Division Commissioner

THE ROLE OF DIVISION COMMISSIONER

Description:

The Division Commissioner is responsible for managing the Districts within the Division and representing local Guiding as a part of the County team. She is responsible for the delivery, quality and well-being of Guiding in her Division, taking into account the needs and wishes of the Districts within her Division and the County as a whole.

A Division Commissioner is:

Appointed by the County Commissioner for an initial term of five years and may be reappointed for a further period of up to two years; this is not automatic and the usual term of appointment is five years.

The role of Division Commissioner can be shared.

Functions can include:

• Leading the Division team and maintaining relationships throughout the Division
• Leading and supporting the District Commissioners within the Division, ensuring that they work well together as a team and that they have sufficient opportunity to communicate and share problems, and convening Division meetings when necessary.
• Promoting the ethos of Guiding throughout the Division
• Supporting girls and young women working on their Queen’s Guide Award Facilitating a team approach to meetings
• Ensuring training needs for District Commissioners are identified and relayed to the relevant County Team
• Helping District Commissioners identify the needs of their teams and working with County teams to ensure efficient and effective local delivery of training opportunities
• Being responsible for Division events
• Ensuring information exchange between County and Districts
• Ensuring the Division web pages on the County website are kept updated
• Encouraging Districts to act on information from outside the Division i.e. CHQ, Country, Region or County.
• Representing views of the Division at the County Executive
• Taking part in the policy-making and decision-making processes of the County.
• Ensuring financial matters are correctly monitored and policy is adhered to
• Identifying public relations and recruitment needs and ensuring consistency with County, Regional and national objectives whilst encouraging local flexibility.
• Ensuring that there is representation, where applicable, at the local Trefoil Guild.

 
The Division Commissioner should:

• Be in sympathy with the aims and principles of The Guide Association
• Be a good communicator. Be a good listener. Have time for others. Be enthusiastic
• Manage people well. Get on well with adults. Have tact, diplomacy and flexibility
• Be able to settle disputes. Understand confidentiality of personal information
• Have patience and understanding. Have a sense of humour. Be confident
• Have the ability to build and maintain a team. Be happy to ask for help

Please note: No-one is expected to have all of these skills at the outset, as many of these skills and qualities will be acquired and developed throughout your term as Commissioner.
 
All Commissioners have a Mentor put in place very soon after appointment who will be of great help especially during those first months. There is also additional help and support available at County level. 

If this type of position is of interest to you please complete an Indication of Interest form or if you know someone who may suit this role please complete a Nomination Form and forward to Bonnie Hill, County Commissioner.