Role outline and purpose

The Network Lead plays a central role in helping us achieve our vision to end the need for food banks in the UK.  This is a varied, proactive and fast-paced role that involve representing Trussell on policy and public affairs and key stakeholder relationships in Northern Ireland, the leadership of a dynamic team of area managers that supports the network of food banks in Northern Ireland to delivery emergency food and the coordination of projects and partnerships to support the food banks in our network to reduce the need for their services locally.

Role responsibilities

·       Strategic Leadership: Manage the delivery of food bank operations in the nation and key strategic projects that are part of Trussell’s five-year strategy to end the need for food banks.

·       Projects and partnerships: Buil partnerships and develop projects with organisations to develop and build services and systems that help end the need for food banks.

·       Policy, public affairs and church engagement: Engage with a wide range of external bodies, including national government, elected representatives, faith and community organisations, and research bodies.  Ensure that local churches (including church leaders) feel connected and understand the importance of ending the need for food banks in local communities.

·       Team Leadership: Provide leadership, support, coaching, development, and line manager to the area managers, financial inclusion manager and policy & public affairs manager for Northern Ireland.  Provide support, advice and guidance to Trussell project leads as appropriate to ensure they understand the policy and public affairs context for delivering their work in the nation e.g. Pathfinder and Financial Inclusion team.

·       Risk Management: Ensure consistent quality assurance of food banks across the nation, in line with the risk framework and support area managers to deal with complaints and manager food banks with high risk.

·       Cross-organisational working: Act as a liaison between the area team, the wider operations team, and other directorates, managing the flow of ideas and feedback to positive effect.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

·       Confidently represent Trussell with a range of stakeholders, including elected representative, civil servants and key anti-poverty sector stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and effectively manager the roll-out of the organisational strategy in the nation.

·       Policy and public affairs knowledge, including a track record of successfully influencing politicians and key decision-makers to achieve strategic goals.

·       Knowledge and experience of community development or local service provision.

·       Experience of managing projects and partnerships, from inception to evaluation, to achieve strategic goals.

·       Experience of team leadership including line management and supervision, including dealing with performance issues and using coaching skills.

·       Competent and efficient use of IT, including the main Microsoft Office programmes and database management.

Behaviours and competencies:

·       Demonstrates a commitment to the values of Trussell

·       Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantage, marginalise or socially-excluded backgrounds

·       Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership

·       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, particularly listening skills

·       Confident, resilient and self-motivated team player

·       Well-organised and able to juggle competing priorities

·       The ability to build effective relationships in contexts where Christian faith plays a major part and in which people of all faiths and now collaborate to make a difference together

Key Stakeholders

·       Area Managers

·       Network Leads

·       Head of Scotland and Northern Ireland

·       Network Services

·       Pathfinder team

·       Financial Inclusion team

·       UK policy team

·       Head of Safeguarding and Risk

·       Public Engagement directorate

·       Local elected representatives, including Northern Ireland Assembly members, MPs and councillors, and civil servants

·       Representatives of anti-poverty sector stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and local organisations