Woodland Skills Centre (WSC) Job Description
Post title Centre Manager
Salary £30,000, full time with an annual review
Responsible to – Chair and Board of Warren Woods Limited Social Enterprise Company regularly reporting to a designated Member of the Board.
Responsible for – Staff and volunteers of the WSC
Key relationships- Funders and clients of the WSC, the wider interested public, local community, local and national government and NGOs
Job Purpose
-To maintain and develop the reputation of the WSC as a national leader in designing and delivering social prescribing programmes
-To manage the delivery of and develop new outdoor social prescribing programmes in partnership with local authorities, charities and community groups.
-To manage the delivery of an annual programme of courses designed to increase awareness of traditional crafts and sustainable woodland management
Specific Responsibilities
- Course programme planning, publicity and delivery
Responsibility for ensuring the efficient and successful delivery of the Centre’s course programme, working with the admin assistant and other members of the team
-to produce each year’s course programme, booking external tutors and issuing contracts
-identify gaps and opportunities for delivering new and innovative courses
-to ensure website is updated before Christmas each year and to oversee updating as needed throughout the year
-to get course leaflet printed by mid-January, posted out to all on the mailing list and sent to libraries, visitor centres etc.
-to produce and circulate updated course programmes throughout the year
-to oversee the administration of all bookings – by post, email and Paypal and ensure that all records are kept up to date.
-oversee the smooth running of courses by ensuring that all tutors are briefed, facilities are prepared, payments taken, all risk assessments have been done and clearing up is done as necessary at end of day
- Centre Bookings.
With Centre staff, publicise our facilities for local community groups etc and take bookings.
- Social Prescribing
To be responsible for developing and managing the delivery of Social Prescribing programmes. Liaising with past, current and potential commissioning bodies and establishing contracts. Ensuring that appropriate staff are engaged, monitoring programme delivery and completing all necessary documentation.
To be part of the delivery team for Social Prescribing programmes for three days a week.
- Development
To be responsible for the development of the company, monitoring existing work and actively seeking new work. To represent the company in local, regional and national bodies.
- Financial management.
Be responsible for management of the accounts. Preparing all accounts for annual audit.
- Health and Safety
To be responsible for ensuring that all necessary health and safety policies are in place and monitoring that they are being complied with. To ensure that all staff are properly trained.
- Company Policies
To ensure all Company policies are kept up to date and are followed.
- Data Protection
To ensure that the Company complies with all current legislation.
- Recruitment and management of Staff
To be responsible for recruitment of staff, ensuring proper induction and regular support and supervision.
- Insurance
To ensure that all necessary insurances are in place.
- Disclosure and Barring Service
To ensure that all staff who need them have current clearance to work with children and vulnerable adults.
- Media
To seek positive media coverage.
- Property of Warren Woods Ltd
To be responsible for the the buildings and property of Warren Woods Ltd.
- Administration
To keep all necessary records up to date.
- Board of Directors
To act as Company Secretary and secretary to the Board, preparing all agendas for the quarterly meetings, circulating papers, taking minutes and sending out newsletters to the Board as required and fulfilling all the legal requirements of Companies House.
- Other Duties
Undertake other duties as appropriate.
It is expected that the Centre Manager will work an average of five days a week throughout the year with three days a week on programme delivery and two days a week on the management role.
Some of the elements in this job description are delegated to Staff Tutors and the Admin Assistant who works one day a week, though the Centre Manager will retain overall responsibility.
Courses run most weekends and there needs to be a “Duty Manager’” at the Centre on these days. The financial structure of the courses allows for a member of staff to be paid to fill this role as needed.
The current Centre Manager, Rod Waterfield, will be able to work alongside the new Centre Manager for as long as needed to ensure a smooth hand-over.
The Family Trust, who owns the site, is responsible for all maintenance and cleaning of the buildings and the management of the land.
Holiday entitlement – 20 days plus all statutory bank holidays.
Person specification
| Essential | Desirable | |
| Experience | Experience of working with and motivating volunteers.
Evidence of working to a professional standard Experience of liaising with funders and clients at all levels Staff management experience |
Evidence of working with and reporting to a management committee in the voluntary sector.
Working with disadvantaged groups |
| Knowledge | Understanding of the political and social context in which the Centre operates.
Knowledge of designing and delivering courses and facilities that are accessible to all |
An understanding of sustainable woodland management in principle and practice.
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| Skills and abilities | Good IT skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.
Competence in use of the internet, including email and social media Excellent numeracy and financial management skills. Experience of practical course design and delivery |
Experience of designing and delivering outdoor courses
Budget management and forecasting experience |
| Qualifications | Five GCSEs, including Maths and English
Degree (or equivalent) or five years’ relevant experience |
Relevant degree (eg education, countryside management, forestry) |
| Personal qualities | Current driving licence and own car insured for work use.
Able to communicate with people at all levels, internally and externally. Enthusiasm for woodlands and people Good interpersonal and influencing skills. Positive attitude. Outgoing and friendly personality. Self starter, able to work on own initiative. Flexible, able to deal with change.
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Understanding of and commitment to the principles of sustainability and inclusion
Good facilitator, able to lead group discussions and meetings
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Informal enquiries to Rod Waterfield, Centre Manager, at the WSC. Potential applicants are welcome to make arrangements to visit the Centre before applying.
Letter of application and a full CV, with the names and contact details of two professional referees, to be emailed to enquiries@woodlandskillscentre.co.uk by the end of November 2022.
Interviews will be held at the Woodland Skills Centre during the week beginning 9 January 2022.