The Ramblers helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. We are the only charity dedicated to looking after paths and green spaces, leading walks, opening up new places to explore, and encouraging everyone to get outside and discover how walking boosts your health and your happiness. We aim to speak for all walkers.

This is an exciting time to join one of our sub-committees of the main board of trustees. The Ramblers has developed a refreshed strategic plan that builds on the Ramblers' success and its mission to open the way for everyone to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking. As we look forward, we want to address the stark inequalities that still exist and support those who face the greatest barriers to getting out and going walking.

As an independent committee member of our main board, you will draw on your skills and experience to help deliver the strategy for achieving our mission, ensure that the charity’s resources are managed responsibly, and that we remain compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

There are four sub-committees with responsibility for assisting the board to discharge its duties in specific areas:

• Strategy and Delivery Committee
• Finance, Risk and Audit Committee
• People and Culture Committee
• Nominations and Governance Committee

Independent Committee Members are volunteers who are recruited to join trustees and senior staff on a specific committee and support the work of that committee, advising on matters relating to that committee’s areas of responsibility, contributing specialist knowledge as appropriate.

You can find more information about the board, the sub-committees and current trustees at ramblers.org.uk/about-us/board-trustees-and-sub-committees.

The Ramblers promote diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The role

We are seeking independent committee members who will join the People and Culture Committee and the Strategy and Delivery Committee.

To join the Committee we are seeking three individuals with proven experience and knowledge of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Volunteering or People/HR, and Digital Transformation.

The People and Culture Committee supports the board with:

• The people and culture activities including the equity, diversity and inclusion programme.
• Safeguarding, and health and safety matters.
• The overall employer offer, including setting and reviewing the remuneration of the Chief Executive.
• The Strategy and Delivery Committee supports the board with:
• Oversight of delivery of the agreed portfolio of strategic and operational programmes of work required to deliver the Ramblers’ strategy and charitable purpose.

Appointment

Appointments to sub-committees are reviewed by the nominations and governance committee, and then recommended for approval to the Board of Trustees. All committee appointments are subject to relevant eligibility checks.

Time Commitment

We know that people have other time commitments and so we want to make sure the committees work as well as possible for everyone.

Sub-committees are held up to four times per year, usually several weeks ahead of each board meeting. The meetings are held virtually and normally run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. For each meeting you will need some time to read relevant papers.

Independent sub-committee members will be asked to sit on the committee for a period of three years, time commitments permitting.

The Person

To be considered as an independent committee member you should demonstrate:

• proven experience and knowledge in the specialism required
• a commitment to the mission, ambitions and values of the Ramblers
• integrity in your communication and decision making
• an ability to bring a strategic vision and provide sound and independent judgement
• an ability to think creatively
• a willingness to meet the minimum time commitment
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions in the best interests of the Ramblers

The successful post-holder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are: Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview

OPFS was founded in 1944 and since then we have been at the forefront of shaping policy and services that support the 144,000 single parent families in Scotland. OPFS HQ is in central Edinburgh, there are local services in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Edinburgh and Dundee with National digital and helpline services.

This post is office based to ensure collaboration with stakeholders and a consistent presence in the organisation.

The post holder is responsible for the administrative functions of OPFS as a Registered Charity, HQ functions and wider support to staff across the organisation. They will manage a small administration team and will work closely with other Corporate Services managers to ensure the efficiency and cohesiveness of all central functions. They will be required to operate in line with OPFS values which are Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Key Tasks

