RECRUITMENT PACK Chief Executive, Ark Housing Association December 2017

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Contents Welcome Letter from the Chair 3

About Ark Housing Association 4

Current Structure Chart 5

Job Description 6

Person Specification 9

Main Terms and Conditions of Employment 11

Recruitment Process and Timetable 12

If you require this information in an alternative format or a larger font please contact our HR consultants, Headstogether Consulting Ltd on 02890 434030 or via their email address which is recruit@headstogether.com.

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Welcome Letter from the Chair Thank you for your interest in Ark Housing and in becoming our next Chief Executive. The successful candidate will be committed, ambitious and experienced, and lead our workforce to deliver our 5 year corporate strategy and beyond. To do this effectively we are looking for a motivational leader for our team of over 40 staff, an exceptional planner and a leader of change. We have accomplished great things in our first 30 years as a registered Housing Assocation by taking brave organisational decisions to further our social purpose. We will continue to develop our range of services and plan to develop our stock of already 400 plus properties by creating upwards of 180 further affordable homes across a spectrum of needs over the next 5 years. We are an organisation that is facing many challenges at the present time including the impending consequences of Brexit, the current political instability within Northern Ireland and the recent changes to Welfare Reform. Our Chief Executive will need to be an agile leader who can oversee and navigate our team through the range of complex and varied issues that our organisation will face. In return the successful candidate will be supported by an excellent and highly professional staff team and a robust voluntary Board who are fully commited to working with their new Chief Executive to deliver Ark’s vision and strategy. If this sounds like an exciting opportunity to you, and you have the experience and skills that we need in our Chief Executive, we look forward to welcoming your application. Dr Debbie Donnelly Chair

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About Ark Housing Association Our History Ark Housing (“Ark”) was established in 1987 as the a Down and Connor Housing Association. The organisation was set up to provide social and affordable homes for those in housing need. In 1999, the organisation was renamed Ark Housing Association to reflect its history and growing ambition. Our Staff and Board Structure Ark employs approximately 40 permanent and temporary staff split between its head office at Stockmans Way and its homeless service sites at Roseville and Moyard House. The organisation is governed by a voluntary Board of Governors and its associated committees whose job it is to ensure appropriate governance and to hold the Chief Executive to account for the delivery of Ark’s strategic objectives and associated corporate plans. Our Stock and Services Ark provides social rented accommodation throughout Northern Ireland for families, the elderly, those with disabilities, single persons and others in housing need. It currently owns and manages 425 properties and it is the only housing association in Northern Ireland to own, manage and directly deliver support services to homeless families at our two centres in the Greater Belfast area located at Roseville and Moyard House. These services are delivered on behalf of, and in partnership with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Most of Ark’s services are managed directly by a team of dedicated and skilled staff, however it also operates several successful partnerships with specialist agencies and statutory bodies including Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Inspire Wellbeing. Our Corporate Strategy and Mission Ark has developed its five year corporate strategy with the vision of making a positive difference by empowering people and communities. Ark Housing’s mission is to provide homes and support services to meet individual housing needs and contribute to the wellbeing of communites, in partnership with other statutory bodies and specialist agencies. Ark aims to deliver its vision and mission by working to its five core values which are the following:

P – Progressive Forward thinking, supporting change and transformational

R – Respect

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Treat everyone with dignity and esteem

I – Integrity Maintain the highest professional and personal standards

D – Diversity and Equality Value diversity and equality in everything we do E – Excellence Strive to deliver the highest standards of quality and customer care With over 35,000 people currently on the waiting list for social housing in Northern Ireland, and with an increasing social housing shortage, Ark is excellently positioned to play a key role in delivering social housing and other value added services to those in greatest need. Our aim is to invest approximately £21 million in building new and improving existing homes over the the next 5 years.

Ark’s Housing’s Current Organisational Structure Chart

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Chief Executive Job Description

Job Title Chief Executive

Responsible To Chair of the Board

Date of Role Profile

November 2017

Purpose of Role

Responsible for achieving excellence in the delivery of services to Ark Housing’s tenants and service users by providing strategic leadership and direction to the Board and Ark staff.

Main Accountabilities

Providing Direction

1. To ensure that the Board and its committees are effectively serviced and provided with strategic analysis, plans, policy proposals, financial, performance and other information as required to monitor and control all business activities.

2. To prepare, and regularly review Ark Housing’s Business Plans as the framework for the achievement of the Association’s strategic and operational objectives.

Achieving Results

3. To deliver and develop services in line with business plans, performance targets and budgetary parameters.

4. To closely monitor Ark Housing’s operational performance and take action, as appropriate, when necessary.

5. To identify, follow up and secure new business opportunities to support organisational growth and the achievement of strategic objectives.

Systems and Statutory Compliance

6. To ensure that Ark Housing meets all of its legal, statutory and regulatory requirements.

7. To ensure that Ark Housing has appropriate resources in place to meet its strategic objectives.

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8. To ensure that Ark Housing has appropriate systems in place to ensure internal control and performance reporting and manage risk effectively.

9. To ensure the continued financial stability and viability of the Association and to ensure that all financial covenants are met.

10. To maintain overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements in relation to tenants, staff and all other stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement and Change

11. To be a champion of continuous improvement and create an environment where innovative thinking is encouraged and leads to demonstrative positive outcomes.

