Application Pack: THINK EQUALChief Executive Officer (CEO)

Letter from the Chair of the Board

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in the post of Chief Executive Officer at THINK EQUAL.

I have had the honour of serving as Chair of the Board of Directors since the organisation’s beginning in May 2016. During this time we have undergone momentous growth and we have made significant steps towards achieving a system change in education to end the discriminatory mind set and cycle of violence across our world. We now have the world's first Early Years comprehensive curriculum in social and emotional learning starting with 3 year olds which we are piloting in over 200 schools across 10 countries. And we are currently preparing for a national roll-out of our curriculum across 31,000 schools in Sri Lanka, which has committed to being the first THINK EQUAL country in the world. We have managed the incredibly ambitious mission we cherish –which is to have caused one country’s government to issue policy mandating the “missing subject” of Social and Emotional Learning for the early years.

These accomplishments have been led by the founder and current CEO, Leslee Udwin. She now feels the time has come to step aside from running the organisation and take on the role of President, a more honorary position steering vision, as well as continuing her Founder role as Global Ambassador while leaving the strategic development and management of the organsiation to a CEO. She will retain a voluntary role within the organisation and it is anticipated that she will work closely with the new CEO. You must therefore welcome collaborative working and see the strength and opportunity of working with a well-connected and respected Founder who is supporting our work internationally.

We are looking for someone who is energetic, credible and combines strong strategic thinking with equally strong operational skills. Our new CEO will be the person to see us through the exciting growth opportunities that are constantly emerging and prepare us for the next stage of our international expansion. We need someone who is happy to constructively challenge the status quo to pioneer new approaches to education globally.

Please take the time to read this pack and to find out more about THINK EQUAL. If you believe you have the ambition, vision and energy to take on this role and make an outstanding contribution to our future growth and direction, we would love to hear from you.

Yours sincerely

Francine BatesChair of the Board

About THINK EQUAL

THINK EQUAL was born in May 2016 following our Founder and CEO, Leslee Udwin’s, 2-year journey making the documentary "India's Daughter" which was the birth mother of our programme. Having interviewed 7 rapists over 31 hours, and their lawyers (guilty of even more entrenched misogyny), the resultant searing insights into the root cause of violence against women, yielded the solution with blinding clarity. The discriminatory mindset programmed by socio-cultural thinking, no matter what the degree of access to education, could only be changed by a certain kind of education: contents, not mere access. Deeper inquiry yielded the clear conclusion that all cycles of violence spring form the same root – discriminatory mindset, whether based in issues of gender, rrace, religion, economic background, class. It is mindset that needs to be changed and only Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can achieve that.

THINK EQUAL calls for a system change in education to end the discriminatory mind set and cycle of violence across our world. We believe there is a missing subject in school curricula. We want governments to adopt our programme and its tangible tools mediating all aspects of experiential social and emotional learning. We ask them to mandate this as a new subject onto the compulsory curriculum of world schools from the earliest years when, according to neuroscientists, the child is optimally cognitively modifiable and behaviour and attitudes can be changed.

Founded 18 months ago, here's what we've already achieved: We have been endorsed by the former Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, in

connection with the World Education Foprum in Seoul, Korea in 2015 and are working with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;

We have completed the world's first Early Years comprehensive curriculum and accompanying tangible programme in social and emotional learning starting (140 lesson plans for each of 3 levels for 3 – 6 year olds);

We have a committee of 20 world experts and visionaries in the field who are helping us design and refine our curriculum;

We are piloting our lesson plans in 377 schools across 18 countries; Sri Lanka is committed to being the first THINK EQUAL country in the world. The

Office of the Prime Minister, the President and Cabinet Ministers are preparing to roll-out our programme nationally in January 2018. Kenya and Botswana are not far behind in committing to adopting THINK EQUAL as mandatory.

We have major global partnerships or alliances with for eg: Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence, Montessori, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF (Kenya, Botswana), UNESCO (Kenya) and also globally with UNESCO EGC (Education for Global Citizenship) and ESD (Education for Sustainble Development), International Step by Step Association, the Ruler Program, etc.

