JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title
:
Director of RSA International
Department
:
Action and Research Centre
Reports to
:
Director of the Action and Research Centre
Direct reports :
International Researcher
Grade
:
E2
2. PURPOSE OF JOB
Following a major strategic review, the RSA is committing itself to a series of ambitious
programmes designed to generate change in the areas of public services and
communities; design, enterprise and manufacturing; and learning. The Director of RSA
International will ensure that these programmes have the necessary partners, information
and plans to deliver change at an international and global level.
3. KEY TASKS/RESPONSIBILITIES
 Develop and implement the RSA International strategy aligned with the Society’s
overall strategy
 Work in collaboration with colleagues across the RSA to develop an international
dimension of RSA change programmes.
 Work with all departments and RSA Fellows to monitor and grow all existing
international co-operations, networks and opportunities as well as develop new ones.
 Work within the framework set by the Director of Fellowship to develop and
support the RSA’s international Fellowship
 Raise the profile of the RSA as a global thought leader that puts thinking into action,
including using websites, blogs and media and increase the number of international
visitors to the RSA website
 Present at relevant conferences and events
 Establish regular communication around international activities (International blog
and bi-monthly newsletter)
 Reporting to the Director of the Action and Research Centre, manage all aspects of
the - currently small - international department, including fundraising and budget
management
4. PERSON SPECIFICATION: KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
Essential
 Experience at senior management level, with significant budget and linemanagement responsibility.
 Successful track record in devising and delivering strategies and sustainable business
plans.
 Proven track record in building and managing external relationships and networks.
 Proven track record in working in a fast-paced environment and against tight
deadlines.
 Understanding of the opportunities and challenges of international research and
innovation projects
 Highly entrepreneurial, results-driven, pioneering personality with a can-do attitude.
 Excellent writing and presentation skills.
 The ability to undertake international travel including overnight stays for which travel
expenses will be provided.
 Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels.
Desirable
 An international background and a strong international network.
5. NATURE AND SCOPE
The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) is
an enlightenment organisation committed to finding innovative practical solutions to
today’s social challenges. As mentioned above, the RSA is committing itself to ambitious
programmes to generate change in the areas of public services and communities; design,
enterprise and manufacturing; and learning. Our vision of this change is driven by the
belief, long held by the RSA, that all should have the freedom and the capacity to act on
their own initiative to establish better lives for themselves and a better world for others.
The Director of RSA International will ensure that these programmes have the necessary
partners, information and plans to deliver change at an international and global level.
The post will be based at the RSA House in central London, however the role will involve
international travel. While this role does not sit on the executive management team, the
post-holder is expected to work in close co-operation with the Chief Executive, other
members of the Executive Team and the Trustee Board. The post-holder will also be
expected to be a high profile ambassador and champion for the RSA internationally.
The post-holder will be expected to keep up the current momentum of the international
work which has been running formally for eighteen months, build on successes, scale up
existing projects, get new projects off the ground, and get media attention for the RSA’s
international work. To ensure the long term success of RSA International, it must become
an even more effective service provider, and yield added value to key stakeholder groups
including RSA Fellows, staff and partner organisations.
The RSA’s international work will also need to start to finance itself. To this end the team
has an income generation target which could be met through lines in successful
international funding bids or direct income for external work such as consultancy and
speaking at events. As international work becomes more embedded in the RSA and the
Society’s international profile rises the proportion of the Team income generated by the
Team will be expected to rise.
If you would like a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Adam Lent,
Director of ARC, on 020 7451 6879.
This job description is not exhaustive and is liable to review following discussion with the
job holder. The job holder will be expected to undertake any other reasonable duties as
requested by their line manager and commensurate with the job grade.
The attention of the job holder is drawn to the following:
1.
All employees have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure
that their working environment is kept free of hazards that may prove injurious to
themselves, their colleagues and all those engaged in Society business as well as
any visitors to the Society.
2.
All employees have a duty to comply with the Society’s Equal Opportunities Policy
in their contacts with other staff, Fellows and visitors.
3.
All employees have a responsibility to ensure that their use of the RSA’s computer
systems does not jeopardise the security, integrity or legality of that system.
Users must:

