Countrymen’s Club Director – Job Description
Our Charitable Purpose: Countrymen UK use the farm and countryside environment to help to meet the challenges being faced by men who find themselves isolated because of deteriorating physical or mental health or changing social circumstances. Conditions may include Dementia, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Isolation, Injuries, Anxiety, Depression, Post-Traumatic stress, Chronic Pain, Cancer, Heart and Lung conditions and others. Charity number 1184921
Purpose of the position: To continue the sustainability of the charity whilst maintaining the ethos of the Club through the positive coordination and management of resources, opportunities, staff, volunteers and stakeholders. Enable Men to participate in practical outdoor activities related to the countryside and farming. To keep the Charity legally and financially compliant – ensuring that the right policies are in place and adhered to, that all reporting is prepared in good time and that Trustees are well informed and in a good position to meet their responsibilities.
Location Rylands Farm, Boyshill Drove, Holnest, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5PS
Responsible to The Trustees of the Charity, including Founder and the Charity Commission
Responsibilities: Support the CCUK Board to set the strategic direction of the charity. Develop and get approval for an annual plan and budget and ensure strong reporting and communications with the Board.
The line management of the Operations Manager (who is responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the Club including our session workers and volunteers) and other workers and volunteers as we grow.
Be responsible for developing and delivering an effective Marketing and Fundraising strategy. (Fundraising includes planning and research, bid and grant management, developing positive working relationships to support income generation, as well as bid writing. Marketing includes a diverse range of activities that promote the Club to support fundraising activities as well as to support the recruitment of men to the Club.) This will include attendance at events and meetings as well as supporting the development of productive relationships with potential commissioners and relevant external organisations as well as maintaining a database of such contacts and applying for charity bids and grants.
Work effectively and professionally with our many stakeholders, eg Trustees and partners and external organisations and colleagues from Future Roots and Rylands Farm. At all times be an excellent brand ambassador.
Ensure that policies and procedures are fit for purpose and being applied effectively.
Ensuring that Countrymen UK is financially and legally compliant including ensuring that reports are submitted in good time and that Trustees are wellinformed and so in a good position to meet their responsibilities.
Other tasks such as may reasonably be required to support the success of the Charity.
In time this role may evolve to include more work supporting the club membership or developing a different revenue model for the club which may involve new staff or volunteer roles.
Accountability: To deliver the role as defined by this job description and in line with Trustee approved plans and targets; to escalate risks or concerns early to the Trustees to enable them to support or intervene before risk or harm to any of our Countrymen, staff, volunteers, partner workers and visitors or to the reputation of Countrymen UK; to be familiar with policies and site rules and to use these to ensure that health and safety and safeguarding risks are minimised, recorded and reported in good time.
Personal development: a Trustee will meet with you regularly to allow time for reflection and learning. An annual appraisal with a Trustee will also identify any training or development needs and a plan to meet these.
Organisation development: Currently Rylands Farm is the only fully operational Countrymen UK Club. We are engaged at various levels with nearly a dozen organisations across the UK. The membership is under supported and not leveraged. As the Dorset Club is now financially stable we are developing a new strategy for the development of the charity. As the Manager of the flagship club this role will be pivotal in the development of the membership strategy and what opportunities this affords the existing members.
Terms and Conditions: £17 per hour according to relevant experience.
Hours of work: 16hrs per week which needs to be predominantly on Tuesdays and Thursdays and on site. The role is year-round with a pro rata allowance of statutory holiday and bank holidays.
There will be ad hoc weekend or evening work usually to support fundraising or brand building events or to attend key meetings. Trustee meetings are usually quarterly and in the evening.
The role reports into the Trustees and Founder who retain responsibility for the vision, strategy and budget setting. Limits of authority to be determined and agreed as part of the appointment process.
Travel to meetings is required, we therefore prefer a car owner/driver and will reimburse mileage outside of the usual travel to and from work. Please note on your application if you are unable to drive yourself to meetings so that we can consider if adaptations can be made. Meetings will generally be within an hour’s drive of Rylands Farm.
This is a permanent position with a six month probationary period.
Director – Countrymen’s Club Person Specification Essential Experience:
work in a leadership role
able to deliver work with significant independence
comfort working with finances and spreadsheets, and outstanding attention to detail
working in depth with long or complex documents – eg policies, terms of reference, bids, contracts etc
relationship building and networking
report writing delivery of some elements of running a Charity
a broad role with multiple strands of work and conflicting time demands enthusiastic about rural life
motivated to make a difference to the lives of men and their carers who may be isolated due to age, illness or other circumstances.
Advantageous Experience:
demonstrable skills to develop a fundraising and/or marketing strategy
grants or bid writing experience, or grant management work
contacts in, or working knowledge of, the relevant areas in the NHS and/or Social Services people management
Previous work in the management side of a charity
Health and safety
Safeguarding
Join us as a Manager where your leadership fuels a vibrant dining experience! Bring your passion for food preparation, your expertise in supervising teams, and your dedication to hospitality excellence — together we’ll create memorable moments for every guest!
Pay: From £17.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
