Regional Manager - Fixed Term Contract - 15 Month Maternity Cover

Location: North West - Home based covering with regular travel to: Cumbria, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Merseyside, Cheshire
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Salary: £33,088 per year plus £2,500 car allowance

Do you love building relationships and meeting new people? Are you energetic, positive and organised with a passion for fundraising and community engagement?

This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference by playing a vital role in our work across the North West. This role will be responsible for engaging volunteers and working with partners across the area to raise funds and awareness for RABI.

You will work with our committees to develop their events and embed good practice as well as identify and test new initiatives to reach and involve new audiences.

To be the RABI lead for volunteering and community engagement across the region to include the researching, developing and supporting local community fundraising across the region. Working closely with volunteers, county committees and local partners developing, delivering and evaluating new initiatives to reach new audiences, grow support for RABI and make a difference for the farming community.

Key Responsibilities:

- To increase awareness of the charity within the farming/rural community to enable RABI to reach more people in need of support
- To proactively network and build and maintain strong relationships with a range of local stakeholders such as (corporates) companies, agricultural suppliers, auction marts, colleges and community groups through presentations, attendance at local events / shows etc.
- To work with other RABI departments to improve relationships with supporters identifying those with national importance and capturing information / data in CRM
- To develop and embed community fundraising good practice through RABI led events and other local activity
- To encourage, motivate and support existing voluntary county committee and recruit new members where necessary.
- To participate and actively contribute to the development of volunteering across RABI including the introduction of new systems to support volunteering and local engagement.

Role specific responsibilities:

- To maintain on-going relationships with corporate organisations in the farming industry, and beyond, and identify/establish new opportunities.
- To proactively identify and pursue other community engagement opportunities in the region.
- To work in conjunction with other agencies and farming related organisations to raise awareness of the work of RABI among both our supporter audiences and those who may need assistance.
- To support volunteer county committee by enabling them to manage and develop their own fundraising activities, to ensure support regarding compliance and guidance is given as needed.
- Managing and leading volunteers in the region, following compliance and good practice to ensure volunteers are safe, supported, aware of RABI s values and culture and are happy and motivated.
- Identify training and support for volunteers appropriate to their roles in wider community engagement, awareness raising and community fundraising. Gathering local intelligence within the region regarding opportunities for volunteers and potential fundraising and networking.
- To support and encourage county committee in their fundraising activities, attend any relevant occasional committee meetings, recruit new members where necessary, confirm membership and appointments, and make any required changes to the CRM system.
- To attend appropriate regional/national shows and events- supporting the organisation to have a wide professional presence at a variety of shows, supporting volunteers to attend shows and events as required.
- In conjunction with the National Volunteering Manager and Head of Volunteering, represent RABI at relevant networking events to ensure that charity's voice is heard and visible.
- In conjunction with the National Volunteering Manager and volunteer coordination team (central office) work with the communication team to ensure communications and information is cascaded and feedback is shared widely within the organisation. To help review any communications and make suggestions to improve the flow of information to volunteers.
- To provide appropriate news stories to the communications team., through the appropriate medium.
- To contribute to and manage the region s dedicated social media pages and support regional communications in the region, sharing national posts as appropriate
- As appropriate, work with the fundraising/finance team to encourage individuals/committees/partners to sell RABI trading goods, monitor stock levels and produce basic sales reports.
- Provide monthly expenses and lieu time information as required.
- Attend 1:1 meeting with the National Volunteering Manager (Line manager).
- Attend team meetings with the wider team and contribute to the delivery of ideas within the team.
- To attend volunteering department meetings, away days and training at central office or other locations, including RABI s annual staff conference, volunteering conference and national volunteer roadshows.
- Promote and engage with any new RABI promotional campaigns as appropriate.
- Work with the regional service delivery teams in region and nationally.

Person Specification:

Essential

- Demonstrate relevant experience and proven track record within volunteering and community engagement / fundraising.
- Clear succinct written communication style for social media
- Excellent face-to-face interpersonal skills including a clear and confident presentation style.
- Strong time management and highly developed organisational skills.
- IT literate - good working knowledge of email systems, Word and Excel.
- Managing or working with volunteers and / or local communities.
- Managing projects and / or events.
- Confident public speaking.
- Working in a sometimes-pressurised environment, responding rapidly to changing needs.
- Living and/or working among or knowledge of the farming community.
- Dealing with press / media enquiries and use of social media.
- An empathy and understanding of UK agricultural methods/people and issues facing the industry.
- Understanding of volunteer motivations.
- Understanding of the importance of customer and volunteer care.
- A self-starter, using own initiative to make decisions on a regular basis.
- Working co-operatively with others across the organisation and externally sometimes requiring tact and diplomacy.
- Working flexibly: it is necessary to work unsocial hours to fulfil this role e.g., attend weekend shows, evening meetings and events.
- Resourceful, common sense, negotiating with external parties to reduce or eliminate fees; borrow display materials; obtain raffle prizes/auction lots free of charge etc.

Desirable

- Well-developed numeracy skills at a level that enables the post-holder to produce reports, assess return on investment etc.
- Negotiation skills.
- Knowledge of CRM and event management systems.
- Dealing with people at all levels in a small or medium-sized organisation.
- Working within a team where some or all members are remote.
- Ability to take part in TV or radio interviews with strict supervision from the communications team.
- Being responsible for preparation or use of personal data and other confidential information including its retention and safe custody.
- Understanding of marketing and/or fundraising principles including legal compliance and Data Protection.
- Media training.
- Thinking conceptually and creatively to develop appropriate solutions.
- Logical and rational thinker.
- Solving problems that can arise irregularly or unexpectedly for which solutions have sometimes not been established by precedent.

Other

- Storage facilities for show and publicity equipment.
- Full UK Driving License (essential car user allowance payable).

This role profile is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder according to future developments at RABI.

RABI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and aims to ensure that all employment practices secure equality of opportunity and that no prospective or current employee receives less than favourable treatment at RABI as a result of their sex, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, belief, ethnic origin, disability, marital, or for any other reason which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Our recruitment process strives to ensure that individuals are selected only based on their relevant skills, experience, qualifications and abilities.

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