THINK EQUAL works towards a world in which children of all genders, ethnicities, disabilities, religions and other backgrounds have optimal opportunities to develop their full potential, have their views respected, respect one another, live free of discrimination and violence, become youth leaders, and active participants of a free and equal world.

Our Social and Emotional Learning Programme

We have gathered best practice resources (Montessori, International Step by Step Association, the Ruler Program) in the field of Social and Emotional Learning with input from global experts in education, gender, human rights, psychology and neuroscience. These include Sir Ken Robinson, Dr Urvashi Sahni (Brookings Institution, Ashoka), Barbara Isaacs (Montessori) and Vicki Colbert (Escuela Nueva) amongst others. With them, THINK EQUAL has designed a comprehensive and tangible global programme which teaches children core values of empathy, compassion and respect (to people, animals and the environment) and key skills such as empathy, critical thinking, self-regulation, gender sensitisation and peaceful conflict resolution.

As part of our programme, each week the children explore 1 specific topic, over 4 lessons, through the aid of a themed book, through which the SEL topic is introduced, investigated, studied and learnt. All 35 books per year have been researched, selected and approved by our THINK EQUAL Director of Education, Global Committee and Advisory Book Committee. The books are culturally appropriate and universal in flavour – making their stories, lessons and learning relatable and accessible to all children worldwide.

Our VisionOur vision is a safe, free and equal world.

Our MissionOur mission is to achieve a global change in education by introducing social and emotional learning as a compulsory new subject from the earliest years.

Our 5-Year Goal By the end of 2022, we aim to have commitments from 10 countries to adopt the THINK EQUAL curriculum as compulsory from early years upwards, adapting it to include country cultural specifics; and to have high-profile stakeholders and governments advocating the curriculum as highly effective to their peers, teachers and communities in other countries.

Our 3-Year Objectives To support schools to successfully deliver and evaluate the first 5 Levels of the Early

Years THINK EQUAL curriculum in at least 20 pilot countries; To complete the writing of the Early Years of the TE curriculum approved by our

Global Advisory Committee and ready to roll-out nationally in at least 5 countries; To develop THINK EQUAL books and resources as part of the Early Years Curriculum

or engage authors and publishers in collaborative partnerships; To advocate for government commitments in at least 5 countries and target a

further 10 countries for the next stage of our focused lobbying beyond 2022; To support countries who have committed to national roll-outs, in adapting the

global curriculum to local context and preparing and training their teachers.

Find out more at www.thinkequal.com

Terms and Conditions

Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 depending on experienceHours: Full-time role with moderate travel anticipated internationallyReporting to: Board of Trustees

Location: London Leave entitlement: 25 paid days a yearProbation Period: 6 months

We are looking to appoint a Chief Executive Officer to lead us with passion, energy and good judgement through this start-up phase and beyond as we shape our future in a fast-changing environment. We are looking for an individual who shares the same passion for the work and values of THINK EQUAL and supports its vision, ambitions for growth and development, innovation and collaboration.

THINK EQUAL has an annual turnover of close to £800,000 and has 7 staff and 4 volunteers in London and 6 staff overseas in Sri Lanka, Kenya, Botswana and Argentina. We have an ambitious rolling five year strategic plan to further, develop our partnerships and secure the resources we need to deliver our objectives. One of the first tasks of the new CEO will be to secure new premises as we seek to move out of the founder’s home.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual with a passion and commitment for the cause to make a real difference and add value to this growing organisation. Having been going for less than 2 years, we are a start-up organisation with huge ambition and a very dedicated and hard-working team. The founder has been leading the endeavours so far but feels that it is time to recruit a professional CEO while she moves into a President and Global Ambassador role. She will however retain a vested interest in the organisation and it is anticipated that she will work very closely with the CEO, particularly in the early stages.

We value diversity, promote equality and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

ApplyingIf you are interested in this position, please write a 2-page C.V and 2-page covering letter explaining your interest in the role, giving examples to show that you meet the specifications. Send both C.V. and Cover Letter to thinkequaljob@gmail.com by 5pm on Friday 8th October 2017.