maintain password confidentiality and not provide access to the system to
those not employed by the RSA or in any other way unauthorised;

not load any software onto the system themselves nor permit anyone
other than a member of the RSA’s IT department to load software onto
the system;

not use any unlicensed software and report any suspected breaches of
software licensing to the RSA’s IT Manager (the Chief Operating Officer) or
another member of the Executive Team;

take the same care with e-mails as with any other written communication
from or on behalf of the RSA; and

restrict their usage of the Internet to that allowed by the RSA.
Signed by Job Holder……………………………… Date……………………………
Signed by Manager…………………………………. Date…………………………….
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS from April 2014
Annual leave†
29 days annual leave per year plus all
bank holidays (pro rata for part time
staff). Three of these days may be
designated for the Christmas period.
Option to buy up to five additional days
leave per year (pro rata).
Pension scheme*
The RSA will double match your
contributions into our pension scheme,
up to a maximum employer contribution
of 10% of salary. Salary sacrifice available
from May.
Sick pay and income protection scheme
Sick pay up to 14 weeks at full pay, 14
weeks at half pay*. 75% of your average
salary to be paid once sick pay ends.
Life assurance scheme
Life Assurance at four times annual
Up to £35 per month before deductions
(pro rata for part time staff) to spend on
voluntary benefits.
Employee assistance programme
24/7 information and advice line on any
topic. Also provide face to face
counselling.
Eye care
The RSA covers reasonable costs of eye
tests and contributes up to £50 towards
glasses required for working with a
computer.
Voluntary medical and dental cash plan
and health screening†
Option to purchase medical and dental
cover, or a thorough check up.
Flexible working requests*
The RSA extends the right to request
flexible working to all employees.
salary.
Career breaks*
Option to apply for up to six months
Enhanced maternity, paternity and
adoption pay*
Maternity and adoption leave pay is
unpaid leave for study, caring or
enhanced to 12 weeks at full pay, 8
weeks at half pay, statutory pay for 19
weeks. Paternity leave is enhanced to
travelling.
Season ticket and cycle loans*†
A season ticket loan up to a maximum
three weeks full pay.
of £5,000; or a tax free loan for a bike to
Childcare vouchers
Up to £55 per week or £243 per month
£1,000.
as a tax-free salary, where eligible.
Flexible benefits allowance*
ride to work, up to a maximum of
Discounted gym membership
At a wide variety of gyms and health
clubs across the UK.
Discounts and vouchers
Cashback and discounts on thousands of
products and services.
Food and drink
Subsidised food and drink at the Gerard
Bar, and free tea and coffee in the
offices.
Staff Fellowship*
Fellowship is free throughout
employment and for the first year
following leaving the RSA.
Library and events
The Library and the Events Programme
are open to all staff.
Learning and development
Broad training programme and
opportunities for individual training.
Social
Two staff shindigs per year and a Civic
Day where we get together to work in
the local community.
*length of service criteria apply
†applies
to full and part time employees but may not apply to interns and casual staff
Further details of all benefits are available on the RSA’s flexible benefits portal
APPLICATION DETAILS
To apply for this position please prepare your CV and a covering letter clearly addressing
how you meet the criteria for the role as set out in the person specification and stating
your current salary. You may address your covering letter to Adam Lent.
Submit your application through the RSA website. The closing date for receipt of
applications is Midnight on Sunday 6 April 2014. Interviews are expected to take place on
Friday 2 May 2014. Please note that we are unable to accept late or incomplete
applications.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process (e.g.
communication support, personal support or physical access), then please contact a
member of the HR team in confidence by calling 020 7451 6907.
The RSA is committed to equality of opportunity for all.
Registered as a charity in England and Wales no. 212424 and in Scotland no. SC037784