Chief Executive

INTRODUCTION

Safe Passage International (“Safe Passage”) is a registered company that has just secured charity status. It is presently a project of the charity Citizens UK, which has decided that Safe Passage is now ready to become an independent charity in its own right. Safe Passage is currently being led on an acting basis by its former Head of Campaigns and Communication, following the resignation of its founding project director.

Safe Passage’s mission is to open and strengthen safe and legal routes to protection for refugees, asylum seekers; and supporting their first steps towards rebuilding their lives. Its main focus is on reuniting refugee children with their families. It currently has a Board of eight Trustees, and a workforce of 25 including some self-employed contractors and those working part time. Most staff are in the UK office in Whitechapel, London, but some are based in Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. Annual income is running at £1.1 million. With the full agreement of Citizens UK, the Board now wishes to appoint a Chief Executive to lead Safe Passage as it becomes an independent charity, consolidates and develops its role.

Applications will be welcomed from internal and external candidates.

SUMMARY OF ROLE: 

To advise the Trustees on the strategy, policies, and effective organisational development of the charity and to manage its day to day operations and administration.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

“To advise the Trustees on the strategy, policies, and effective organisational development of the charity”

• Ensure the Board receives timely, accurate and proportionate information and advice to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities.
• Maintain open, fluent communication with the Chair, consulting him on all decisions that may affect the responsibilities of the Board.
• Develop coherent strategy proposals with clear and realistic priorities and milestones, drawing fully on the appropriate range of experience and ideas within and beyond the charity.
• Report regularly and honestly to the Board against the approved strategy, so they are fully aware of progress, shortcomings and risks.
• Ensure well drafted policies are in place as necessary for the sound running of the charity according to high standards of good practice in all dimensions.
• Maintain an up to date risk register and enable the Board to integrate a full awareness of risks in its decision-making at all times.

         “To manage the charity’s day to day operations and administration”

• Manage the staff team as a whole according to good employment practice, and ensuring sustained, high levels of motivation and performance.
• Supply the necessary combination of inspiration, support, guidance, delegation and challenge to direct reports (currently planned to be seven).
• Keep the finances of the charity under careful review at all times and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure sustainability and enable the charity to live within its means.
• Nurture the effectiveness, resilience, diversity and appropriateness of fundraising.
• Ensure that the charity adheres to all legal requirements and is well administered according to best practice.
• Develop fruitful relationships with the charity’s key stakeholders, including donors and supporters, Government Ministers and officials, allies in the legal profession, politics and the media, and other organisations working in fields relevant to our mission.
• Where appropriate, forge effective collaborations with allied organisations and individuals when that will have the best results for our mission.
• Ensure maximum effectiveness in advocacy, lobbying and campaigning in support of Safe Passage’s mission, linked to strategically guided casework with individuals.
• Strike a considered balance, in the UK and in other countries where we operate, between the direct interventions of Safe Passage itself and the capacity-building and encouragement of other players to take action.
• Maintain an overview of the messaging and communications of the charity, to ensure that they are effective, consistent with our values and strategy, and appropriate for a charity.
• Ensure effective working between the head office of Safe Passage in the UK and the country organisations and their local governance?

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Strong personal commitment to the mission of Safe Passage.
• Familiarity with policy and legal issues relating to refugees and migrants, in the UK and the rest of Europe.
• Demonstrable ability to think and act strategically and focus on priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, and ability to inspire and persuade a wide variety of different audiences.
• Experience of managing a charity at CEO or Deputy CEO level, and familiarity with relevant regulatory requirements.
• Experience of working successfully with the Board of a charity.
• Track record of managing staff to a high level of motivation and effectiveness, in a high-octane environment.
• Track record of successful advocacy, lobbying or campaigning in a relevant policy area.
• Temperament to react rationally and calmly to crises, strong pressures and sudden opportunities.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a European context beyond the UK alone.
• Proficiency in a relevant language, in addition to fluent English, such as French, Italian or Greek.
• Track record of successful fundraising from Trusts and Foundations, UN agencies, philanthropists or the public.
• Experience of use of the law to advance strategic policy objectives.
• Demonstrable media and/or political savvy.

SAFEGUARDING: Level 2 – to be completed immediately upon hiring, enhanced DBS or equivalent.

Please submit a cover letters and CV’s to: hr@safepassage.org.uk  Closing date: Tuesday 9^th October 2018

Interviews to be held: 17^th October & 23^rd October 2018