the delivery of outstanding services to the HSB Community, taking overall responsibility for the effective operation of the charity reporting to the Chair and Board of Trustees.

Any others duties deemed necessary in the changing needs or development of the Charity.

**Main duties include**:
Work with, and for, the members of the HSB community.

Take responsibility for all aspects of running the charity.

Ensure the Charity complies with all health and safety requirements, including fire safety regulations and procedures.

Ensure the café and social events are properly prepared, served and safeguarded in line with appropriate food hygiene and safety standards.

Line manage the Operations Manager.

Line manage the Facilities Manager.

Attend internal and external committees and working groups.

**Management of premises**

Work closely with the Facilities Manger to ensure the building is properly cleaned and maintained, both indoors and outdoors.

To ensure that all work is undertaken in accordance with and safety legislation rules and regulations.

Maintenance programmes are planned around Members needs.

Nominated key holder.

**Management of staff and volunteers**

Supervise and support staff and volunteers, empowering them to contribute, to the best of their ability, to the efficient running of the charity and the creation of the right atmosphere.

To ensure staff appraisals, training and development activities take place appropriately.

Take responsibility for the management of specific staffing matters.

To lead on the organisation’s performance management processes including appraisals and work reviews.

**Administration and Finance**

Management of the charity’s staffing, financial and material resources, including involvement in staff recruitment and selection. To ensure value for money and best use of resources.

Maintain the administrative systems for keeping records, particularly those required to comply with current legislation including service level agreements.

Produce and maintain the operational policies and procedures needed to run the charity effectively and efficiently, and to achieve legal compliance.

Ensure compliance with Charity Commission and fiscal regulations.

Monitor and evaluate service provision with and for our members.

Seek out, develop and maintain working relationships which will benefit the members of the HSB community.

Adhere to and support HSB’s core values and carry out all responsibilities within accordance with our Equality and Diversity Policy.

**Person Specification**

E = Essential Requirement

D = Desirable Requirement

**Experience and Qualifications**

Previous management experience at a senior level E

Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification D

Experience of producing written and electronic based reports E

Experience of business planning and major successful fundraising E

Experience of networking and developing partnerships locally and nationally E

Experience of working in the field of visual impairment D

Experience in financial management E

Experience in health & safety E

Experience in employment law and related personnel matters D

Proven presentation skills D

Commitment to own, and Team, continuing professional development, attendance at further training and membership of peer networks E

**Skills and Abilities**

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a structured way with a range of individuals, both verbally and in writing E

Ability to listen and empathise whilst remaining objective E

Ability to collate and record statistical information to meet monitoring requirements E

IT literate across a number of platforms and willing to learn specialised software E

Ability to work corporately and represent HSB at corporate and service level E

Ability to prioritise and manage own workload E

**Qualities and Competencies**

Positive, pro-active, dynamic and self-motivated in order to drive HSB forward E

Personal commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices E

Inclusive and flexible, with a consultative approach to leadership E

A commitment to empowerment and empathy for others E

Conscientious and thorough in record keeping, data collection and data protection to support service delivery and development

**Other Requirements**

Ability to travel for occasional events such as training, forums etc E

Due to the nature of our work, guide dogs