Role Description

Role Title:	Chief Executive Officer
Line Manager Title:	Royal Charter Body Chair	Department:	CEO Office
Competency Level:	Chief	Role Location:	Hybrid
Role Banding:	11	Role Type:	Permanent

Role Purpose

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the leader of NCS Trust who is accountable for delivering a thriving National Citizen Service programme. Responsibilities span across four main areas:

Leadership and Accountability: The role is responsible for leading the executive team and accountable to the NCS Trust Board and to Parliament for the expenditure of public money and for the delivery of the Key Performance Indicators and social outcomes of NCS. The CEO is the Accounting officer of the Trust

Culture: Ensuring that the NCS Trust’s values, We are – Accountable, Outcomes Focused, People of Integrity, Adaptable, Inclusive, and Empowering are lived at all levels of the organisation, building and championing NCS’s organisational health.

Strategy: Working effectively with Board colleagues, senior leadership team and other stakeholders to develop and deliver the strategy and long term vision of NCS.

Stakeholders: The public face of NCS building strong and effective relationships to support NCS in being a celebrated national institution.

Key Activities (the what)

Leadership and Accountability

The CEO is the leader of NCS Trust and is accountable to the NCS Trust Board for the delivery of the aims, objectives, and Key Performance Indicators of NCS. Ensures that expenditure is controlled in line with budgets approved by the Board and DCMS.
The CEO is the Accounting Officer for NCS and as such is personally responsible to Parliament for the regularity and propriety of expenditure, robust evaluation of different mechanisms for delivering policy objectives, value for money, the management of risk, and accurate accounting for the use of resources.
The CEO ensures that NCS discharges its constitutional and legal obligations and that it has the resources and management structures to operate effectively and sustainably. Responsible for building, leading and empowering an effective senior leadership team that ensures the effective and efficient delivery of NCS across the country.

Culture

Ensuring the delivery of NCS Trust’s values at all levels of the organisation. This starts with NCS Trust employees, but also extends to those involved in the delivery of NCS, such as delivery partners and seasonal staff.
Building and championing NCS Trust’s organisational health, based on the guidance provided by the government by meeting stipulated standards expected of an ALB.
Working with the Board and especially the People Committee to ensure alignment around success criteria and access to regular data to assess performance.
Nurturing a trusted Senior Leadership Team to model the right behaviours and ensure consistent living of the NCS Trust’s values.
Acting as a respected, authentic and visible role model and leader at all levels of the organisation, starting with the young people engaged on the programme, and including seasonal delivery staff, delivery partners, and NCS employees across the country.

Strategy

Ensuring that the organisation focuses on the delivery of the NCS Trust’s 5 year strategy, and is able to reject opportunities that are not strategically aligned.
Responsible for bringing this strategy to life in all communications, helping build understanding of and excitement around the strategy.
Working with the Board and Senior Leadership Team to ensure that this strategy is updated annually and reflected in budgets, key performance indicators and individual objectives.
Ensure sustainability of the trust, by building strong partnerships with FTSE100/200 companies and corporations to provide resources, funding and opportunities.
Impact – prioritise the routes to demonstrate evidence of NCS’s impact on young people and their communities.

Stakeholders

Supporting NCS to become a national institution dedicated to the next generation by building wide support and acting as the public face of NCS, engaging all of its supporters and detractors and developing positive relationships and influence with key stakeholders, influencers and partners.
Creating a climate of support for NCS at all levels of government, as well as within parliamentary circles, and to enhance relationships with the relevant government departments such as DCMS and DfE and their Senior Civil Servants.
Developing strong networks in local communities so that the work of NCS is recognised both locally and nationally.
Ensuring that the NCS Patrons are supported and engaged to support NCS’s mission.
Developing strong relationships and maintaining effective networks among organisations with similar aims and objectives, particularly youth organisations and other public bodies.
Building strong and effective partnership opportunities with other organisations, especially businesses that can help NCS to deliver its objectives.
Senior NCS spokesperson, required to communicate via the media in relation to NCS activities. Build a reputation as a recognised advocate for young people and their empowerment.

Role Specific Skills (the how)

Skills

Well-developed negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive and complex multi-stakeholder environment.
Outstanding ambassadorial and inspirational skills with the ability to motivate stakeholders and external audiences; ability to project a vision for the power of youth through NCS.
A high degree of financial acumen; commercial acumen and entrepreneurial flair.
Exemplary interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders including Government and communicate effectively in the media.
Exceptional people management skills; motivating, developmental and results focused.
A high degree of political savvy and good judgement.
Mastery in social media that can amplify the reach of NCS.
Digitally aware and can see the power and attendant risks of digital to amplify the brand and market the Trust.

Attributes

A high degree of empathy and a genuine commitment to the principles of NCS and young people.
A resilient and highly motivated self‐starter with a strong commitment to ensuring the Trust has the capacity to deliver ambitious results and set high standards to achieve them.
A warm and engaging personality: authoritative, authentic, entrepreneurial and inspirational.
Strong leadership and motivation building high-performing teams to deliver results.
Understand the unique challenges faced by the most marginalised young people in England. These groups are prioritised within the NCS programs, championing diversity and equality.

Measures of Success (how will we know the person is performing well?)

Ensures the sustainability of the trust, by the provision of alternative funding resources and positive advocacy of key stakeholders across parliament and other relevant influential bodies.
That the Trust is true to its values measured by the internal People Survey and feedback from both internal and external stakeholders.
That the impact the Trust delivers for young people meets their expectations along with other external stakeholders.
That all expected key result areas set by the board and government are met.
That the Trust is compliant and meets all governance standards.
Achieving performance metrics as agreed with DCMS or the SOS.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

A successful track record of working effectively with a Chair and Non-Executives, and experience of being an active member of a leadership team.
Experience of developing strategic alliances and third party relationships, and working in partnership with other organisations; the acumen to operate effective contracts and joint ventures.
Knowledge of engaging with audiences across digital channels – specifically social platforms – and establishing eCRM programmes.

Desirable

Experience as a director or senior leader in a commercial or non-profit organisation with proven success in developing and implementing strategy.
First hand experience of working with voluntary and public sector organisations and some knowledge of the funding and contracting landscape.
Development of a strategic plan and delivery of it.
Experience of representing organisations on national stages and meetings.
Management of a budget and commercial acumen.
A broad based knowledge and understanding of marketing, of developing and delivering successful marketing strategies, partnering with brands and ideally, knowledge of the youth sector.

Budgetary Accountability:	Yes, overall accounting Officer.
Direct Reports:	The executive team and varying members of the CEO Office as required.

DBS Check Type Required:

All NCS Trust employees have a basic check as a minimum.

Any roles which involve regular face to face contact with Young People or access to schools will require an enhanced check.