We have a unique and exciting new opportunity to help us deliver game-changing research for the employee ownership sector.
Ownership at Work (OAW) is looking for a highly effective and capable individual to step up and take charge of coordinating the roll out of our ground-breaking research programme. This will include programme managing two large-scale, fully-funded projects with high profile corporate sponsors that are about to launch this summer.
The numbers of employee owned businesses have more than doubled in the last two years and it is vital that the sector has a full picture of its economic, social and environmental impact. We are offering an opportunity to play a hands-on role in securing those insights at a critical moment for employee and worker ownership in the UK.
Please find the full details for the role below. Please reply asap as we will interview as we receive applications. Closing deadline Monday 25th July 2022. Please send a CV and introduction to campbell.mcdonald@employeeownership.co.uk.
OAW Programme Manager: Role specification
Summary of opportunity
Independent think tank Ownership at Work (OAW) is looking for a first-class programme manager to lead delivery of our exciting and growing research portfolio.
OAW is a small, energetic and fairly new organisation. Our mission is to promote greater understanding of the profound impact employee ownership can have in the UK economy. We aim to address the critical gaps in the evidence base for the social and economic impact of sharing meaningful ownership and participation with employees and workers in organisations of all kinds.
As a charitable think tank, OAW raises funding through donation, sponsorship and securing grant allocations. We are funded to deliver two large and important research programmes over the next two years, with additional smaller scale research projects in the pipeline.
We are looking for a contractor to take on this important role over a 12-month period with an opportunity to extend thereafter. The role is worth £37,500 over the year. The fee is tied to delivery of the outputs and outcomes described below, with expected days per week/per month to be agreed on that basis.
Principal activities, outputs and outcomes required in the role:
- Programme lead on OAW’s two principal research strands:
- EO Knowledge Programme (12-18mths): Large quant and qual study of 100+ EO firms on economic, social and environmental metrics, comparing to non-EO firms; an annual survey to measure best practice against sector-specific benchmarks; and trialing a new social impact model for EO;
- Transition Impact Programme (3yrs): Partnering with impact fund sponsor to peer review recurring datasets looking at impact of introducing EO into firms; and a place-based initiative to extract rich social as well as economic impact data with businesses in South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
- Help ensure the successful delivery of both projects, including:
- Effective commissioning of independent research partners
- Effective management of commissioned research partners
- Effective facilitation of Programme governance and reporting requirements
- Coordination of effective communication and engagement to manage and sustain strong relationships with all relevant stakeholders (including research partners and contributors, sponsors and donors)
- Effective risk monitoring and management across the Programmes
- Production of high quality interim and final research outputs
- Coordinate OAW activity across smaller projects in growing research portfolio
- Regular dialogue with Chief Exec and contribute to Trustee Board reporting
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Key capability and experience requirements:
- 5+ years of proven programme/large project management experience and expertise
- Formulating and managing project plans and budgets
- Managing projects to deliver to rigorous timelines
- Managing third parties / sub-contractors and exercise quality control on outputs
- Convening programme oversight groups and meeting reporting requirements
- Highly effective stakeholder management
- Excellent analytical skills
- First rate editorial, and demonstrable written and presentational skills
- High competency with standard Microsoft Office suite tools
Preferable knowledge and experience:
- Working closely with corporate sponsors
- Oversight of research projects
- Publication and dissemination of research outputs (including through microsites)
- Understanding of (particularly SME) business issues, including ownership, succession, governance and performance management
- Understanding of UK economic and public policy priorities
Personal qualities:
- Pride and professionalism in all areas of work including quality of outputs
- Confident and keen to manage work independently, making informed decisions on occasion with minimal input to tight deadlines
- Personable and effective at building professional relationships and partnerships for project success
- Entrepreneurial in key aspects of the role, including recruitment of partners, engagement of sponsors, and selling the importance of the programmes/outputs to key stakeholders and decision-makers
- Efficient and disciplined in delivery and time management
The nature of the role
The successful candidate will work to the OAW Chief Executive. The organisation operates in an extremely agile way. There is no office, no expectations that you work from a specific location and the vast majority of work is done virtually. You will be expected to have your own equipment and office support. We will provide you with an email account for this role. Though you will be guided by the Chief Executive and catch up regularly, you will be expected to be confident and happy to work independently towards agreed outputs, outcomes and timelines. There will be occasions where you may be asked to attend group meetings and events in person. You will be expected to manage your own time and to ensure OAW work is not marginalised alongside any other work commitments.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please send a CV and short introduction highlighting suitability and availability to campbell.mcdonald@employeeownership.co.uk. Please suggest your typical day rate for work with a not-for-profit organization and be clear on whether you need to charge VAT. Please reply asap as we will interview as we receive applications. Closing deadline Monday 25th July 2022.