Orpington 1st BID Manager

Orpington is a major town centre in the London Borough of Bromley, sitting on the Southeastern edge of Greater London. The town centre’s Business Improvement District (BID) consists of approximately 330 businesses, including retail, hospitality, leisure, personal care businesses, and professional services.

On behalf of the town centre business community, Orpington 1st BID aims to make Orpington a better place to live, work, and visit, through a range of initiatives falling under three individual theme groups:

First for Customers - to improve Orpington’s image and bring more people into town.

First for Look & Feel - to improve the appearance of the high street and its feeling of safety.

First for Business & Investment - to act as a strong voice for business, improve our members' profitability, encourage investment, and work in partnership towards a more vibrant, modern and relevant town centre.

The BID Manager will manage the operations of the company in line with the strategic direction of the BID, as set by the BID Board of directors.

They will ensure the effective delivery of all BID activity and the continued financial sustainability of the BID. The BID Manager will be the public face of the BID, collaborating with stakeholders and partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate the delivery of all Orpington 1st BID projects in line with the Business Plan.
• Ensure that BID projects are delivered to a high standard and developed to meet the changing needs of the town centre and levy payers.
• Set and manage the annual budget within parameters agreed with the board. Maintain oversight of the BIDs financial performance, providing regular updates to the Board.
• Seek additional funding opportunities including grant funding, commercial sponsorship, or in-kind support.
• Act as an ambassador for Orpington town centre and the work of the BID, proactively engaging with businesses, stakeholders, and partners and ensuring that they understand the BID’s role and objectives.
• Work with the appropriate officers at London Borough of Bromley to ensure the public realm is managed effectively.
• Develop and maintain a strong and effective working relationship with the Chair and Board of Directors, ensuring they are supported with the appropriate level of administration and information in order for them to perform their duties.
• Manage the BID company to comply with its articles of association and relevant regulation relating to BIDs, financial management, data protection, health & safety and any other relevant legislation.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as required and directed by the board.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Skilled in planning, executing, and managing projects from initiation to completion.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong time-management skills.
• Strong decision-making capabilities and the ability to delegate/outsource tasks where required.
• Proven ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, and with the utmost professionalism and integrity.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of the legislation and regulations that govern BIDs and local authority collaboration.
• Understanding of the unique challenges faced by town centres.

Desirable:

• Degree level education (or equivalent) or an appropriate professional qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in digital marketing, social media, and event promotion.
• Visual presentation skills.
• Knowledge of political and economic conditions of retail, leisure and licensed businesses.

Hours: 37.5 per week (30 hours considered, with salary pro-rata). Remote working where appropriate. Some evening and weekend work will be required with time off in lieu. 

Salary: £38,000 - £42,000 DOE

Benefits: 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), pension contribution.

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please email your CV with a cover letter to info@orpington1st.co.uk by 5pm, Thursday 9th January 2025.