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Deaf Unity is seeking an Organisational Development Consultant with experience of successfully supporting small charities through growth and change.  

We are planning the transition from a freelance to a PAYE salary structure and require support with: 

• Designing an appropriate staffing structure 

• Benchmarking salaries 

• Business and financial planning 

• HR/employment systems and policies, related training 

• Governance 

The overall aim of this commission is to establish an effective and well-managed staffing structure for the organisation, with strong systems and policies embedded across our teams. Ultimately this will build Deaf Unity’s stability and resilience for the long-term. 

Deaf Unity: mission and purpose 

Deaf Unity is a deaf-led charity (CIO), based in London, that works to empower, nurture and train deaf individuals. Our particular focus is on three main points of transition that are pivotal in enabling deaf people to realise their potential – and to thrive within and contribute fully to society. These transition points are: 

• leaving school to enter further/higher education 

• entering the workforce 

• progressing in the workplace 

We work with our community in London to identify the barriers deaf people face at every stage of this journey, empowering them to make informed choices and to succeed. We partner with stakeholders (universities, employers, voluntary sector partners) to decrease, overcome or eradicate these barriers altogether. 

From our home base in London, we work alongside our community and partners to develop and deliver new initiatives in response to clearly identified needs. We directly engage 300+ deaf people each year: inspiring and supporting school-leavers to take their first steps into higher education; empowering graduates and employees to navigate the world of work with confidence; and connecting deaf people with each other to build community, tackle isolation, mobilise around key issues and break down barriers to learning and employment. Sharing and dissemination of our work (including online to reach the national community) goes on to engage far greater numbers. 

Deaf Unity generates much of its income from providing interpreting and consultancy services and delivering training (British Sign Language and deaf awareness courses).  This activity fully aligns with our charitable mission and generates essential unrestricted funding to support our wider activities. Income in the year ending December 2023 was £115,316, of which over 80% was generated from course delivery and interpreting services. That year we generated a surplus of £11,102. 

Context for the commission 

To date, deaf Unity’s programmes have been delivered entirely by a freelance team: CEO, administrator,  tutors and project managers/coordinators leading on different streams of activity.  We have recently recruited a Training and Operations Manager (freelance) to lead on training and interpreting services. 

Activity continues to grow. Turnover in 2024 was c. £175,000 (final accounts are currently being produced), demand for courses is strong and we have had a successful year of fundraising. 

Our activities engage a broad range of beneficiaries, participants and stakeholders: deaf students and employees; our local deaf community in London; and many different stakeholders – universities, employers and local councils – working with us to remove the barriers that disadvantage deaf people and prevent access to opportunity. We are proud of a track record of impactful interventions that have made a real difference in the prospects of deaf learners, jobseekers and employees. 

This said, we have not reaped the full benefits of the partnerships and experience that have contributed to this success. A wholly freelance workforce means skills, knowledge, relationships and learning are regularly lost. We now wish to bring a core team into a salaried, PAYE structure to assure greater stability and continuity. We wish to invest in our people and demonstrate good employability practices, as champions of Deaf parity in the workplace. Specialist support is needed to ensure a good process, an affordable structure, and that appropriate systems, policies and structures are in place to support future work.

In late 2023, the Board of Trustees agreed a forward plan, setting out the charity’s objectives and the activities we plan to deliver over the next 3-5 years. Our work is guided by 5 high-level, strategic objectives. We aim that by 2028:

1. Deaf Unity will have created in partnership with London schools a high-quality, effective careers advice pack/toolkit which can be accessed digitally by schools across the UK to inspire and support deaf learners on their FE/HE/vocational journey.

2. Deaf Unity will be providing a comprehensive package of support around employability, that is recognised and in use by 5 leading nationwide employers and by the National Union of Students (NUS). 

3.  We will be hosting in London a highly respected, impactful annual event for deaf people in work that is reaching 100 deaf people each year, directly or indirectly 

4. Deaf Unity will be able to evidence that the CIO is making a substantial positive difference in the lives of learners, students and employees - through quantitative and qualitative feedback including testimonials and case studies 

5. Our organisation will be stable, financially secure and resilient, supported by strong governance and management systems and effective partnership networks

This commission directly supports objective 5. 

In parallel with this: 

1. Deaf Unity will work with an Evaluation specialist to develop a practical, effective evaluation framework and plan enabling us to capture and analyse our impact across the full range of our activities. This will enable us to improve the design and delivery of our services and activities, on an ongoing basis and to better evidence the charity’s impact and the difference we are making in people’s lives. 

2. Staff and Trustees will undertake training to address identified skills and knowledge gaps (a modest budget is allocated for this) 

This programme of development activity is kindly funded by Trust for London. 

