The Law Centre is seeking a dynamic individual who shares our values and brings a creative, strategic mind-set with a deep passion for justice. You will be driven to advocate for those unable to uphold their legal rights, and as a self-motivated, committed professional, you are always eager to learn and reflect on your practice. You will possess the passion, skill and resilience to manage and lead complex, multidisciplinary work, while also understanding the legal and policy landscape in Northern Ireland and the needs of the advice, community and voluntary sector.
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer
Post: Full-time, 35 hours per week with flexibility required, including evening work when necessary.
Location: Based in Belfast although there will be a degree of flexibility regarding working arrangements after an initial induction period.
Reports to: Chair of the Management Board
Job Purpose
The post holder will have strategic and operational responsibility for leading, developing and growing LCNI. Working with the Management Board and Senior Leadership Team, the post holder will lead and support the development and delivery of the organisational strategy and ensure effective monitoring and reporting is in place. The post holder will be responsible for engaging with key stakeholders and developing collaborative partnerships to support the delivery of LCNI’s aims.
MAIN DUTIES
Strategic Leadership
To provide a clear strategic vision and direction for the organisation, and in partnership with the Management Board and others, develop, agree and deliver LCNI’s strategic plan.
To ensure there is a common understanding and commitment to the delivery of the organisation’s strategic plan, it’s vision and values.
To lead, manage and motivate all staff to deliver high levels of performance and to develop their full potential and ensure the culture of a learning organisation committed to excellence permeates throughout the team
To ensure appropriate performance measurements and key performance indicators are in place and measured on a regular basis and to take appropriate action if they are not met. To report on performance metrics to the Management Board at agreed intervals.
Policy Work
To work with Senior Leadership Team to contribute to the development and implementation of a policy strategy in accordance with LCNI’s objectives.
To work with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure there is appropriate measurement of LCNI policy related activities.
To work with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure LCNI responds to consultations and communicates LCNI’s policy position in relation to relevant legal matters at all times.
To work with the Senior Leadership Team and to respond and/or act as a spokesperson on policy related matters as required.
Business Development
To maintain a strong external profile to create opportunities for LCNI to be seen as a credible partner.
To be innovative and creative in developing new funding and income generation ideas and encouraging the same culture in the wider staff team.
To actively seek out and pursue new funding and income generation opportunities in line with the aims and ethos of LCNI to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation.
To set ambitious and realistic income generation and financial growth targets and actively drive the organisation to achieve these.
Developing Internal and External Partnerships
To act as an ambassador for LCNI and to present a positive professional image of LCNI and its work at all times.
To represent LCNI on external committees as required.
To develop relationships with external stakeholders including developing strategic partnerships and alliances as appropriate to ensure the future sustainability of the organisation.
To build and maintain strategic relationships with primary funders.
To be responsible for the organisation’s media profile and for seeking opportunities to promote LCNI’s role in the social justice sector.
To develop and implement a marketing and communications strategy to enhance LCNI’s profile and new business opportunities.
To ensure good communication and collaborative working relationships among internal and external stakeholders.
Operational Management
To ensure the organisation has an appropriate staff structure and in conjunction with the Management Board, to review and update this as and when the operational, budgetary and policy context necessitates organisational change.
To put in place appropriate systems and controls to ensure the efficient and smooth running of all aspects of the organisation.
To ensure that appropriate systems are in place to monitor and review the quality of LCNI’s work outputs.
To ensure that organisational and other relevant policies and procedures are up to date and applied appropriately.
To nurture and develop a positive and supportive workplace culture and ways of working across all teams.
To ensure that the organisation is aware of best practice and that it works to achieve this to the extent possible and within the constraints laid down by the Management Board and other resources available.
Financial Management
In conjunction with the Management Board, assume full responsibility for the financial status and future sustainability of the organisation, making decisions around budgets, spending, allocation of costs and ultimate responsibility for negotiation of contracts with key funders.
To ensure that appropriate financial systems are in place to ensure that the financial position of the organisation is known and understood at all times
Governance and Risk Management
In conjunction with the Management Board, to ensure that an appropriate organisational governance framework is put in place and followed systematically by the Management Board and other staff.
To ensure that all material risks to the organisation are identified and regularly reviewed and that systems are put in place to mitigate these to the extent possible.
To act as Company Secretary and to ensure that the organisation fulfils all its legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities within prescribed statutory and non-statutory deadlines.
To secure appropriate professional advice and guidance in order to fulfil the above duties as necessary.
Developing Staff and Others
To monitor and evaluate own outputs and that of the wider team through effective performance management systems.
To foster a learning and development culture and seek ways to provide learning and development opportunities for self and others when available.
To develop and maintain a working environment that attracts, retains and motivates good quality staff through collaborative leadership. To undertake any other reasonable duties as and when required by the Management Board.