We are slowly becoming a more sustainable society. But we don't often see stories of progress in the news or hear about new ways of living and working from our friends, family or colleagues. Too many of us don’t ‘see ourselves’ as part of the green transition. It’s easy for people to feel that nothing is changing for the better. And it's easy for politicians and businesses to think that people aren't prepared for change.

The Local Storytelling Exchange (the Exchange) is an emerging strategic climate communication initiative, fiscally hosted by the Social Change Nest and funded by philanthropic organisations, including the European Climate Foundation. 

The Exchange team finds and amplifies stories that show ‘this is what the transition looks like’. The stories feature people, communities and businesses who in different ways embody the green transition: households benefiting from better insulation; tradespeople retraining to meet the demand for low-carbon technologies; neighbors finding common cause in community energy projects. The Exchange aims to connect these local stories to the issues driving the national climate debate.

Working in the Tees Valley, Cornwall, Yorkshire & Humber and the West Midlands, four Local Storytellers are amplifying stories of the green transition surfacing in diverse communities into the local ecosystem. The Storytellers’ work is currently guided by an Interim Director who leads the strategic direction and implementation of the model. Their role includes building the team and recruiting an Executive Director at this important and exciting point for the Local Storytelling Exchange, as it moves towards becoming an established and independent organisation.

The Executive Director will guide this transition by setting the long-term strategic and operational direction, take key decisions to evolve and refine its theory of change, shape its public identity and ‘brand’, and agree the shape and size of the Exchange team and its governance going forward.

Key Responsibilities

>> Strategic Direction

• Develop and take ownership of the organisational strategy and theory of change, including setting 1 and 3 year targets (e.g. size and scope of team, major outcomes, and expected impacts) 

• Lead the development of the Exchange’s public identity/brand 

• Creatively consider ways in which to expand or deepen the team for greater impact - e.g. the development of campaigning/local organising capacity or coverage in new regions

• Develop a fundraising strategy with 1 and 3 year targets to support the maintenance and potential growth of the team, including bringing new funders on board

>> Strategic Storytelling/Communications

• Lead on the strategic direction of story content by providing weekly strategic steers to Local Storytellers as well as ad-hoc guidance/advice

• Be a proactive and trusted point of liaison for strategic partners, and the wider climate movement, coordinating and prioritising requests and opportunities with national media, campaign groups and climate policy organisations 

• Advocate for the initiative, sharing insights and experiences, including trialing a newsletter for stakeholders/partners

>> Senior Management

• Liaise with Social Change Nest through monthly meetings, and discussion around finances and other HR topics

• Take responsibility for transparently overseeing the budget 

• Report to funders and maintain funding relationships 

• Develop an HR framework for guiding the organisation’s development and growth

• Review and agree the line management pattern of the five Local Storytellers and any other staff 

Person Specification 

• A genuine demonstratable interest in the mission of the Local Storytelling Exchange and a passion for addressing climate change in an inclusive, strategic way

• Experience of strategic leadership – setting a strategy and turning broad aims and direction into practical plans for delivery

• Experience of developing successful plans, theories of change and fundraising strategies 

• A strong understanding of communicating for public and political impact and a clear grasp of the power of stories

• A good knowledge and understanding of the national media, campaign and policy landscape on climate change

• A good understanding of how to effectively shape and land stories for different media

• Experience of managing budgets (some financial support is provided through the Social Change Nest)

• Established track record of managing, developing, and motivating high performing teams

• Strong communication, presentation, and ambassadorial skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple levels

• Demonstrable commitment to enabling and promoting diversity and representation in all aspects of the organisation’s activities

• A good understanding of charity operations and the requirements of good governance

• An enthusiastic personality accustomed to working with a broad range of people

• Entrepreneurial mindset, able to balance multiple priorities at any one time