Interviews with the Founder and Board of Trustees are planned to be held in central London. Please note that if you do not hear from us 2 weeks after the closing date, unfortunately your application has not been successful.

THINK EQUAL Chief Executive OfficerJob Description – August 2017

Purpose of the RoleTo develop and implement a strategic response to the increasing demand for the organisation’s services internationally. You will ensure our programmes are sustainable, scalable and of the highest quality.

Responsibilities1. Enable the organisation to respond effectively to the fast pace of growth and

demand for its services internationally;2. Build the organisation from the ground-up, developing 1, 3 and 5 year rolling

strategic plans and annual budgets for approval by the Board of Trustees;3. Set-up sustainable and scalable core operational systems and processes;4. Ensure the proper and effective management of the organisation’s resources,

providing the necessary accountability for their use;5. Recruit, lead, manage and develop the senior management team;6. Ensure the organisation’s staff and volunteers are focused on achieving its mission;7. Establish & monitor key indicators of the organisation’s impact and financial health;8. Ensure a culture of monitoring, evaluation and sharing learning is embedded in the

work of the organisation;9. Maintain awareness of risks, trends and changes in the external environment that

affect the organisation;10. Build an effective working relationship with the Chair of the Board, the Founder and

Global Ambassadors;11. Enable the organisation to create new partnerships and collaborations;12. Build relationships with politicians and government officials as appropriate and in

partnership and consultation with the President in order to advance the organisation’s aims;

13. Represent the organisation at external events and publicity opportunities;14. Develop and promote the organisation’s brand and external image;15. Define our marketing and social media approach and optimise with a small budget;16. Help generate sustainable income streams, developing fundraising plans alongside

the Chief Operating Officer as appropriate.

General Duties1. Ensure that at all times you take care of your health and safety and that of others by

complying with health and safety obligations, particularly by reporting promptly any defects, risks or potential hazards;

2. Comply with the policies and procedures of THINK EQUAL at all times;3. Support the vision, values and objectives of the organisation;4. Maintain confidentiality and ensure compliance with data protection requirements;5. Contribute to close working relationships with all personnel and help to build an

open and honest culture that facilitates learning, creativity and excellence;6. Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post;7. Carry out from time to time and as directed, any other duties as required in addition

to the above that will be both reasonable and within your capabilities.

THINK EQUAL Chief Executive OfficerPerson Specification – August 2017

The following key experience and knowledge are either essential (E) or desirable (D) for the incumbent to possess in order to be successful in the delivery of the role.

Experience and knowledge1. Proven experience to strategically lead at a senior level a growing organsiation,

managing organisational development and change (E);2. Experience of building strong global partnerships and collaborative relationships

across sectors with a range of stakeholders, including policy-makers and funders (E);3. Track record of delivering strategies, operational plans and projects to time and

budget (E);4. Experience of setting and achieving strategic objectives, problem solving and setting

practical actions (E);5. Able to build a high performing organisation aligned to the vision, strategy and

purpose (E);6. Experience in working as part of a start-up, in the world of business or of the

international development sector (D);7. An understanding of charity governance, administration and fundraising (D);8. Good knowledge of marketing especially around social media (D);9. Understanding of the principles of maintaining a strong brand, creating effective

communications materials and delivering high quality outputs as well as outcomes (D).

Skills and Ability 1. Commitment and drive to bring social and emotional learning to the world’s

education systems;2. Keen ability to think laterally and creatively, with an eye for detail and a sense of the

bigger picture;3. Independent, self-motivated, entrepreneurial, action-orientated and adaptable;4. An ability to combine excellent strategic and programme development and delivery;5. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, resilience and gravitas;6. Excellent influencing and negotiation skills with high level and diverse stakeholders;7. An ability to foster positive working relationships with a diverse range of people;8. Empowering leadership style and enthusiasm for working with a small team;9. Possess the drive, ambition, faith and determination to help THINK EQUAL succeed;10. Willingness to align working hours to accommodate donors and our Trustees.