Oban BID company advertises for management team

The search has begun for suitable candidates to mastermind the roll-out of Oban’s new Business Improvement District (BID).

The new BID company, BID4Oban, is advertising two posts which are central to the delivery of the scheme’s £840,000+, five year business plan.

The two posts

The first post is an Oban BID Manager, who will have overall responsibility for overseeing the BID’s various projects and services.

The second is an Oban Event Manager, whose primary task will be to improve the town’s existing events and festivals and establish additional attractions throughout the year.

Project co-ordinator Pauline Cameron – who has managed the Oban BID process from its inception through to the successful ballot and the setting up of the new company – says filling the two posts would be key to the ongoing success of the project:

‘Finding suitable candidates for these two positions is absolutely vital to the ability of the BID to reach its full potential.

‘These posts will be at the very heart of everything the BID becomes involved in over the next five years. We need to make sure that whoever fills them is not only up to the challenge of setting Oban on its new path, but also capable of ensuring that the town gets the maximum possible benefit from the opportunities the BID will present.

‘BID4Oban needs skilled, dynamic, forward-thinking people at the helm who can successfully steer the scheme through the next five years.

‘I am confident that the Board of Directors of the new company, for which we are still receiving nominations, will have all these attributes. We now need to ensure that the BID’s manager and event manager boast similar qualities.’

About the posts

Both posts are advertised as 20 hours a week. They may be applied for individually or as one full time role.

Anyone interested in applying for the Oban BID Manager position, for which the salary will be £25-28,000 p.a based on a 40 hour week, pro rata 20 hours a week for a fixed five year term, should be an outstanding project manager with:

• Excellent communication and marketing skills
• The ability to build strong partnerships
• Experience of managing complex successful projects within budget
• Commitment to exceptional customer service and quality driven
• Industry knowledge of a variety of business sectors

The Oban Event Manager position is advertised at £22-25,000 p.a based on a 40 hour week, pro rata 20 hours a week for a five year fixed term.

The successful candidate will be a marketing or events management professional with:

• A proven track record of delivering successful events and marketing strategies
• Experience of making partnership work with a range of stakeholders
• Proficiency in using web-based information services and social media
• Experience of generating additional project funding through grants income

Local businessman John Forteith, who was on the BID4Oban steering group and is now a director of the shadow BID4Oban board, says: ‘I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Oban’s future prosperity relies, at least to some extent, on getting the right person or people for these positions.

‘This is a very exciting time for everyone who lives and works in Oban. The town is about to embark on a scheme pumping hundreds of thousands of pounds into improving the local trading environment. These positions are key to ensuring not only that the money is directed wisely, but also that it generates as much additional income as possible for the town and its people.

‘Oban has spent the last few years talking about a BID. It is now a reality, and we need to make sure that we have the right people in place to enable it to deliver what we know it is capable of delivering – a bright new future for our town.’

Applications

Job descriptions, person specifcations and the BID4Oban’s full five year business plan are available to view here at the BID4Oban website.

Anyone interested in applying should send a CV and covering letter:

• to John Forteith, Director, Shadow BID4Oban Board, BID4Oban Ltd, c/o CGL Ltd, 15 Lochside Street, Oban PA34 4HP,
• to arrive no later than Thursday 8th November 2012.

Applications can also be made by email to info@bid4oban.co.uk