Chief Executive

Job Purpose

1. To lead Merton Music Foundation in all aspects of delivery and compliance, to ensure that Merton Music Foundation’s charitable activity is of the highest standard and that the organisation continues to thrive.
2. To be responsible for oversight of maintaining high standards of individual tuition, whole class teaching and all extension activities including music centre ensemble activity, ensuring that Merton Music Foundation remains at the forefront of innovative music education.
3. To lead a staff team of c.90 core employees and self-employed tutors, minimising staff turnover and enhancing the positive culture of the organisation.
4. To be responsible to trustees for the efficient running of the organisation, ensuring that the charity is compliant in all aspects of governance.
5. To work with a wide range of partners to deliver and enhance music provision across the borough, building new and developing current partnerships to meet identified needs.
6. To oversee coordination of the artistic, administrative and practical aspects of Merton Music Foundation’s outstanding calendar of concerts, projects, outreach and events, maintaining a wide variety and range of inclusive opportunities.
7. To be responsible for safeguarding as DSL for the Foundation, to ensure that Merton Music Foundation and its workforce is is fully compliant with all aspects of safeguarding and provide a safe, secure environment for its customers and workers.
8. To maintain and secure Merton Music Foundation’s future financial viability by effectively managing commercial decisions and exercising fiscal responsibility.

Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Post

Line Management

• Line manage Merton Music Foundation’s Senior Leadership Team
• Be responsible to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees

Leading Merton Music Foundation

• Provide strong and strategic leadership to the organisation
• Promote and advocate for Merton Music Foundation locally and nationally
• Establish Merton Music Foundation’s place in the newly formed South West London Music Hub Lead Organisation and to contribute effectively to the development of this new Hub Lead Organisation
• Ensure policies are approved by trustees and updated regularly
• Ensure that risk management and health and safety obligations are complied with
• Be responsible for quality assurance across all Merton Music Foundation activity
• Encourage and promote inclusive music-making with diverse progression routes for children and young people
• Support Merton Music Foundation’s ‘Be more charity’ objectives with a robust fundraising strategy
• Ensure that Arts Council England data requirements and other grant applications are submitted in an accurate and timely manner
• Be the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the organisation and undertake regular safeguarding training and updates
• Be responsible for all aspects of ‘safer recruitment’ and best practice in recruiting new staff in line with local authority school policies
• Oversee all budgetary and financial matters and ensure that Merton Music Foundation is compliant with current legislation around charity and company law

Musical Leadership

• Provide leadership for musical activity across the borough, liaising with local authority officers and other agencies to promote excellent practice in Merton schools and across Merton Music Foundation Music Centres
• Support robust progression strategies and provide curriculum support to schools
• Develop pathways for musical learning built on sound music education pedagogical principles
• Oversee the development of ensemble/band activity and musical pathways
• Work with partners as appropriate to extend the local offer
• Devise and contribute to new programmes of activity
• Be aware of the wider musical landscape and the policy, cultural changes and trends across the sector

Governance

• Work effectively and collaboratively with the chair of trustees and the board to ensure that the charity is compliant with all aspects of current charity and company legislation
• Ensure that the trustee board is updated by means of presentations, reports and other data to discharge their responsibilities as the governing body of Merton Music Foundation
• Report regularly on progress of actions in the Merton Music Foundation development plan, reviewing against agreed targets
• Build on the recent trustee audit to consider skill strengths and vacancies and support the board to recruit new trustees in line with the inclusion policy when they arise
• Attend meetings as directed by trustees
• Ensure that trustees are briefed regularly about Merton Music Foundation’s funding requirements with Arts Council England  and the new Hub Lead Organisation

Partnership

• Maintain strong and positive relationships with the London Borough of Merton
• Build on the good relationships with schools across the borough
• Regularly evaluate Merton Music Foundation’s range of partners to ensure that there are a wide range of partnership opportunities that reflect the needs of the children and young people in Merton
• Work collaboratively and effectively with parents, the local community, businesses, volunteers, funders, supporters and alumni
• Maintain professional relationships with the SW London Hub partners and Arts Council England
• Advocate for Merton Music Foundation locally and nationally and promote opportunities for Merton Music Foundation’s work to be widely celebrated

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of the young people that Merton Music Foundation engages with by always adhering to the Foundation’s Safeguarding policy and procedures.
• Attend regular team/trustee/working party meetings.
• Cooperate with Merton Music Foundation in complying with relevant health and safety legislation, policies, and procedures in the performance of the duties of the post.
• Carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post in compliance with the Foundation’s Inclusion Policy.
• Maintain confidentiality and observe data protection requirements where required.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required by the Chair of Trustees commensurate with the general duties and grading of the post.

What We Can Offer You

• A supportive, collegiate organisational culture within a high-purpose working environment, with multiple opportunities to further your own continuous professional learning journey.
• Professional leadership opportunities within an ambitious and forward-thinking independent charity.
• Subsidised lesson / membership fees for Merton Music Foundation staff and their dependents.
• Access to the cycle to work scheme.
• Flexible working arrangements, including the opportunity to co-create your weekly timetable and ability to work remotely as appropriate via a robust cloud-based ICT system.