Personal attributes and key competencies
Strong and strategic leader – with outstanding stakeholder management skills and an extensive understanding and experience of the political and legislative process, and attitudinal and behaviour and change. Lead the departmental teams and act as a role model as part of the Executive Leadership Team of the Society. Communicating and engaging with individuals and teams as needed to ensure they have clear direction and know what they have to achieve to be successful.
Strategic thinking – Demonstrates a holistic view of issues, events and activities, with a perception of their longer term impact or wider implications.
Planning, action orientation and results driven – Organises and prioritises work, with a clear readiness to make decisions, take the initiative and focus on delivery. Seeking better ways of doing things, looking to improve on status quo and willingness to deal with difficult situations that affect output and impact, whatever the organisational level of the role. Leads the development of the Society, campaigns and policy plans and budget for the financial year in order to inform the wider directorate annual plans and budget.
Quality orientation – Takes a lead role in setting goals, standards and priorities. Follows through to ensure that quality and productivity standards are met.
Influencing and engagement – Ability to influence, motivate and empower others in order to reach organisational goals. Solid negotiation skills. Will recognise the value of sharing ideas, knowledge and information with others and take personal responsibility for doing so. Works for a win-win outcome when resolving differences.
Oral and written communication – Writes and speaks fluently and persuasively and is able to deliver arguments in a compelling manner to influence both individuals and groups.
Flexibility and resilience – Successfully adapts to changing demands and conditions. Maintains effective work behaviour in the face of setbacks or pressure.
Personal motivation – Commits self to work hard towards goals. Shows enthusiasm and career commitment with personal energy, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Resilient and reflective; including to criticism of the organisation, which can be directed personally.
Leadership – corporate accountability – ability to work in the interest of the organisation as a whole – working closely with colleagues across all functions to get there. Motivates their team, displays effective approach to internal communication and holds excellent interpersonal skills.
Essential key skills, qualifications and experience
- Degree or equivalent relevant qualification.
- Extensive experience of building and managing constructive working relationships with relevant stakeholders in government, industry and academia.
- Experience of influencing policy/decision makers at a high level and of representation on high level committees.
- Experience of influencing work in the UK, which has resulted in change to policy or legislation. In-depth technical knowledge of government, law-making, party politics, current affairs, media structures and public affairs.
- Experience of preparing and delivering (both verbally and written) presentations/reports to varied audiences from a variety of backgrounds.
- Ability to translate complex subject material into digestible and compelling arguments orally and in written form.
- Proven budget and project management experience.
- Experience of working at a senior level within a complex corporate environment.
- Spokesperson experience in a multimedia context.
- General knowledge of a broad range of animal welfare issues, including knowledge of legislation that impacts on animal welfare and an in depth knowledge of relevant national and international regulations and the scientific, ethical and social/political issues.
- Considerable and proven people management skills and experience.
- Experience of leading change and improvement within a team and organisational environment.
Desirable key skills qualification and experience
- Higher degree or PHD in relevant area.
- Wide contacts base in industry and academia.
- Proven experience of working at a senior level in a policy-making and a legislative-influencing environment in Wales or England.
- Experience of working within the Government sector such as the civil service, a government-sponsored body, Ministerial Task and Finish group, or a role integral to the development of government policy.
- Awareness and understanding of the work of the RSPCA in general and demonstrable commitment to animal welfare and to the Society’s aims, policies and ethos.
Personal commitment to:
- Adhere to the Society’s charitable objectives, which are to promote kindness and prevent or suppress cruelty to animals.
- Take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts and omissions.
- Uphold the RSPCA’s core values.
- Cooperate with Society policies and procedures.
- Understand and comply with any Society Code of Conduct.
- For managers: Continually ensuring the highest health and safety standards are achieved, operating in a safe and legal environment and enhancing further our safety culture.
RSPCA core values
Our values for our employees, volunteers, trustees, branches and future members of our Community Engagement Programme guide everything that we do.
They also guide how we work to rescue and care for animals and how we work with individuals, families, communities and other organisations.
We are compassionate: we care deeply about the lives of animals, we have empathy for people, we act with kindness and consideration at all times.
We are inspirational: we are life changing, we inspire by taking the lead, we speak up when others don’t, we take brave decisions, we change animals’ lives for the better.
We are committed: we never give up, we have energy and determination, we rescue animals from cruelty and neglect, giving them new opportunities and supporting others in doing so, and advocate for all animals at risk of harm.
We are expert: we have expert knowledge which we willingly share, we act on the basis of evidence, we underpin our decisions and actions with science, data and experience.
We act with integrity: we are honest and trustworthy, we act with integrity, we do what’s right.