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Chief Executive Officer(Business Transformation)

Two year contractRemuneration up to £60k pa fteMelrose, Scottish Borders

Recruitment Information

The Abbotsford Trust is looking to appoint a Chief Executive to lead the organisation through a process of business review, improvement and development. This will include revisiting our vision, strategic priorities for the next 2-3 years, refreshing our business plan, and ensuring that our structures, systems and resources are fit for purpose, and managing the changes to the way we work.

Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, has come to the end of an £11.24 million restoration and the historic house was officially re-opened to the public in July 2013. We have now completed our first full year of trading and are positioned to look at our future on the basis of actual experience as well as maintaining our ambitions for future growth and development.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees, our staff and volunteers, and other key stakeholders, the Chief Executive (Business Transformation) will:

lead on the review and development of the vision and strategic priorities review the financial and business performance of the charity, identifying

areas for improvement and change and ensuring the achievement of financial sustainability

refresh and revise our Business Plan and financial projections review and refine our structures, systems and resourcing to ensure we are fit

for purpose

The successful candidate will have a professional background and senior management experience in a relevant field combined with financial and business acumen. Sh/e will have knowledge of the heritage, educational or cultural sectors and an interest in Abbotsford and Sir Walter Scott and his legacy. S/he will evidence strong leadership skills, and the ability to lead successful business transformation.

Candidates will be asked to provide a CV and a statement of interest in the position. Those shortlisted will be invited to complete an online Belbin Team inventory. A prepared Assessment Activity and Presentation will form part of the Interview Process.

The Abbotsford Trust Chief Executive (Business Transformation)Candidate Pack 1 November 2014

The Abbotsford Trust is a registered Charity (Charity No SCO37424)


Job Description

Chief Executive(Business Transformation)

Status: Two year contract

Location: Abbotsford, Melrose

Reporting to: line managed by Chair or nominated Trustee, reports to Executive Committee and accountable to Board

Responsible for: line management of Heritage & Engagement Manager, Gardens Heritage Manager, Visitor Services Manager, Finance & Administration Manager and Marketing Officer

ContextAbbotsford was designed and built by Sir Walter Scott as both his home and the location for his extensive collection of books and historical memorabilia, and was first opened to the public in 1833, five months after his death. After the death of his last direct descendent in residence, Dame Jean Maxwell-Scott, in 2004, The Abbotsford Trust was created to preserve, protect and promote not only the house, but also the life and works of Sir Walter.

Abbotsford has come to the end of an £11.24 million restoration, with £4.85 million granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund and a further £3.95 million granted by the Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council, Historic Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. As the next part of the journey, Abbotsford needs to create a financially sustainable future for the charity, maximising the potential of such a significant heritage site and ensuring significant operational growth in terms of visitor numbers and commercial income generation.

We are looking for a Chief Executive for a period of two years with a specific remit to review and turn around our business performance including working with the Trustees, managers and key stakeholders on vision and direction, setting strategic priorities for the next 2-3 years, updating our business plan, and reviewing our using of resourcing to support achievement of the same.

Job Purpose

To work with the Board of Trustees to refresh and develop the vision, direction and strategic priorities in order to ensure Abbotsford is established as a premier heritage and visitor destination

To review the business and financial performance of the charity and lead the revision of the business plan for the next two years

To review the structure, systems and resourcing of the charity to ensure that the charity is best placed to achieve the business plan

To ensure the Trust has a clear fundraising strategy and play a key role in major donor fundraising and funder relations


To have overall operational and financial management responsibility for the Trust, including governance support and ensuring effective implementation of change


Scope and AccountabilityReporting to the Executive Committee and accountable to the Trustee Board, the interim Chief Executive will play a key strategic and business transformation role. The postholder will support the governance levels to refresh and reposition the charity and identify what the strategic priorities for the next two years will need to be to ensure that Abbotsford is positioned as a key heritage site with a financially sustainable future. The postholder will implement and manage through the organisational changes over two annual seasons, leading a review and evaluation after the first season to informing the focus for the second.

Key outcomes for the first six months will be: A vision statement Strategic Objectives for the next 2-3 years A refreshed Business Plan that fully reflects the heritage and commercial

aspects of the charity Clear business priorities A revised business model in terms of structure, systems and resourcing A succession plan in place, particularly in relation to Trustees and Key

Convergence posts Clarity about the positioning of fundraising within the charity

Areas of ResponsibilityBusiness Transformation Work with the Board, other Trust managers and key stakeholders to refresh the

vision and strategic priorities for the charity as a whole Review the financial and business performance of the Trust over the last twelve

months and identify the opportunities for both business growth and business efficiency over the next 2-3 years

Review the structure and resourcing of the Trust and identify areas for change and improvement in order to ensure that the charity is able to become financially sustainable and achieve the desired growth

