Director ARC England - THE ASSOCIATION FOR REAL CHANGE

The Association for Real Change

49,000 - 60,000 per year

Hybrid home working. The post involves travel throughout the UK, including overnight stays.

Full-time

Association for Real Change
Job Description

Role: Director ARC England
Accountable to: ARC Board of Trustees
Location: Hybrid home working. The post involves travel throughout the UK, including
overnight stays.
Salary Band: £49,000 - £60,000 (starting salary dependent upon experience)
Hours: Full-time (35 hours)
Contract Term: Permanent
Annual Leave: 25 days plus public holidays

Job Overview

The Association for Real Change (ARC) is a UK-wide charity dedicated to improving
the lives of people with learning disabilities, autism and other support needs.
Through advocacy, policy influence and sector-wide collaboration, ARC ensures that
every individual is valued, respected and included in society.

As Director of ARC England, you will lead the charge in driving positive change,
shaping the future of social care and ensuring that people with learning disabilities
and autism receive the opportunities and support they deserve. This will include
leading the delivery of ARC’s Vision, Mission and Aims in England, as well as
sharing collective responsibility for the effective leadership and governance of ARC
across the UK.

Beyond a role, this is a true vocation: to empower, advocate and create lasting
impact for vulnerable individuals.

Your Key Responsibilities

1. Driving Strategic Leadership & Advocacy

At the heart of the Director's role lies the opportunity to make a tangible difference.
Your role in driving strategic leadership and advocacy will include:

● Ensuring the work of ARC improves the lives of people with learning

disabilities,

● autism or other support needs and their families in England.
● Developing and implementing annual country plans to deliver ARC’s work and

report on the results.

● Providing effective leadership, management and support for the country team.
● Building effective relationships with all relevant partners, including experts by
● experience.
● Effectively representing and communicating the work of ARC.
● Ensuring a sustainable income to carry out ARC’s work in England.

The Association for Real Change Ltd | Registered Charity No. 2855755, Scottish Charity No. SC039129
Registered in England: Company No 01658354 | Registered address: 10a Marsden Street, Chesterfield S40 1JY

● Preparing and monitoring annual country budgets in collaboration with the

Finance Director.

● Ensuring country compliance with relevant legislative and regulatory

frameworks.
Implementing ARC’s policies in England.
Identifying and mitigating country risk.

●
●
● Carrying out actions delegated by the Board.

2. Sharing Collective Responsibility for Effective Leadership &
Governance

You will operate within ARC’s collective leadership structure, with responsibilities
held by a Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) comprising the Directors of ARC
Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Finance. Collective responsibilities of SLT
members include:

● Sharing knowledge, supporting and collaborating with other ARC Directors.
● Leading the strategic development and direction of ARC.
● Ensuring effective communication and working relationships between

operations and Board.

● Carrying out functions delegated by the Board.
● Ensuring corporate compliance with relevant legislative and regulatory

frameworks and ARC’s policies.
Identifying, reporting and mitigating corporate risks.

●

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building

Collaboration is at the heart of our mission. You will play a central role in steering
this collaboration, with stakeholder management and partnership duties including:

● Building and maintaining strong relationships with social care providers,
advocacy groups, policymakers, and people with lived experience.

● Working closely with government departments, regulators, and

commissioners to shape policy and practice.

● Ensuring the voice of people with learning disabilities and autism is central to

decision-making.

4. Financial Leadership & Sustainability

Strategic financial management is crucial to fulfilling our mission. Working closely
with the Financial Director at ARC, your role will include:

● Developing a sustainable funding strategy, securing income through grants,

partnerships, and membership growth.

● Collaborating to develop and manage ARC England’s budget.
● Ensuring all activities align with legal, regulatory and governance

requirements.

Person Specification

To excel in this role, certain core qualities are essential:

● Commitment to equality and social inclusion
● Senior management or organisational leadership
● Leading meaningful change processes
● Building effective partnerships with diverse stakeholders
● Generating financial resources and effective budget management.
● Passion for Social Care
● Strong ethos towards team working and collaboration
● Personal gravitas and leadership
● Wide personal and professional networks
● Ambitious with a supportive nature
● Creative and self-motivated
●
Integrity and Empathy
● Committed to Personal Development

Desirable experience:

● Working alongside people with lived experience to affect change
●
● Management or leadership of training, research, networks or collective

Influencing policy at local or national levels

advocacy.

● Understanding of policy, regulatory and legislative frameworks relevant to the

work

● Charity governance.

Why Join ARC?

This role is more than a job; it’s a vocation. It’s about leading real change,
influencing national policy, and making a lasting impact on the lives of people with
learning disabilities and autism.

If you have the passion, expertise, and vision to lead ARC England into the future,
we would love to hear from you.

For more details, visit www.arcuk.org.uk or contact Clive Parry (current
England Director) at 07983 839512.