• Administration: Managing the administration staff and functions of the OPFS central operations ensuring effective and efficient administration for OPFS HQ including adequate reception functions for visitors, deliveries and staff. Liaising with service administrators and managers to ensure consistency and best practice across the organisation. Maintain document storage in line with OPFS data retention policy and procedures, utilising SharePoint effectively for electronic storage, arranging confidential destruction and archiving as appropriate. Working with IT and Digital Services to ensure effective use of SharePoint across all OPFS administration functions. Regularly reviewing systems and processes, revising as required, to ensure efficiency and accuracy. Planning and coordinating activities and support required across OPFS for new developments.
• Salesforce: Work closely with IT and Digital Services to support new developments for administration and HR functions across OPFS. Ensure all OPFS salesforce records are secure, accurate, up to date, and regularly monitored with reports being supplied for
• board and senior management meetings. Work with the Digital and IT Services Lead to identify areas for improvement and support the ongoing development of the system.
• Recruitment: Manage all centralised recruitment for OPFS staff in consultation with the appropriate service manager including collation of all relevant information on the role, advertising appropriately, including OPFS website, presenting applications for shortlisting, responding to candidates and organising interviews. Produce documents as required by the interview panel, set up of interview space, including and IT equipment required, for interviews in Edinburgh. Checking right to work information, ID and registrations for selected candidates. Co-ordinating induction programmes for new staff as appropriate to their role.
• Human Resources: Create and maintain accurate and secure records for all staff employed by OPFS ensuring that a complete and current record is kept for all staff and recorded in Salesforce. Issuing staff letters for appointment, details of terms and conditions and any changes thereafter. Undertake staff meetings including all exit interviews highlighting any issues to the Director of HR and Corporate Services. Work with managers handling employee relations matters including investigations, disciplinary or grievance issues, providing appropriate and timely support and maintaining appropriate records. Liaise with external HR Support staff.
• PVGs and Disclosures: Advising new applicants and existing employees on PVG and Disclosure applications for OPFS, ensuring that the correct processes and procedures are followed, with respective managers informed of the outcomes. Acting as counter signatory for OPFS for applications. Ensuring security and confidentiality of all relevant information.
• Training Administration: maintaining the OPFS training calendar and records, arranging training courses as requested, attendees and premises.
• Board, Directorate, meeting and event functions: Ensuring provision for meetings including invitations, room booking, creating reports where required for information including HR and Health and Safety functions, collating and circulating papers, room and technical preparation, minute taking as required. Coordinate meetings and events as required including refreshments and technical support.
• GDPR: Ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act (2018) acting as Data Protection Officer for OPFS, liaising with ICO as required, updating the policy and procedures to reflect change and provide information to management staff and data controllers.
• Properties: Liaise with HQ landlord ensuring the smooth operation of the office in terms of repairs and maintenance. Manage all office moves across OPFS liaising with the local administrator and manager as appropriate. Responsibility for arranging any reorganisation of office space, including any necessary wiring, IT requirements, heating, lighting, redecoration and required flooring, and any furniture needs.
• Procurement: Ensuring best value for all OPFS resources and services by actively benchmarking and negotiating with suppliers, reviewing contracts regularly, and identifying areas of potential savings.
• Health and Safety: Ensuring OPFS is compliant with all aspects of Health and Safety legislation by ongoing monitoring, safety checks, arranging repairs or replacements and escalating issues if required. Liaising with OPFS services to gather and collate information, share updates, and advise if required. Provide quarterly Health and Safety reports for the Board and Directorate, including absence statistics. First Aid and Fire Warden support for HQ.

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties. It is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.

Personal Specifications

Essential

• Relevant qualification to HNC level or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience of leading in a busy office.
• Excellent IT skills, good working knowledge of Microsoft systems, Salesforce and meeting technology.
• Experience of HR administration and recruitment.
• Ability to prioritise workloads.
• Ability to take responsibility to proactively resolve issues and provide support in challenging situations.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Proven ability to plan for and deliver short term and longer-term events and projects.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels across the organisation and with external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Chartered member of CIPD, or working towards
• Experience of working in the Third Sector
• Understanding of single parent challenges

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of Appointment: This is a permanent appointment. Confirmation of appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period ending when a probationary review has been completed.
• Salary: OPFS Scale Points 25 – 29, £37,879 - £46,297
• Hours of work: 35 per week worked flexibly to meet the demands of the job
• Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays.
• Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% from OPFS.
• Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision and annual appraisals. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff have access to internal and external training.
• Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment: OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People status