Role outline and purpose

This role is responsible for leading the development and implementation of our financial inclusion programmes across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (428 food banks, running over 1300 centres), building strong partnerships and alliances to achieve our vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Leading on the development and delivery of our programme and influencing work on a range of issues including income maximisation, welfare rights, social security, debt and financial inclusion, capturing evidence to demonstrate the need for long-term solutions to prioritise people facing destitution and deliver real change for people in crisis.

Role responsibilities

·       Proactive and effective contribution to the Senior Leadership Team towards the achievement of our overall organisational strategy, with direct responsibility for leading on the second key objective of our Changing Communities theme.

·       Development and delivery of an innovative income maximisation helpline across England and Wales, in collaboration with the Citizens Advice England & Wales, along with other key organisations in the anti-poverty sector, offering immediate telephone advice and support to people facing crisis through c130 FTE trained specialist advice workers.   

·       Development and delivery of income maximisation programmes in NI and Scotland to support people in crisis to access advice and holistic support.

·       Lead and develop a high-performing team of c25 in order to support every food bank to develop and execute a strategic plan in each of their communities, that seeks to improve the local referral pathways, putting advice at the front end of the journey for people in crisis, to include the delivery of a strategic grant programme of c. £15 million to embed financial inclusion initiatives.

·       Ensure that all financial inclusion service provision is underpinned by sustained and meaningful participation from people with lived experience, ensuring the journey of the person in crisis is continuously improved through utilising data and sector learning on best practice for effective service delivery across channels, considering barriers, gaps and referral pathways

·       Establish specialist data and insight analysis function, capturing return on investment, performance and impact of national and local services and partnerships, and providing clear and actionable insights to drive informed decision making to deliver improved experience and outcomes for people in crisis. 

 Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

·       Demonstrable, senior level experience of leading delivery programmes nationally and locally, and of creating step-change growth in service reach and impact.

·       Complex project or programme management, including through cross-functional management teams to drive change.

·       Ability to establish credibility quickly with a range of stakeholders, with the influencing and clear communications skills to compellingly advocate to staff, and external stakeholders.

·       Ability to manage multiple projects, identifying conflicting demands and establishing clear priorities in order to meet objectives.

·       Confidence in departmental planning, leadership and people management, budget management and decision making.

·       Ensure that due regard is given to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within all objectives that report into this department.

 Behaviours and competencies:

·       Demonstrate a commitment to the values of the Trussell Trust. 

·       Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds. 

·       Comfortable working in a fast-paced and high-performing organisation, combining problem-solving with collaborative interpersonal skills.

·       Effective communication skills; diplomatic; effectively builds rapport with individuals and groups; presents information accessibly and in a format appropriate to the audience.

·       Role model inclusive behaviour and leadership.

Key Stakeholders

·       Director of Network Programmes and Innovation

·       Operations and Policy & Research directorates, Pathfinding department, Fundraising departments

·       Steering Groups

·       People with lived experience, staff, volunteers, foodbank staff, other 3rd sector partners.