JOB DESCRIPTION

Purpose

The essential role of Managing Director of CUTS Ltd is to develop and grow this emergent business.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Take over and grow the company from its current, initial base into a substantial, high quality operation.
2. Develop further a distributed model for the company so that it can deliver to clients across the UK or to major clients with operations across the UK. In due course develop programmes for clients outside the UK.
3. Develop further the existing model of employer engagement and develop new models as the business grows and the policy context changes.
4. Over time, develop capability in (NVQ) Level 2 and 3 training using “Train2Gain”, Foundation Degrees and other funding sources through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Learning & Skills Council (LSC), the NHS/Department of Health or other bodies.
5. Over time, develop consultancy and senior executive training provision in niche areas, possibly using a group of ‘associate’ freelancers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Managing Director of CUTS Ltd will provide professional leadership for the staff within the company and will develop its activities according to an agreed business plan, targets and budgets. He/she will be accountable to the Board of the Company but within the University Group will report to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business Development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This is an exciting new role requiring a leader who enjoys innovation and the challenge of developing an operation in an emergent context. He/she will need to understand and shape both the external policy environment and the internal, university environment so that the company anticipates opportunities for growth, and develops processes that allows it to operate in a ‘smart’ and efficient way alongside the more traditional educational provision of the University.

The appointee will be expected to have substantial, relevant experience in the private sector and a deep understanding of training needs in relation to the ‘bottom line’, organisational development, and the corporate success of businesses. But he/she will also need to be sympathetic to, and develop swiftly an appreciation of, the HR needs of major public sector clients such as the NHS and their rather different stance on personal development.

He/she must command credibility and respect at the highest levels in client companies, excel at client management, and be able to develop long-term, multi-touch collaborations for example by working with other senior staff in the University to achieve synergies between the applied research, knowledge transfer and training agendas for clients.

The ability to pitch for new business, negotiate and close deals will clearly be important in achieving the growth of the company. The appointee may wish to appoint a Commercial Director to develop new business but must him/herself be able to contribute appropriately to securing new contracts.

As the leader of a team of experienced professionals, the appointee will exhibit good communication and mentoring skills, develop a supportive, creative and enterprising culture where the staff can develop their capabilities and experiences, and are encouraged to seek and secure opportunities to develop the business actively themselves.

Many of the company’s staff will be located at a distance from Coventry and making them feel as much part of the team as those in Coventry will be important. The use of advanced communication technologies to support the work of the team as well as regular face-to-face meetings and team building events will be required. High standards of delivery to clients will be essential, and the Managing Director will need to set and monitor the achievement of appropriate standards across the company’s activities. This will require evidence of delivering to assured quality standards that are appropriate and relevant for the clients, as well as the Quality Assurance Agency in the higher education sector.

Evidence of successful budget setting/monitoring, and strong financial management, will be required.

A more detailed list of required attributes is below.