Position: Managing Director
Based: London, United Kingdom
Salary range: £40-£50k
Future First Global is a recently established charity working to turn schools into communities around the world. We advise governments, school networks and NGOs on how to mobilise former students as careers and educational role models, work experience providers, mentors, school governors and more.
When Future First was launched in the UK five years ago, less than 1% of non-selective state secondary schools ran alumni networks. Today that number is over 20% and we are seeing a similar growth trajectory in Kenya.
Future First Global was launched on the back of a report sponsored by the Open Society Foundations into the prevalence, purpose and potential of alumni networks around the world.
Our strategy is to spread the alumni model globally through consultancy, research, best practice exchange, campaigning, advocacy and training.
We are not seeking to become a programmatic organisation but through consultancy, research and advocacy, to come to impact thousands of schools globally and, in doing so, the lives of millions of young people.
We are seeking a Managing Director to help grow the organisation. They will be supported to start by a modest amount of support staff (up to 1 person to start), an expert trustee board and a one to two day a week CEO (Future First Founder, Jake Hayman).
Considerable travel may be involved and we are seeking someone with strong entrepreneurial abilities to help think through strategy and deliver results for the organisation.
We are looking for someone who can get deals through with high level government officials, NGO partners and foundations as well as have an in-depth understanding of how volunteering programmes, community building programmes and schools work.
We are looking for someone with drive and ambition who can provide leadership for the organisation – attitude and aptitude are ultimately more important to us than experience.
We need someone prepared to do the hard work to build the organisation and be conscious of the fact that in the first instance, they will not have big budgets of staff teams to call upon and so will need to be prepared to help get done what needs to be done across all aspects of the organisation. The Managing Director will also be responsible for providing support and advice to our Kenyan and American partnerships – Future First Kenya and Future First USA.
Primary Responsibilities
- To build awareness of the value of alumni communities to education systems;
- To engage key stakeholders – Ministries of Education, donors, NGOs, teacher training institutes as partners in alumni community building;
- To develop client services that we can provide to key stakeholders on a sliding payment scale to help support them to take alumni networks into their local communities;
- To support our Kenyan, Liberian and US partners in building their alumni community programmes and other partners as the movement grows;
- To manage and support staff of the organisation;
- To take overall responsibility for the quality of all internal operations and systems to include, amongst others: finance, IT and HR;
- To assure the organisation has clear goals and targets in the fields of fundraising, sales (of e.g. consultancy to governments), programme delivery of existing programmatic partnerships in Kenya and the US, policy, marketing, PR and communications, and that these targets are met through effective staff management, support and systems;
- To ensure that the organisation maintains its focus and energy;
- To have overall accountability to partners, funders and other key stakeholders;
- To maintain an overview of the current financial position and the long term financial strategy, alongside the CEO;
- To design and develop policies which support the delivery of Future First’s goals, the well-being of workers, and the future health of the organisation;
- To have oversight of all work on organisational development;
- To undertake other duties as required by the Board and commensurate with this role within the organisation;
- To act as Secretary to the board;
- To open up new contacts, networks, partnerships and funding opportunities for Future First to develop existing and new business areas;
- To provide professional management and leadership across the charity;
- To drive forward the fundraising effort within the organisation;
- To drive forward the earned income of the organisation;
- To take responsibility for external communications and marketing; and
- To lead the development of effective communications and policy strategies for the organisation.
Shared Responsibilities with the CEO
- To work together with the Founder to provide long term strategic direction, in consultation with senior leadership staff team, board and partners;
- To develop short, medium and long term plans and budgets for approval by the Board of trustees;
- To ensure adequate funding is in place to meet the plans of the organisation and to ensure the resources of Future First are utilised to the best advantage of all stakeholders;
- To provide professional management and leadership across the charity;
- To communicate regularly and effectively to staff on team decisions, policy, operational issues and changes to plans;
- To work well together acting as role models and motivators to others through living the values of Future First International and ensuring that staff work collaboratively to deliver organisational goals;
- To maintain a focus and quality control on all work, ensuring all activities are in line with the mission and vision.
MD Person Description
Most important to us is that we find someone who ‘gets’ what we are doing, is able to lead and work independently, is operationally skilled (can oversee performance and productise what we do) and is a fantastic advocate (can bring key partners on the journey with us).
If we can find someone with a real understanding of how networks, communities and membership programmes are built and what drives their success, that is also really valuable.
Ideally, we would look for someone with:
- 5 years or more of work experience;
- Strong advocacy experience;
- Experience of some combination of consultancy, research, sales, business development and fundraising;
- Experience working with or strong understanding of schools/education/youth/school to work transition/social mobility sectors;
- The self-confidence and independence to make decisions;
- Someone who has excellent staff and project management skills;
- A strong understanding of communications and experience in developing and implementing communications strategies and campaigns;
- Experience at a senior level of financial planning and project management;
- Experience at a senior level of strategic planning;
- Experience of leading and motivating operational teams;
- Knowledge of developing effective IT systems.
Role details: This role is for an initial 12 month contract but we would like to recruit someone who wants to stay for the next 3+ years. This contract includes a 3 month probationary period.
Compensation details: £40k – £50k.
Application deadline: July 1st, 10am
Start date: August 1st but flexible for the right person
Please send a CV and covering letter to jake@futurefirst.org.uk.
First round interviews are planned for July 14th. The role will be based in London.