Scotland’s Finest Woods Executive Director

Scotland’s Finest Woods
Executive Director
Scotland’s Finest Woods (SFW) is a small charity which runs the annual Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards.
The Awards celebrate the contribution that woodlands can make to the people of Scotland and to its
environment and economic prosperity. The underlying principle of the Awards is that people from across
Scotland work hard to support their local community, economy and environment and the Awards provide a
way to recognise and reward their achievements and so identify exemplars for others to follow.
Building on a long history of woodland awards in Scotland, Scotland's Finest Woods was established in
2005 as an independent not-for-profit company to run an annual awards programme with the first
competitions run in 2006. The company is a registered charity and is funded by a range of partner
organisations and supporters.
In recent years, SFW has successfully raised the profile of the Awards, developed and expanded the
Awards programme and built a strong base of funding from both the public and private sectors. SFW is
therefore in a strong position to continue the development of the Awards programme and the Trustees seek
an experienced and motivated Executive Director to lead the organisation.
About this Role
Title:
Location:
Contract duration:
Time requirement:
Annual fee:
Executive Director
Scotland
3 years (renewable annually)
Approximately 20-30 days/year
£10k (negotiable)
Reporting to the Trustees you will be responsible for all aspects of strategic development and the day-to-day
management of the charity including its financial management and co-ordinating the annual Awards
programme. In addition to the Trustees you will also work with the charity’s sponsors and partners and with
the volunteers such as competition judges.
You will ideally be a graduate (or equivalent) and have proven experience in management of small
associations or similar. You will have strong organisational, budget management and communication skills
and have good planning and problem-solving skills. You will also be able to develop strategic visions, build
relationships with stakeholders and have good team management skills. A knowledge of the forestry sector
is desirable but not essential.
The terms of engagement will be on a Contract for Services basis (i.e. not a Contract of Employment).
This is an excellent opportunity for an independent consultant to take a leadership role in an organisation
with a strong profile, a growing reputation and a positive momentum.
For more information about SFW: www.sfwa.co.uk
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Applications
Closing date: Monday, 10th November 2014
Interviews: to be held in Edinburgh in week commencing 17th November 2014
Contract commencement: 1st December 2014
Applications: please send a letter in support of your application together with a CV to Peter Wilson via
email: admin@sfwa.co.uk
Person Specification
The ideal person will be a creative thinker with a flexible but focused approach, able to work on their own
initiative and to handle everything from strategic development to organising the annual prize-giving and
managing a small association on a day-to-day basis. The candidate must be organised, conscientious and
comfortable interfacing with stakeholders, competition entrants and the public. They must be equally happy
working in a hands-on capacity as at a strategic level and be able to fit into a small team of volunteer
Trustees and competition judges.
Essential criteria
Knowledge and experience

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Experience in managing small associations or similar
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Experience of developing and/or implementing a Business Plan

Experience of budget-setting and financial control & management

Experience of writing promotional material
Skills
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Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain effective networks
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Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
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Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of programmes
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Strong organisational and planning skills

Attention to detail
Personal Qualities
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Ability to think strategically as well as to work in a hands-on capacity

Ability to work independently and on your own initiative as well as part of a small team

Innovative attitude combined with a professional approach and a sense of creativity
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Flexible approach with the ability to be both proactive and reactive and an ability to multi-task

Enthusiasm for the aims and work of Scotland’s Finest Woods
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Desirable criteria

Knowledge and experience of the forestry sector

Experience of fund-raising

Experience of public speaking

Experience of writing press releases

Experience using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube

Experience of editing and updating websites using content management systems

Experience of creating simple marketing/events materials
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