Development Manager in the not-for profit sector
Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom | Nonprofit Organization Management
Summary
An organiser with a "can-do" attitude - good at making plans, seeing them through to successful delivery and taking colleagues along with me. Volunteer Scout Leader with 10-14 year olds and a keen runner – currently training for a 10km charity race to raise money for The Framework Foundation.
Previously a trustee for an after-school club for children and young adults with significant mental and physical needs.
Experience
County Development Manager (2007 - Present)
Greater London North Scout County
Nonprofit Organization Management
The primary role of CDM is to increase membership of the charity by recruiting new adult volunteers from communities and supporting them in establishing a new group, supporting them through the set-up process and then help them access the existing support structure.
In addition, I support 85 existing groups recruit new volunteers by helping them engage with two key audiences (parents and former youth members). I have used a variety of techniques to increase external applications too.
Over time, the role has changed to focus on providing advice and support to the 5 volunteer area managers to get them to take more responsibility for development as well as the on-going operational aspect of their role.
The organisation’s target was to increase membership by 10% (from 5,023 in January 2007 to 5,500 by January 2012). This target has already been realised and exceeded, with a membership of 6,100 at January 2013 (including 1,250 volunteers) - much of this growth can be directly attributed to the work carried out as part of my role.
Key skills and experience:
* Provide direct and second-line support to 85 autonomous voluntary groups across North Lo.
* Production and distribution of training and resources to support local groups and area managers.
* Support groups implement national and local volunteer recruitment, induction and support processes as well as meeting internal and statutory requirements.
* Be part of the County’s senior management team and where required support colleagues in the inclusion, programme, training, media and communication teams.
* Maintain regular communication with the area managers.
* Motivation and management of team members (and teams of volunteers for each project).
* Organisation of development conferences for area managers and local volunteers to provide peer support.
* Dealing with the objections raised to the change in our co-education policy and restructuring (including the closure/relocation of groups and merging districts).
Trustee (2006 - Present)
Hemel Hempstead District Scouts
Nonprofit Organization Management
Jointly responsible (with other trustees) to ensure we deliver the charitable objectives and exercise good financial planning to enable as many young people as possible to enjoy Scouting.
Steering Group Member / Annual Conference Organiser (2008 - 2012)
Barnet Council for Voluntary Youth Services
Nonprofit Organization Management
Representative of uniformed youth organisations across the borough, providing input into strategic discussions with the local authority about the best way to engage with and support the voluntary sector.
Junior Bid Manager (2006 - 2007)
Steria
Public Company, 10,001+ employees, Information Technology and Services
Reporting to a Senior Bid Manager, I was responsible for the production of tenders and clarification questions from potential clients, working to understand the technical and business needs of a potential client and coordinating the solution design and financials to meet the client’s needs.
The role required an ability to manage suppliers (internal and external) and colleagues in virtual teams to ensure that bids met the customer’s needs, providing a sustainable profitable business return to the company.
Key skills and experience:
* Managing my own time with a diverse workload, often encompassing two or more bids
* Leading and motivating colleagues as part of virtual teams
* Working to deadlines
* Project management (PRINCE2 certified)
Bid Office Administrator (2005 - 2006)
Steria
Public Company, 10,001+ employees, Information Technology and Services
.My main duty was to manage large and sometimes complex proposal documents being prepared for potential clients.
I was responsible for ensuring these documents were delivered on time, were persuasive, grammatically correct, followed branding guidelines and presented our solution and financial proposal in the best possible way to increase the win-rate.
Key skills required:
* Copy-writing and proof-reading
* Time management
* Working to deadlines
* Proficient use of all Microsoft Office applications
Skills & Expertise
Team Leadership, Program Management, Project Delivery, Governance, Strategic Planning, Event Management, Non-profit Administration, Change Management, Volunteer Management, Volunteer Recruiting, Volunteer Training, Website Development, Process Improvement, Charities
Recommendations
Russ is a hard-working self-starter who can be relied upon to deliver a result. He has great inter-personal skills and is an excellent facilitator. He is also a great guy!
Stephen Way
Russ provides logical, intelligent solutions to problems, and drives through those solutions to completion. He is easy to work with, and thoroughly relaible.
Nick Dewdney
Russ has provided some really helpful resource and advice on development work to me during my time with the Scout Association.
Scott Burton
Russ works extremely hard for the benefit of all of the members of HH District Scouts in his role as an Exec. Member and District Scout Shop manager. Russ has also coordinated the production and maintenance of the District Members Directory and is a very useful source of online marketing tips and technical solutions.
Gordon Dickens
I have worked Russ on various projects, each of which he has put his heart and soul into ensuring that it would be a success. His attitude is helpful, listening, constructive and creative and is an excellent member of any team.
John Larkin
Russ is detail orientated and task focused in ensuring the smooth running of the district. He takes his role as a trustee very seriously and tirelessly works to ensure the best for the district and young people whilst following the requirements of The Scout Association.
stuart dickens
Russ has given Phasels Wood Activity Centre help and support through his role as an Exec member of Hemel Hempstead District Scouts. His expertise is bring everything together for the benefit of young people.
Doug Stack
Russ is a commited and dedicated professional, that is making a gigantic organizational effort to support Greater London North Scout County. Commited, skillful, efficient and cheerful manager that keep the essential work of making available Scouting to thousands of young people in good track and speedy wheels. As a volunteer, I admire his work and effectiveness.
Sergio Laurenti
Russ is always there with good advice and usually has a solution to the problem. Easily contactable, he is highly efficient and great to work with.
John Cronin
Russ is very personable and professional and in a challenging environment, has made himself a very valued member of the County team.
Over the 5 years I have worked with Russ, I have seen him develop very positively within his project work, to become a very knowledgable Development Officer who has a good understanding of the issues within his work and was able to show that he was knowledgable about the scope and depth of the various local projects he was managing and was genuinely appreciated by the local volunteers and Scout Groups he has worked with.
As the representative of a part funder of the project Russ was employed in, whilst the project did have its difficulties, Russ learnt and grew with these over the years and proved himself to be an enthusiastic competent Development Officer for the Scout County.
Bruce Murdoch
I have known Russ for 4 years when he started working as the Local Development Officer at Greater London North Scout County. During that time, Russ has had a huge impact on building better quality Scouting for more young people. He has a natural gift to be able to communicate well with young people and adults. He has been particularly successful at being able to recruit over 150 adults to become volunteers in a variety of diverse Scouting roles across North London and getting these adults to work closely together.
Furthermore, he has regularly and successfully led teams of adult volunteers to work on projects to enhance the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well-being of young people in Scouting, and helping them to achieve their full potential. Russ has successfully tackled a variety of problems and issues which have had positive outcomes by using creative solutions.
Russ has been particularly helpful and supportive to me within my Scouting volunteer management role, and he even finds enough time to be a local Scout Leader.
Chris Foster
Russ was a conciensious worker who was creative and good at working under his own initative. Russ was a good completer finisher and was good at ideas generation.
Simon Aulton
Russ is very positive and motivated. He is a great communicator and learns quickly. He understands the bigger picture and can work tactically. I like working with Russ.
Simon Carter
Russ' enthusiasm and deep understanding of people has enabled him to be an extremely effective recruiter for GLN Scout County.
Aileen Barry