Work with the Executive Committee and key managers to refresh the Business Plan, including revisions to reflect the revised strategic priorities and financial plans that take account of experience over the last year as well as potential growth for the future

Provide leadership and management to the service managers, encouraging engagement with business needs and key challenges facing the Trust as a heritage charity and as a financially viable business

Develop proposals for the future of the Trust for consideration by the Board of Trustees, with practical and achievable areas for operational change and business improvement

Advise on the development and implementation of effective financial management at all levels throughout the charity, working closely with the Treasurer, Finance & Admin Manager and service managers

Review the strategic priorities and resourcing requirements for fundraising income generation over the next 2-3 years and develop sound relationships with key funders and major donors

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally in order to ensure that business development proposals are informed and maximise engagement with the required changes


Governance and Board Ensure that the Executive Committee is kept fully and appropriately informed of

key organisational issues, developments and opportunities Ensure the Board is provided with all necessary financial and management

information to discharge their fiduciary and governance responsibilities, working through the Executive Committee and with external specialists as appropriate

Ensure that the Board and Board Sub Committees are serviced efficiently and that the Chair and Lead Trustees are provided with any additional support required to discharge their duties

Work closely and consultatively with the Faculty of Advocates in relation to the Joint Collections Trust and the security, conservation and development of the jointly owned artefacts

Provide the Board with guidance on good governance models, skills audits, access to learning and development, and access to professional advisers as required (eg legal, financial, heritage specific)

Support the Nominations Panel in the recruitment and appointment of new Trustees

Act as Company Secretary on behalf of the Board, including ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and submission of annual report and other documentation as required to Companies House and the Charities Commission

Operational Management Ensure the development and implementation of effective financial management

at all levels throughout the charity, working closely with the Treasurer, Finance & Business Systems Officer and senior managers

Ensure that service development and provision is innovative, effective, reflects organisational values, and can demonstrate desired impact

Drive, oversee and help develop marketing strategies for each aspect of both the charitable and commercial elements of the organisation including the need to raise external funds

Provide overall leadership to the staff and volunteer team, including ensuring effective performance management and development across all activities

Overall responsibility for all aspects of resource and facilities management, ensuring contractor arrangements are negotiated and managed and working through and with front line staff

Responsibility for the management of franchises and contracts, in particular the Ochiltrees Restaurant and other catering arrangements, ensuring that the provision meets business needs

Overall responsibility for ensuring the charity has a full set of required policies implemented and monitored, working through and with the appropriate lead personnel on each area (curatorial, health & safety, customer services, employment, complaints, child protection etc)

Ensure that the charity is an employer of choice and that people (staff and volunteer) management and development reflects organisational values and legal compliance

Communication and RelationshipsThe Abbotsford Trust Chief Executive (Business Transformation)Candidate Pack 6 November 2014

Develop networking, influencing and collaborative working relationships with local, regional and national government and key decision-makers in the statutory, charitable and community sectors

Maintain effective working relationships with the Faculty of Advocates in relation to the jointly owned Collections and shared interests in Abbotsford

Develop and sustain partnerships and networking relationships with key organisations in the field of heritage, education and culture

Ensure the development and maintenance of excellent internal communications with and between staff and volunteers and trustees

Act as an ambassador for the organisation, undertaking public and media presentations, attending conferences, and events, decision-making and lobbying forums, community activities as appropriate


Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience Knowledge, experience and qualifications in a relevant professional field Senior management experience within a relevant organisation Excellent financial management skills combined with business acumen and

demonstrable experience of interpreting and applying financial information and accounts

Knowledge of the heritage, education and/or cultural sectors and particularly the challenges of ensuring financial sustainability

Demonstrable expertise in successful business review and transformation, combined with excellent understanding of marketing

Understanding of the challenges of balancing heritage requirements with commercial considerations

Excellent understanding of organisational structures, dynamics and change processes

Some knowledge and experience of funding and managing funder relationships

Understanding of the legal requirements that pertain to a heritage charity and knowledge of where to look for information and guidance

Skills/Attributes Highly developed analytic, evaluative, creative and strategic thinking skills

and ability to review and refresh a business and develop a new model Ability to explore and engage with complex problems and identify creative,

practical and realistic solutions Excellent formal communication skills, including ability to draft and deliver

succinct and engaging presentations and reports that capture complex issues and make them accessible to wider audiences

Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to build relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders, and to persuade and motivate

Leadership skills, including ability to provide vision and inspiration Confidence to challenge assumptions

Personal Qualities High level of interest in Abbotsford and the legacy of Walter Scott and

commitment to supporting the Trust to become an effective and premier heritage site

High level of self-awareness and commitment to own personal and professional continuous development

Commitment to equality and diversity and how it applies within a public facing charitable enterprise

Living within a commutable distance of Abbotsford in Melrose for all seasons


Background

In 2007, Abbotsford came under the care of The Abbotsford Trust - a new charitable trust created following the death of Dame Jean Maxwell-Scott, the last descendant of Scott to live at Abbotsford. The Patron is The Duke of Buccleuch and the Trust aims to preserve and protect Abbotsford for future generations and act as a guardian of Scott’s legacy by continuing to educate the public about his home and his work.

