Partnerships Development Account Manager Jobs in Edinburgh

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.