Regional Partnerships Lead

This role is responsible for delivering Shared Reading in diverse communities across the region, by building and maintaining relationships with a variety of partners who work with The Reader, coordinating partner and internal resources to deliver on funded programmes, building wider awareness of Shared Reading in a region through local networks, identifying regional trends and supporting opportunities to secure new funding in the region.

Our network of partners includes libraries, care homes, housing associations, voluntary sector organisations, NHS partners and more. This is an exciting opportunity for a hard-working individual, with a belief in the power of literature to change lives, to join a dynamic team responsible for inspiring other organisations and their people about the benefits of our Shared Reading model, and developing ways we can work together.

What else can we offer you?
- Flexible Working Options including home working
- Generous holiday entitlement
- As part of your role, you will personally experience the wellbeing benefits of Shared Reading - you will participate in our immersive “Read to Lead” Shared Reading course to enable you to deliver groups, we do lots of reading with partners and you will see first-hand the impact of Shared Reading in communities.
- Opportunity to spend some time in our beautiful Head Office location at Calderstones Mansion House, in the middle of Calderstones Park. Here you can benefit from walking meetings in one of Liverpool’s largest parks and staff discounts in our café and ice cream parlour
- Great colleagues - As Regional Partnerships Lead for Liverpool City Region, you’ll be working with a whole range of supportive, committed colleagues who make Shared Reading happen for people who need it most across the region, especially with other members of the Partnerships Team, our Shared Reading Practice Team and our Development Team.

Key Responsibilities
- You will be responsible for successful delivery of the our Shared Reading model in communities, and for meeting regional targets for Shared Reading group numbers, through managing productive working relationships with numerous new and existing partners.
- You will use your knowledge and experience of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) and public sectors to research and identify potential partners across, for instance, sheltered housing, health, care, and libraries.
- You will embody the ethos of The Reader to existing and potential new communities, partners and volunteers, representing our model and its impact helping to grow the movement of people and organisations who will deliver and champion Shared Reading.
- You will be able to proactively outline the impact of The Reader’s Shared Reading model in our varied settings to partners and potential volunteers.
- You will deliver Shared Reading sessions both to potential partners and in some regular settings, such as mental health or inpatient settings, when appropriate.
- You will proactively build the profile of The Reader and Shared Reading in Liverpool City Region by undertaking a range of community engagement and volunteer recruitment activities in line with our targets and strategy, and hosting local stakeholder meetings
- You will collate and draft funder reports to deadlines, and keep our CRM system up to date with details of Partner engagement and Shared Reading activity.
- You will use initiative to solve day to day problems with Shared Reading delivery in fast-paced, changing situations that could arise in community settings, and seek guidance where needed from manager or colleagues.
- With responsibilities for your own localities, you will work as part of a national team, sharing insights and contributing to the development of team practices.
- You will work cross organisationally, particularly with the Shared Reading Practice Team, to meet targets and deliver a consistent offer to partners and volunteers, providing clear direction to other teams as required on operational needs for our Shared Reading services in communities
- You will also collaborate with internal teams on our communications, evaluation and fundraising work through your insights, regional stakeholder relationships and knowledge of the impact happening in our front line Shared Reading delivery.

Person Specification

Essential
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the purpose, social mission and work of The Reader to grow Shared Reading across the UK
- Experience of partnership working within the charitable and public sectors
- Experience of engaging groups who are likely to experience health inequalities and/or with mental health and social care needs
- Able, with training, to deliver Shared Reading sessions
- A love of literature and understanding of its benefits
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to communicate to partners in a clear, concise and compelling way
- Self-motivated and able to work remotely under mínimal