In order to guarantee Abbotsford’s long-term future as a visitor attraction, the Trust began to raise the £14.5 million required to save the house, its buildings, lands and contents for Scotland and the wider world in 2009. With help from statutory bodies, such as The Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland, over £12 million was raised for the capital project which has allowed us to restore and conserve the house and its collection of 9,000 books and 4,000 objects, all of which were collected by Scott.

Alongside the restoration of the house a new Visitor Centre was created, including a free to access introductory exhibition on Sir Walter Scott and Abbotsford; this opened in August 2012 and had welcomed over 35,000 visitors by the following July, despite the historic house still being closed for restoration. In July 2013 the house successfully reopened to the public and welcomed over 40,000 paying visitors to the House in its first season following redevelopment and a further 30,000 to the grounds, restaurant and gift shop.

To date, the Trust has raised over £12 million, thanks in large part of the generosity of public sector bodies including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council, as well as private individuals, trusts and foundations, however £2.5 million still needs to be raised to safeguard this unique historic property.

The Trust completed an £11.68 million restoration of Abbotsford in 2013, but this was just the start of a journey to ensure that Abbotsford and the legacy of Sir Walter Scott will be promoted and conserved for future generations.

Why Abbotsford Matters

Abbotsford, the home that Sir Walter Scott created, is recognised worldwide as a living symbol of the mind and soul of a man who did so much for literature and for the Scotland we know today. It is first and foremost a literary home - the place where Scott was inspired to write the majority of his great works.Scott lavished time, energy and funds on the creation of Abbotsford. Upon completion in 1824 the image of Abbotsford appeared across the globe and The Abbotsford Trust Chief Executive (Business Transformation)Candidate Pack 9 November 2014

inspired a vogue for Scottish Baronial architecture in England, America, Canada and even Russia. Scott’s vision also influenced other landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament in London, Balmoral on Royal Deeside and the Tribune Tower in Chicago. Many places are named after Abbotsford – suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne, Dunedin and Johannesburg as well as towns and cities in Canada and the USA.


Scott amassed a unique collection of over 9,000 volumes housed in the purpose-built Library and Study at Abbotsford. The building is also home to a remarkable collection of antiquities, weapons, suits of armour, animal skulls and foreign curios procured by Scott to decorate his house and to project an aura of heritage so prized by the Victorians. Despite its ancient style, the house was modern and the first in Scotland to be lit by gas. It is an early example of ‘House and Garden’; the integrated concept of bringing a formal garden close to the house.

Abbotsford holds an important place in the history of architecture and is particularly significant because Scott was so instrumental in the design and realisation of his dream. The house offers a unique insight into Scott’s creativity through the construction of his ‘Conundrum Castle’ and a rare experience where visitors can come close to a great man of the past.

Why Scott Matters

Until Scott, 19th century readers concentrated on poetry, plays and sermons; novels were widely considered as tasteless. This changed in 1814 when a small anonymous novel entitled Waverley became fiction’s earliest bestseller, earning Scott ten times as much in its first year as Pride and Prejudice made Jane Austen in her lifetime. It was the book that began to make novel reading respectable. Scott produced a vast volume of work over the following 16 years, including iconic novels such as The Heart of Midlothian, Ivanhoe and Kenilworth, which generated an insatiable appetite for this form of writing.

Scotland was seen as a barren and inhospitable wilderness before Scott. His works such as The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, Rob Roy and Tales of a Grandfather transformed his homeland into a landscape of romantic beauty and Highlanders into noble savages with an enviable code of courage, honour and loyalty. The image of Scotland which holds sway throughout the world today owes almost everything to Sir Walter Scott, who can be credited as the man who reinvented a nation.


Staffing Structure October 2014


Chief Executive (Business Transformation)

Visitor Services Manager

House ManagerVisitor Centre Assistants x4

Wedding & Events CoordinatorBookings Administrator

Domestic Support x2Volunteers

Heritage & Engagement Manager

Heritage & Engagement Assistant

FR Development AssistantVolunteers (Guides, Stewards,

Learning)

Gardens Heritage Manager

Head GardenerGardeners x 2

RangerVolunteers

Finance & Administration Manager

Finance & Admin Assistant

Marketing Officer

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