In the course of the year Deaf Unity will also be working with a corporate partner offering pro-bono support to redevelop the website and advise on online course delivery. 

Overview of role 

The consultant will be required to lead and support Deaf Unity’s CEO and Board through a systematic approach to agreeing, implementing and embedding the new structure. We currently envisage that this will include: 

• A review of the functions, skills and competencies required to deliver Deaf Unity’s forward plan 

• Producing a proposed, costed staff structure, with salaries, rates of pay and conditions that are benchmarked against the sector and meet good practice e.g. in terms of Living Wage parity 

• Business planning to include producing a revised budget for 2025 (currently indicative only) and an indicative budget for 2026, based on current levels of activity/growth, to ensure that the new structure is affordable. (An in-depth business development process is planned for a later stage, separate from this commission) 

• A review of governance and existing policies

• Support with the transition process e.g. ensuring that the moving of any freelance staff to salaried contracts is compliant with the law and with good employment practice

• Development of a training plan (spanning the Board, staff and freelance team) to address identified skills gaps 

We will however welcome alternative proposals for how this work might most effectively be structured.

Schedule 

We aim to start work in mid April 2025, completing by end October 2025 (7 months). The consultant will be required to work flexibly throughout this period and this will be negotiated with you on appointment, bearing in mind your other commitments. 

Time commitment: estimated 15-20 days over a 7-month period 

Fees: Fixed fee is £8,250 inclusive of VAT and expenses 

Specification 

The consultant will - 

• Inform and guide the transition to this new staffing model and way of working, to ensure the resulting structures are effective, affordable and compliant with statutory requirements and with best practice 

• Provide hands-on practical support where necessary e.g. benchmarking salaries, drafting job descriptions, reviewing and updating budgets, reviewing policies 

• Be aware of and alert to Deaf Unity’s ongoing, parallel streams of activity (e.g. evaluation work, development of website) and strive to maximise synergies and added value linked to these 

• Have due regard throughout the process to Deaf Unity’s charitable objects, so as to ensure that all progress is made with these and the good of our beneficiaries in mind 

Person specification 

Essential 

• Evidenced skills and experience in supporting projects of this nature for third sector organisations that have limited capacity and resources 

• Comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of employment/HR law and practice 

• An understanding of the operating context of a charity such as ours, that is reliant on mixed income streams including fees, public grants and charitable grants. 

• Experience of business planning for the voluntary sector 

• Exceptional communication and strong facilitation skills, coupled with sensitivity and a commitment to confidentiality 

Desirable 

• Some knowledge of British Sign Language 

• Familiarity with the XERO accounting system 

• Commitment to values of social justice and equity 

• Experience of working with the deaf community 

It is anticipated that you will work remotely: Deaf Unity currently does not use a main office. 

How to Apply 

To apply for this role, please submit an application of no more than 1000 words detailing your relevant experience and qualifications; two or more examples of past, comparable roles you have successfully completed and your interest in the project.  Please provide details of two referees.

Please submit this by 5pm on 7 April 2025.  Please use “Organisational Development” as your title.

This will be a Freelance contract. You will be responsible for paying your own Tax and NI contributions.

Interviews will be held online in the week commencing 14th or 21st April 2025 

Deaf Unity celebrates diversity and opportunity. We strive to ensure the deaf Community and its members have access to the same opportunities as those in wider society and the same chances to contribute their talent and skills to the workforce. We will guarantee an interview for all deaf applicants to this role who meet the essential criteria. 

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Strategy will be responsible for the day to day strategic operational scrutiny and reporting in order to meet the Bikeability Trust’s mission, contractual and legal obligations. This role is critical in the leadership of the Bikeability Trust as deputising for the CEO.

The Bikeability Trust’s purpose is to ensure that all cycle training is delivered to a gold standard, inspiring everyone to cycle with competence and confidence.   

We are:  

• Expert: The Trust has successfully administered the Bikeability programme on behalf of government since 2018, delivering high-quality delivery guides and instructor training, and our workforce has thousands of years combined experience teaching people to cycle.  

• Inspiring: Every rider completes our training feeling able, confident and motivated to cycle safely on the roads for short journeys. Transforming the traditional image of cycling to an everyday, everyone activity.    

• Quality focussed: Our instructors deliver high-quality, consistent and standardised cycle training. We aim to ensure that every rider achieves the same outcomes to the same standard, taking into account their individual capabilities, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  

• Inclusive: We take action to reduce barriers to participation, support underrepresented groups and ensure that anyone who wishes to access Bikeability cycle training is able to do so, and cycling is seen as an activity for all.   

• Efficient: Our delivery programme offers value for money and is delivered in an economic, proportional and efficient way.  

