Director of Impact

About the role

The Design Council is the national strategic advisor on design. Clear and compelling communications are key to inspiring real impact and delivering our mission to Design for Planet. 

We are looking for an exceptional candidate to join our Executive Team and lead the delivery of projects that provide cutting edge case studies of the value and impact of design.  

You will be a brilliant leader and people manager as well as focused on capture and analysis of our impact.

About you

The ideal candidate will be responsible for:

• Strategy and delivery of all demonstrator projects.
• Scoping potential demonstrator projects and working with colleagues securing the funding for them.
• Team leadership including all the resourcing decisions on all demonstrator projects, the development of colleagues and the efficient use of resources.
• Strategy on impact and quality, including the use of our Collective Impact Framework.

Duties of the role will include:

• Effectively capturing knowledge from demonstrator projects.
• Achieving quality standards on demonstrator projects.
• Reporting on impact and quality, across the whole of the Design Council (including but not limited to our demonstrator projects). 
• Achieving financial targets as agreed.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required. 

Skills and experience:

• Post graduate or equivalent worked experience in the creative industries, design and/or project leadership.
• Proven strategic awareness, especially of design, impact and quality, with the ability to translate strategy into deliverable actions.
• Proven excellent leadership, especially of large projects and of high performing teams of skilled professionals
• Excellent range of management skills, including resource planning, communication and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in an agile environment, to be proactive and fast-paced while always ensuring results are achieved.
• Ability to be diplomatic, able to act with confidence and integrity in all situations while influencing others.
• Passionate about impact. 
• Passionate about quality.
• Passionate about design that improves people’s lives.

Our values and behaviours:

• Boundless Curiosity. Dynamic scoping of new ideas and best working practices to create and demonstrate impact. 
• Inspire Possibility. Brilliant team and project leadership so we clearly communicate the value and impact of design. 
• Powerful Together. Role modelling how to get the best out of everyone so we all maximise our contribution to Design for Planet.

Corporate responsibilities:

• Proactively identify and manage risks and financial controls in relation to the Design Council and your specific area of responsibility.
• Comply with the Design Council’s operational policies and procedures including financial and risk management, project management and evaluation processes, brand guidelines, GDPR, information security and internal health and safety policy.

Applications

Please submit your application by 21 August 2023.