New Horizon Youth Centre

Director of Operations
July 2021

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

“Sleeping rough in King Cross station gave me the drive. I didn’t want to be sitting there all night, I
wanted to be sitting waiting for a train to go somewhere nice.”

Founded in 1967 by Lord Longford to address the needs of young people who were involved in drug
abuse in the West End of London, New Horizon Youth Centre continues today as a leading frontline
organisation, working with young people experiencing homelessness.

After 27 years, in the autumn of 1994, we moved from Covent Garden to our current premises in
the Somers Town area, an area ideally situated between the mainline stations of Kings Cross and
Euston to meet both the needs of Londoners and of those coming into the capital from the UK and
beyond. The devasting effects of Covid arrived almost 27 years later and have led to more changes
at the centre – both in terms of growing need and also the opportunity to develop new ways of
working.

Inevitably the challenges facing young people have only grown through the pandemic and as a
result youth homelessness – and on the sharp end, rough sleeping – has grown and will continue to
grow. There is now a sense of urgency that is not simply about scale either. As plans for ‘building
back better’ are conceived and the new normal is written it is critical that we ensure that young
people, especially those experiencing homelessness, are front and centre of thinking and
investment. The severity of the situation demands a bolder and bigger response than we might
previously have conceived necessary, and this response will require us to think and act differently in
the years ahead.

As 2021 unfolds we know how many unknowns continue to lie ahead and that there are many
changes that have taken place that we are yet to compute and many more to come that we are yet
to foresee. But the opportunities for change have rarely been so nascent either as society
revaluates what is important and what is possible.

Amongst this uncertainty we begin our search for a new Director of Operations who can help steer
us through the change and support New Horizon to make some more of the impossible, possible. It
is a broad and challenging role in dynamic and daring organisation. It offers the chance to lead a
dynamic and committed team doing important and inspiring work whilst helping shape a new
chapter in our proud history.

If you are committed to giving young people’s potential a home and the role excites you then please
get in touch.

Phil Kerry
Chief Executive

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

‘Youth Centre’ may be in our name, but we are so much more.

Every year, thousands of young people across the capital become homeless because of family
breakdown, domestic abuse, poverty, experiences of violence, or war and persecution in their home
country.

Under-resourced councils are only able to help a limited number of the cases, and with an ongoing
housing crisis, cuts to services and difficult job market the rest find themselves homeless and
vulnerable at a critical point in their young lives.

We are a vital support network for 16–24-year-olds with nowhere else to go. Through the ‘one stop
shop’ services we provide at our daycentre, outreach, and remote services we support thousands of
young people experiencing homelessness in London to improve their wellbeing, change their
economic circumstances and find somewhere that they can call home.

Given the challenges that these young people face, it is no surprise that they tell us that surviving is
a talent, but we believe that these talents should be used for so much more.

We deliver this mission through four strategic objectives:

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

And specific to the year ahead as we emerge from Covid we need to ensure that we focus on:

• Community - lockdown, the effects of Covid and the Black Lives Matter movement has seen
dramatic changes in who is coming to us for support and what they need and want. We will
continue to ensure our offer remains accessible and inclusive for everyone whilst adapting
to specific and growing needs from certain groups.

• Choice - lockdown has forced us to open up our services in entirely new ways. We know that
this has enabled more people to access New Horizon but stopped others from engaging. As
we move past Covid, we will continue a mixed service model so that young people can
engage in the ways they want on the issues they want.

• Care - we know that the last 12 months have caused unprecedented challenges for us as
employees too and it has been and will continue to be tough for the team. As a staff team
we will do more than ever to look after each other, ensuring we are all supported and
connected.

• Change - lockdown has only exacerbated the pre-existing challenges that young people
faced. More than ever, we believe the best way of helping the most young people is to get
decisions makers to better understand and invest in the issues they face. We will continue to
ramp up our policy and campaigning work so that we can help many more young people,
including those we never meet.

• We see the best in everyone – we all have the strengths and the potential to make the best
of our life and work, when given a fair chance.