• Influential: We share our evidence of the impact of cycle training across a variety of sectors (transport, education, environment, health, leisure, etc) and work collaboratively with stakeholders, partners and commercial organisations to achieve our vision and influence behaviour change.  

Key accountabilities: 

Leadership 

• Maintain a strong relationship and engaging with the CEO to lead the day to day operations of the Bikeability Trust ensuring the CEO can hold more external focus

• Provide leadership and management to the Operations Team including: 

• Research

• Communications 

Impact and Reporting  

• Develop and lead reporting on progress towards the Bikeability Trust strategy with the Board of Trustees through annual business plans and corporate dashboard, gathering evidence and analysis from across the Bikeability Trust

• Refine and implement monthly and quarterly impact and KPI reporting to fulfil the ATE, TfL and other funders reporting requirements

• Deliver high quality information, governance, and business insights to the CEO and Board to inform decision-making 

• Work with the Finance and grants team to ensure compliance with financial policies and reporting requirement

• Develop annual research plans to generate impactful information to generate support for Bikeability strategy with decision makers, public and media

Active Travel England engagement  

• Lead monthly reporting and scrutiny meetings for Active Travel to reduce reliance on the CEO for input 

Walking and Cycling Alliance (WACA) 

• Lead Bikeability input in the External Affairs group meetings and events to foster closer working relationships and promotion of the Bikeability Trust strategic and impact data to influence policy and campaigning activities

• Prepare briefings for the CEO to attend roundtables, CEO meetings and WACA events

Communications & Research  

• Manage the communications function increasing awareness, understanding and support for Bikeability strategy through an impactful communication strategy, marketing, PR, social media, media and campaigns

• Develop and maintain internal communications channels and engaging activities for employees, including Mental Health awareness, and regular staff surveys 

HR and Governance  

• Maintain internal policies recommending changes to Trustees for approval and annual audit of policies 

• Maintain HR function jointly with the CEO across Bikeability with a focus on developing talent, succession planning, performance and appraisals systems. Seek input from external suppliers as required on HR 

• Develop leadership and management capability across the Trust 

• Develop organisational competence in strategic planning, business development and regulatory issues 

General Duties 

• Provide support and leadership insight across the organisation 

• To undertake other related tasks as directed by the CEO or Board of Trustees 

• Ensure all systems and procedures are in line with best practice and relevant legislation including GDPR. 

• Recognise the need to be flexible when working for a small organisation and carry out other duties that may be required 

Person specification 

The successful applicants will have: 

• A first or higher degree 

• Excellent organisational and customer care skills 

• Strong written and oral communication skills 

• Have a growth and continuous improvement mindset 

• Ability to use Microsoft 365 packages including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams 

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently

It is also essential that the post holder has experience or skills in some of the following:

• Strategy development

• Sound strategic planning and a track record of achieving targets 

• Policy and public affairs experience 

• Charity governance 

• Diplomatic Skills to manage complex relationships with a range of stakeholders 

• GDPR 

• Analysis of complex information 

• HR

• Business / operational data analysis 

• Commununications, Marketing or PR 

Skills 

• Exceptional strategic thinking, decision making and problem-solving skills, especially under pressure; ability to set detailed vision and direction across large, complex sets of work 

• Leadership style, which encourages, motivates, inspires and develops staff and volunteers 

• Excellent communicator (both orally and in writing) with effective listening, influencing and negotiation skills 

• Highly effective decision-making skills with excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities 

• Excellent administrative, organisational and IT skills 

• Intellectual rigour, financial acumen and the ability to accurately analyse and explain complex issues 

• Politically astute, with high levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, outstanding communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to flex leadership and communication styles to inspire and motivate different audiences

• Ability to operate in complex governance structures whilst ensuring high standards of probity and transparency are maintained 

•  Robust programme and project management skills and a track record of delivering complex projects to deadline and budget 

The package 

The Bikeability Trust offers the successful candidates a competitive salary and: 

• Bikeability cycle training

• Generous contributory pension scheme 

• 38 days annual leave for full time members of staff (including public holidays) 

• Employee Assistance Programme

We value staff and a range of experience at the Bikeability Trust, so the person specification is a guide to the skills. We encourage diverse applicants and transferable skills.

Are you passionate about public libraries? Do you want to see them move up the political and public agenda? Can you help the library sector get the right message to the right people at the right time?

Libraries Connected is a small organisation with big ambitions for public libraries. As part of our ongoing growth, we are establishing a new team to turbocharge our work advocating for the library sector, influencing policy, delivering research and shaping the national conversation around libraries. This is a unique opportunity to establish and recruit a new team, set our priorities for this area of work and make a lasting impact on public libraries.