Associate Director, Practice and Innovation

Power to Change is the think-do tank that backs community business. We turn bold ideas into action so communities have the  power to change what matters to them. We know community business works to build stronger communities and better places to live. We’ve seen people create resilient and prosperous local economies when power is in community hands. We also know the barriers that stand in the way of their success. We’re using our experience to bring partners together to do, test and learn what works. We’re shaping the conditions for community business to thrive.

As Associate Director, you will play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of our practice work and delivery partnerships as part of our think-do approach. You will do this by working collaboratively with community businesses, governments, organisations, and networks at national, regional and local levels. This may involve convening partners to build a shared understanding of the challenges facing communities, codesigning and testing place- or service-based innovations involving community businesses and other partners and sharing what we learn to bring about broader changes to policy and practice. The role requires an ability to both identify opportunities and execute those opportunities. You will lead a team of six as well as work with passionate professionals across our organisation to amplify the efforts of community businesses and put them at the heart of a fairer economy.

Role purpose:

To lead and develop Power to Change’s practice work and delivery partnerships, turning bold ideas into action and shaping the conditions for community business to thrive.

Role responsibilities:

• Lead our ‘doing’ work, setting out an ambitious strategy and work programme that contributes to our organisational ambitions.
• Lead and manage the team to implement planned activity and to continue to innovate, test and learn.
• Shape our delivery approach as part of our think-do model and develop the skills, confidence and experience of team members to support this.
• Regularly engage with community businesses across England to understand their experiences and use this to inform and shape what we do.
• Establish and maintain relationships with potential cofunding partners, donors, and organisations to shape and deliver collaboration and partnership opportunities.
• Develop income earning partnerships and opportunities, helping to generate ideas, shape proposals and devise budgets.
• Work with team members to communicate the activities and outcomes of our demonstrator initiatives and practicebased work, helping to influence broader change.
• Foster a learning culture and environment that encourages continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration within the team and across the organisation, including capturing and sharing the learning from our demonstrator work with external and internal audiences.
• Lead a team of six and line manage four team members (manager level), offering guidance and coaching to support the implementation and communication of their portfolios and the development of their team members.
• Set and manage an annual budget for the team, including managing income / expenditure in line with activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure the processes and systems we use are proportionate for community businesses and align with our think-do approach.
• Prepare papers to ensure regular updates and activity reporting to Power to Change’s Board of Trustee Directors, including attending quarterly meetings.
• Work with the Associate Directors and Executive Team to set the overall strategic direction for the organisation and to create the conditions in which everyone at Power to Change can thrive.

Further information on the role and how to apply can be found here.