Director of the St Helena National Trust
Location: Jamestown, St Helena, South Atlantic
Post holder reports to: President of the St Helena National Trust Council
Reporting to Post holder: Project Officer, Wirebird Conservation Officer & Executive Officer
Other key working relationships: RSPB UK Overseas Territories Programmes Manager, JNCC Overseas Territories Conservation Officer, Heritage advisors, RBG Kew, Friends of St Helena
Background
The St Helena National Trust is an independent ‘not for profit organisation’ established by Ordinance in 2002 on the 500th Anniversary of the discovery of the Island. It unites in one organisation the Heritage Society, Nature Conservation Group, the Art and Crafts Association, the Dive Club, the Farmer’s Association, the Fishermen’s Association and the Tourism Association. It is supported by the subscriptions of its members, grants and donations. Its purpose is to:
- Promote the appreciation, protection and enhancement of St Helena’s unique environmental and cultural heritage;
- To acquire and hold in perpetuity land of natural beauty or buildings and objects of historic or cultural interest for the benefit of people today and of future generations;
- To give to the people of St Helena a stake in the future of their unique environmental and cultural heritage;
- To provide opportunities for enjoyment, education, recreation and spiritual refreshment.
Overall Purpose of the Job
Working closely with the Council and Trust Officers, to lead the work and drive the further development of the St Helena National Trust according to its mission and strategy; To ensure sound governance of the organisation in terms of human resources, financial and administrative management; To represent the St Helena National Trust in local and international fora and build the reputation of the organisation.
Main duties and responsibilities
Strategy
- Work with the Council and Trust Officers to develop a 5 year organisational development strategy in line with the St Helena National Trust’s mission
- Translate the 5 year strategy into annual costed work plans to meet grant aid requirements and keep the Council well informed, through ordinary monthly meetings, about the progress of delivery of the annual work plan and wider strategy to enable them to take decisions
- Co-ordinate and manage the overall structure of meetings of the Trust Council and its sub-committees and attend meetings of the Trust Council, its Executive and sub-committees as required
Organisational Management
- Organise all human resources related issues (staff, volunteers) and ensure the organisation’s adherence to current St Helena labour laws and practices
- Take overall responsibility for the management of Trust Officers including the development of work plans, regular one to ones, annual appraisal and training support, and create an effective working atmosphere for the implementation of the Trust’s Strategy
- Arrange and chair weekly staff team meetings
- Ensure adequate maintenance of the St Helena National Trust premises, and all equipment, to meet health and safety regulations
Membership and Fundraising
- Stimulate expansion of the membership of the National Trust.
- Maintain up to date registers of the Trust’s membership, Millennium Forest sponsorship and Wirebird Adoption and develop and maintain a register of past, current and potential donors or individuals, interest groups and societies that have an interest in St Helena, its history and the Trust’s activities.
- Secure funding and bring about prioritised future projects which include: the St Helena Heritage Project
- Implement plans to maximise the potential of the National Trust to raise funds
- Ensure that the finances of the organisation are professionally managed at all times so that activities are taken within available funding and that sufficient funds are available for core expenditure of the organisation
- Inform the Council, in ordinary monthly meetings of the financial health, both current and forecast, of the organisation
- Ensure that an independent audit report can be provided to the Council, individual paying members and project donors on request each year, as part of the annual report
Communications
- Write reports, produce quarterly newsletter, manage communications and publicity – radio and website.
- Develop engagement to raise awareness about our activities, communicating clear messages about the activities of the Trust and how it relates to wider shared governmental and non governmental strategy, enhancing the website and newsletter, developing new partnerships and connections.
- Act as the principle spokesperson at relevant local and international meetings and advocate the Trust’s conservation achievements, concerns and needs
Policy and Advocacy
- Attend meetings as the Trust Council’s Representative on committees or working groups
- Work closely, lobby, inform, advise or lend support to the Legal Lands and Planning department and other sectors of Government, as needed and appropriate, to ensure decision making for proposed development, strategic plans, projects or policy is informed by sound environmental and conservation principles.
- Work closely with, lobby, inform and advise of sectors of Government and the community here and abroad to raise awareness about what we do, how what we do relates to island strategy, further our key messages, engage in dialogue about issues and concerns.
Project Management
- Deliver the Trust’s existing projects through active participation and engagement of stakeholders, communication, quarterly reporting on progress and finances. Existing projects include Wirebird Conservation, Conservation of St Helena’s Gumwoods, Developing amenity and public access to Heart Shape Waterfall.
- Ensure budgets are managed to meet donor requirements.
The successful applicant will be working in a busy office, needs to be self-motivated and have knowledge and skills that can be brought to bear in support of the natural, built and cultural heritage of St Helena. They will need to be able to identify and initiate activities that will secure the sustainability (and sustained income) of the Trust in the short to medium term and with a vision for the longer term. Good inter-personal skills are essential as the role requires interaction with the public, schools, local organisations, government departments and international groups. Prioritising work is important for the successful management of this challenging post. |
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