12. To regularly review the business structure so that it meets the requirements of customers and other stakeholders.

13. To actively explore and seek new opportunities to develop Ark Housing’s services.

14. To keep abreast of developments in legislation and good practice in relation to social housing matters and to ensure that Ark’s policies and practices are updated accordingly.

Developing Positive Relationships

15. To represent the Association with DSD, NIFHA, NIHE, the media, professional bodies, local authorities and other appropriate Statutory and voluntary agencies.

16. To promote a positive image of Ark Housing through the development and maintenance of excellent professional working relationships with tenants and service users, partners, colleagues and key stakeholders.

17. To engage in debate as a leading authority in the housing sector.

18. To be regarded internally and externally as a figurehead and ambassador for the Association, playing a lead role in marketing its services.

19. To ensure Ark Housing tenants and service users have an opportunity to voice their needs and requirements and for this to influence the future strategy of the Association.

Managing Self and Others

20. To promote a positive working culture where everyone is respected. 21. To be a visible, effective leader who is respected at all levels. 22. To act as a mentor and coach to senior staff and to encourage the same of

managers throughout the organisation. 23. To manage your professional development utilising available learning resources and

other opportunities and to ensure the same of staff.

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24. To carry out any other task or responsibility as directed by the Chair and the Board that is commensurate with the status and scope of the role and within the expected capabilities of the post-holder.

Please note this job description is provided for illustrative purposes only. The successful candidate will be required to carry out any other reasonable duties as required by the post and as directed by Ark Housing’s Board of Directors.

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Person Specification – Chief Executive

Essential Criteria

• A minimum of five years’ experience gained in the last 10 years at a senior management level1 in a service focused organisation.

• First class leadership skills and demonstrable experience of inspiring and motivating a team of at least 10 staff to achieve excellent results.

• Knowledge of the social housing sector and care and support sectors, their strategic issues and their customer needs.

• Experience that demonstrates the ability to lead sustainable organisational improvement and culture change in a constantly evolving operating environment.

• Commercial and financial acumen with demonstrable experience of managing sustainable corporate governance, financial stability and growth.

• Previous experience of working with Boards and Committees to achieve effective results.

• Successful track record of effective partnership working and networking at the highest levels with key stakeholders including local Government departments, service providers and other bodies or groups.

• Excellent communication skills, and an approachable personality demonstrating an understanding of the needs of social housing tenants and service users.

• A current valid driving licence and use of a car or access to another means of transport that enable the post holder to carry out the full duties and responsibilities of the post.

Desirable Criteria

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent ideally with a further business qualification.

• A minimum of 5 years’ senior management experience gained within the last 10 years within the social housing and/or care and support sectors.

• Previous experience of utilising IT solutions to enhance service delivery.

• Membership of a relevant professional body.

1 For the purposes of this exercise senior management level includes providing detailed advice on , taking decisions personally or being party to decisions affecting strategic issues concerning the organisation within which an individual is working either as an employee or advisor.

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Please note The Panel reserve the right to enhance the shortlisting criteria, as appropriate, in the event of a large volume of applications. The successful Post holder will be made an offer subject to the successful completion of an Access NI security clearance process. In the event that information is disclosed during this process which is deemed to render the candidate unsuitable for the post, the offer of employment will be withdrawn.

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Main Terms and Conditions of Employment

1. Salary for the post is currently circa £61,500 per annum. 2. Car allowance which is equivalent to 10% of gross salary is applicable. 3. Applicant will be eligible to join the NILGOSC (Northern Ireland Local

Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee) pension scheme. This is contributory pension scheme which currently draws at an employer rate of 18%.

4. Annual Leave: Commencing at 22 days initially, rising to 27 days after 5 years,

32 days after 10 years plus 11 recognised statutory holidays. 5. Core contracted Hours are 37 per week from Monday to Friday. The post

holder will be expected to work additional hours as may be required to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of the post, including attending out of hours meetings during evenings and occasionally at weekends.

6. Location – The role is based at Ark’s headquarters which are located at

Hawthorn Office Park, 37A Stockmans Way, Belfast BT9 7ET. However, the post holder will be expected to be able to travel throughout Northern Ireland and occasionally further afield.

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Recruitment Process and Timetable Selection and Assessment Process

Should candidates meet shortlisting criteria they will be invited to participate in a selection and assessment process. Demonstration of Competencies Candidates will be required to demonstrate during the selection and assessment process that they satisfy the core requirements of the post as set out in the job description and person specification. Selection Process The process that is envisaged for the selection and assessment of the Chief Executive is as follows:

1. An unseen presentation based on a topic to be provided on the day 2. A competency based interview

Important Dates The closing date for completed applications is 4pm on Friday 5th January 2018. Responses will only be accepted on the relevant application form. Please note CVs will not be accepted. The selection process is envisaged to take place during week commencing 22nd January 2018 at a date and time to be confirmed. Further details of the process will be provided to candidates invited to participate in this process. In the event that a candidate is invited to interview and is unavailable on the proposed date and time due to reasons beyond their control the panel may endeavour to accommodate an alternative arrangement subject to their own availablity, although this may not be possible and is not guaranteed unless an adjustment is required in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.