• We are dynamic in our approach – We are always adopting because the world changes and
what young need and want changes.

• We collaborate on solutions – We trust and work with diverse people and organisations so
that we can achieve more together.

• We are our word – We will do what we say we will because the young people we support,
our team and our partners deserve nothing less.

For more information on our work and impact please visit https://nhyouthcentre.org.uk/

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

Job title: Director of Operations

Responsible to: Chief Executive
Duration: Ongoing contract
Location: Kings Cross, NW1 with home working
Working hours: 35 hours per week | flexible working on request
Salary Band PO5: £50,000 - £55,000

New Horizon Youth Centre has a long and proud history of providing services for homeless and
underserved young people in the capital. Our approach and services are entirely unique and have
captured the interest of visiting Prime Ministers, Royals, and mainstream national news. What
started with just three staff back in 1968 (Jon Snow was famously amongst them) has grown into a
dedicated, diverse and multi-disciplinary staff team of almost 50 with a turnover of £2.5million.

The Director of Operations will lead a team of managers and specialists within our operational
services and back-office functions so that they can deliver the Places, Provision and Platform part of
our strategy. As deputy to the Chief Executive, you will also play a key role in building external
partnerships with the sector, as a spokesperson for our work and in leading change projects and
innovations.

You will directly line manage 4 staff (Services Manager, Youth Outreach Manager, Office Manager
and Accommodation Coordinator) and lead a department of 40 colleagues, outlines in the
organisation chart below:

The pandemic has been hugely challenging but also an opportunity to reflect and learn. As we
emerge into a post-Covid world, we want to ensure that we keep the best bits of this new way of
working and create a newer New Horizon. The team are ready for this change but will also need
strong and considered leadership as we navigate the organisation into a new era. It is a unique
chance to not only write an important chapter in our history but to also shape work that will
ultimately support thousands of young people out of homelessness.

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

Strategy and leadership

✓ Lead the Operations directorate: motivating, developing and empowering staff and
volunteers to deliver our mission
✓ Live our values and ensure that they are an active and growing part of our work
✓ Contribute to New Horizon’s ongoing strategic development through membership of our
Management Team and attendance at Board meeting
✓ Continue to drive high quality delivery in our services, by codifying our model of practice and
empowering the team and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed
✓ Identify and develop new ways for New Horizon to deliver our mission, including through the
use of off-site and digital services.
✓ Maintain awareness of changes in the external environment for young people and around
housing, ensuring we are adapting and evolving to respond to these.
✓ Monitor and report regularly on operational delivery to the Management Team and Board

Service delivery
✓ Oversee the effective delivery of our services to thousands of young people annually,
ensuring they are delivered safely, in line with our model of practice.
✓ Ensure the teams have the resources, skills and training needed to effectively deliver their
roles and that staff care and reflective practice are at the heart of our work and contribute
to a supportive work environment.
✓ Build partnerships within the sector and beyond to enhance and build upon our holistic offer
✓ Set and monitor effective and supportive performance plans and measures to ensure our
work delivers to a high quality and in line with our funder requirements
✓ Ensure that appropriate risk management and safeguarding policies underpin and support
our work

Resource management
✓ Oversee centre management, ensuring our building and accommodation projects are safe,
well maintained and continually invested in
✓ Prepare, manage, and monitor an annual expenditure budget of c£2.5m, ensuring that
resources are deployed appropriately and cost effectively.
✓ Ensure that the day-to-day activities of the HR & Administration services run smoothly and
provide managers and staff across New Horizon Youth Centre with a high quality, consistent
support and care.
✓ Ensure compliance with charity and company legislation

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

Personal attributes

✓ Passion for and commitment to seeing young people thrive and reach their potential
✓ Ability to lead with passion, energy, inclusivity and in line with our values
✓ Focussed on excellence and continual improvements whilst also harnessing change and making
the most of opportunities
✓ Commitment to development and self-care for yourself and your team
✓ Strategic thinker who can marry data from learning with the tacit insights from the team

