Candidates will bring as many of the following skills and experience as possible:
- A proven track record of senior organisational leadership in organisations of national reach and complexity.
- Proven experience of chairing skills; the ability to chair meetings, ensuring they are strategically focused and support effective decision-making.
- A proven track record of leading major and / or challenging organisational change.
- Experience of charity governance and the charity sector, through executive, non-executive or volunteer experience.
- A desire to work with and motivate a volunteer and staff workforce, and ability to understand volunteer motivations and engagement.
- Demonstrable experience of providing guidance to senior management, in setting individuals’ objectives, monitoring progress, giving feedback, developing talent and succession planning.
- Experience in working collaboratively in developing the strategy and monitoring the performance of an organisation and delivering an ambitious agenda of organisational change.
- Demonstrated ability to ensure beneficiaries (or customers) are at the heart of a strategic plan.
- Commercial acumen and a broad understanding of charity finance issues.
- Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together.
- A reasonable understanding and appreciation of the use and potential of digital tools and technology.
- Ability both to lead and to work effectively as a member of a team.
- Ability to deal simultaneously with multiple and complex issues.
- The ability to recognise the differing requirements of a wide range of stakeholders (callers, volunteers, partner organisations, donors, supporters, staff and regulators) and to discern the appropriate response to them
Personal style and qualities that the ideal candidate will bring
- A profound commitment to the values of Samaritans
- Low ego, collaborative and approachable
- Inclusive style, a consensus builder
- Resilience
- A commitment to ensuring that beneficiaries remain at the heart of all discussion, planning and delivery
- Strong communication skills, ability to engage with stakeholders at every level
- Comfortable acting as an external face and ambassador for Samaritans
- Tact, diplomacy and confidentiality
- Strong independent judgement
- Ability to think creatively and imaginatively
- Ability to give and accept support and desire for ongoing learning
- Energy and ability to enthuse
- Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership)