Jessica W.
About me
| Jessica W. | |
| Social Policy and Social Work | |
| Public Administration | |
| Undergraduate | |
| 2011 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Manager | |
| Self Directed Support Scotland | |
| United Kingdom | |
| 2012 | |
| £29950 | |
| £31500 |
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A day in the life of a Manager in the United Kingdom
My career history
Volunteer Coordinator, RNIB;
Volunteer Coordinator, The Risk Factory;
Student Programme Officer (Fundraising), Barnardo's.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
I absolutely love my current job but would like to go on to lead a larger organisation, with new challenges in the future.
My advice to students considering work
Get as much experience as you can, for example by volunteering or by taking on additional tasks, outwith your role, with your current employer. Build a network of contacts in your chosen field and seek their support and advice on how to progress.
Identify the roles you would like to have in the future. Look at job descriptions for these roles and identify any skills gaps you have. Then find ways to gain these skills, either in your current role or through volunteering. Speak to your employer and others to identify possible future opportunities. The voluntary sector is increasingly competitive but requires a distinct set of skills and experience which you can hone and develop with the right attitude. Finally, the sector is more than ever about engaging and involving the people we work for, so knowledge and skills in this area should prove invaluable.
My advice about working in my industry
Identify the roles you would like to have in the future. Look at job descriptions for these roles and identify any skills gaps you have. Then find ways to gain these skills, either in your current role or through volunteering. Speak to your employer and others to identify possible future opportunities. The voluntary sector is increasingly competitive but requires a distinct set of skills and experience which you can hone and develop with the right attitude. Finally, the sector is more than ever about engaging and involving the people we work for, so knowledge and skills in this area should prove invaluable.
What I do
Self Directed Support Scotland is a national membership organisation promoting independent living. It is a registered charity and supports its member organisations in their work at a local and national level. As legislation has recently passed through the Scottish Parliament on Self Directed Support (SDS), this includes working with Scottish Government on the implementation of the SDS strategy.
My role involves:
Overseeing the day to day running of the organisation, including line managing a small staff team. Ensuring good governance of the organisation, by working with and reporting to the Trustees on a regular basis. Financial management, budgeting and reporting. Preparing reports for funders. Attending meetings with relevant stakeholders. Presenting at conferences and events. Promoting the organisation at a national level, including through some media work.
Skills I use and how I developed them
Extracurricular skills:
Leadership - running my local Amnesty group, leading large teams of volunteers in previous roles, through my degree at York.
Strategic planning - through my degree at York.
Change management - through my degree at York.
Financial management - through my degree at York, through running my local Amnesty group, previously working in fundraising.
Public speaking - through previous jobs
Governance - through being a Trustee of a number of charities, through my degree at York
Communication - through a career of working with people and managing volunteers and a range of volunteering roles.
Policy - developed on the job in my current role.
Project management - through my degree at York and taking on additional projects in my previous role.
What I like most
I enjoy the variety, and feeling I am doing something worthwhile. The opportunity to use a range of skills. Being part of a bigger movement (Disabled People's Movement). Supporting staff to develop.
Next steps...
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