Specialist knowledge and skills

✓ Strong track record of leadership in a senior operational role with an understanding of operating
in senior management positions and with Boards
✓ Robust understanding of issues affecting young people, especially those experiencing
homelessness
✓ Unswerving commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work
✓ Strong planning and finance skills, and a track record of overseeing large budgets and finance
systems
✓ Experience of evaluation, data analysis and driving ongoing service performance improvements
✓ Excellent communicator, comfortable with public speaking and formal writing
✓ Track record of creating and maintaining external partnerships to achieve organisational aims
✓ Experience of embracing and driving change within organisations
✓ Solid experience of risk management and safeguarding, ideally gained in a similar setting
✓ Understanding of and experience managing the compliance and legal issues affecting our work

Additional Job Requirements

✓ Readiness to deputise for the Chief Executive

✓ Ability to work outside of normal hours on occasion (within New Horizon’s flexible working
hour’s arrangements). These include working over the Christmas period where required
✓ Willingness to work flexibly and lead through changing organisational requirements

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

Thank you for your interest in the Director of Operations role and becoming part of our team. As an
Equal Opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all sections of the community and
particularly welcome applications from black, Asian, and other minority ethnic groups who are
underrepresented within our leadership.

It is critical that the successful applicant shares New Horizon Youth Centre’s values and can lead a
large and department working in a complex and challenging environment. Applicants should
therefore aim to demonstrate both their relevant experience and their ability to meet the
competencies listed in the Person Specification above.

The recruitment process is being led by Prospectus and if you wish to your application should be in
three parts:
1. A covering letter of no more than two side, setting out:
a) Your reasons for applying for the role
b) Your fit with New Horizon Youth Centre’s values
c) Evidence and examples of how you meet each of the competencies required for the role,
as set out in the Person Specification
2. An up-to-date CV
3. Completion of the Personal Details and Equal Opportunity monitoring forms

The deadline for submitting applications is 5.00pm on Sunday 25th July. Applications will only be
accepted after that date in exceptional circumstances, and by prior agreement.

The selection process and timetable will be as follows:

30 July 21 Shortlisted applicants will be informed

4 August 21 First round interviews comprising of: an interview and tasks

Please return your application by e-mail to victoria.savva@prospect-us.co.uk

Unfortunately, we will not be able to reply to each individual application and so if you have not had
a response from us by 1 August 2021 then please assume that your application has been
unsuccessful on this occasion.

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 New Horizon Youth Centre
Director of Operations
July 2021

Contract
The contract is ongoing, subject to successful completion of a probationary period, and will be
offered to the successful candidate subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and enhanced
DBS check.

Location
The post is currently based between home working and New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton
Street, London NW1 1JR. At present it is envisaged that half the working week will be spent at the
centre though as restrictions ease this may increase.

Accountability
The Director of Operations reports directly to the Chief Executive.

Salary
Salary band: £50,000 - £55,000
New Horizon Youth Centre contributes up to 6% to a group personal pension scheme.

Hours of working
The post holder will be required to work 35 hours per week. The time worked is recorded and any
excess hours may be taken as time off in lieu. Some weekend and evening or work over the
Christmas period will be required.

Annual leave
30 days per year

Probation
There will be a three-month probationary period. After the three-month period, the post holder will
either be offered an ongoing contract, be put on a further period of probation or have their contract
terminated. A termination of contract will be for reasons that have been made clear prior to the
probationary period being completed.

Notice period
The normal notice period is one week during the probationary period and 12 weeks thereafter

Statement of intent on equal opportunities

New Horizon recognises that in society certain groups and individuals face discrimination on the
grounds of race, colour, class, age, gender, sexuality, religion, culture, marital status, and disability.

People living in hostels, squats or on the street, or unemployed people, also face discrimination.
New Horizon is committed to opposing this discrimination and recognises that it is the duty of all
staff and Board members to reflect this in policies and practices relating to the provision of services,
employment, and management.