Jamie Withers Email and Phone Number

AFBI is the Northern Ireland Government's main research and statutory testing provider in the areas of agri-food, fisheries and the environment. I am the Business Manager for the newly created Environment and Marine Sciences Division and am responsible for overseeing business operations across the division and its two branches.

The role of the PCC is to be an independent, informed and influential voice that makes a positive difference and advocates for people across Northern Ireland in Health and Social Care. My responsibilities included:• Establishment and management of the newly created Business Support Team, with responsibility for areas including recruitment and selection, corporate governance, general HR, learning and development, information governance, health and safety, finance, equality and facilities.

I contributed to the COVID-19 testing effort during the pandemic.

Radius is a housing association that provides social housing in towns and cities across Northern Ireland as well as a range of specialist care and support facilities. My responsibilities included:• Overall management of the marketing & communications, equality, data protection, and quality & governance functions of the organisation (and associated staff).• The Marketing & Communications Strategy, including social media, PR, publications, events, market research/analysis and internal communications.• Compliance with Section 75 Equality and Good Relations duties and obligations.• Compliance with the GDPR including data processing, data retention periods, internal audits and subject access requests.• The Corporate Quality Strategy including ISO 9001, Customer Service Excellence, internal audits and mystery shopping.

Inspire is a charity and social enterprise focused on promoting wellbeing for all through mental health, learning disability, addiction and professional wellbeing services across the UK and Ireland. Inspire Professional Services promotes positive mental wellbeing and resilience in the workplace and among student populations at third-level institutions through training programmes, consultancy services, counselling and other therapeutic interventions.My role involved responsibilities including:• Strategic development of the service and effective management of resources.• Development of my department, including the creation of new roles.• Compliance, quality and governance, including regular reporting and management of policies, procedures and complaints; and maintaining ISO 9001 accreditation.• Training, development and engagement of over 350 counsellors across Ireland.• People management, training, development, coaching and mentoring of 8 staff members across Belfast and Dublin offices.• Management of an annual budget of over £500,000.• Health and safety including risk management, first aid and fire safety.• Other responsibilities including but not limited to data protection, office management and the management and development of computer systems.

My role involved:• Managing higher intensity psychotherapy contracts and supporting clients from their initial point of contact through the service to discharge.• Acting as a key liaison between customers and the operations and business development teams.• Drafting and updating operational policies and procedures and providing analysis/reports to the senior management team of relevant operational information.• Evaluating trends, referral patterns and reviewing operational information.• Ensuring best practice procedures, processes and quality assurance standards are adhered to, as well as meeting all regulatory requirements.• Conducting appropriate security checks for all counselling staff and associates and assisting in recruitment, induction and training.

The Gobbins is a dramatic coastal walk consisting of bridges, caves and footpaths built directly into the cliff face. The attraction comprises a guided tour along the walk, a clifftop path accessible by the public, as well as a visitor centre, shop and community centre.I was involved in the management and development of the attraction leading up to and following its opening in August 2015 and was responsible for ensuring that all service areas met the standards required to develop and maintain it as a world class visitor experience. In this role I acted as an ambassador for the facility, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as well as the Northern Ireland tourism industry.I was also responsible for setting up the new Islandmagee Community Centre and managing it for its first year. I had to write policies and procedures; create a booking system; develop and maintain strong relationships with the Islandmagee Community Development Association and local groups/individuals; and manage all aspects of operation (including staffing, set-ups and cleaning, and coordinating regular bookings and special events).My role also involved:• Overall operational responsibility of both centres when on duty, including the management, supervision, review and training of over 40 staff members (reception and retail staff, tour guides, caretaking and cleaning staff).• Assisting with the implementation and monitoring of policies and procedures related to The Gobbins, including health and safety.• Assisting with the monitoring and management of budgets, and oversight of inventory, purchasing and supplies.• Assisting with the business planning process and the marketing plan and its implementation.• The implementation and monitoring of staff rotas, daily schedules and all other operational considerations for the guided tours.• Planning and managing events; and the preparation and content of tourism publications.

• Developed, managed and led projects to support local businesses and promote the area in order to attract new employers and encourage tourism. • Built partnerships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including businesses, government agencies and local communities.• Planned events, allocated funding, carried out research and managed tender processes.• Presented to Council Sub-Committee meetings and sat on Steering and Project Groups.• Met strict deadlines and monitored and evaluated my progress against targets.

• Clerical duties across a wide range of facilities and departments, including Environmental Services, Building Services, Community Centres, Carrickfergus Leisure Centre and Carrickfergus Marina. • PA and secretarial duties such as diary management for senior managers, scheduling and prioritising meetings, writing speeches, preparing and circulating agendas, taking minutes and compiling reports for committees.• General admin duties such as creating business letters, dealing professionally with external and internal queries, as well as some financial administration such as compiling timesheets.• Covered Reception at several different facilities, providing friendly customer service in person, on the phone and via email.• Regularly deputised fully for the Community Centre Manager, which involved direct management of several facilities across the Borough, including bookings and staffing.• Regularly deputised fully for the Office Manager (Building Services), which involved direct supervision and management of staff.• Acted as the Website & Social Media Officer for Carrickfergus Leisure Centre, which meant I was in charge of carrying out daily maintenance and updating of the facility's website; as well as promoting the organisation and engaging with the general public through the use of official Facebook and Twitter pages.• Handled cash and made lodgements.• Made use of Microsoft Office packages, several different computer systems and assisted with marketing (printed and online).

Amphitheatre Wellness Centre is a council-owned resource providing a range of amenities, such as a swimming pool, health and fitness suite, spa, children's play areas and various sporting facilities.My role involves:• Overall operational responsibility of a busy leisure centre when on duty, including the management and supervision of over 20 staff members (reception staff, lifeguards, fitness instructors, coaches, teachers and cleaning staff).• Responsible for health and safety in the building, the opening/closing and security of the facility, and oversight of inventory, purchasing and supplies.

• Have taught both children and adults from complete beginner level up to competitive swimming and lifesaving and survival techniques. • Have experience taking one-to-one lessons and classes of up to 12 people, as well as school groups.• Managed and ran my own set of beginner and improver adult lessons.I am a fully qualified swimming teacher with the STA and can still work privately.

• Coached children from age 4 to 16 in the fundamental skills that underpin the majority of sports. • Helped them to socialise, gain confidence and encouraged them to stay active and healthy.• Worked with children from a wide variety of backgrounds, and with various physical, emotional and behavioural disabilities. • Coached on the weekly Fit Kids programme, as well as summer schemes and a special programme in partnership with the PSNI which aimed to reduce antisocial behaviour in the Carrickfergus area.• Co-ordinated the Fit Kids programme for a period, involving the creation of session plans and arranging and managing staff.

• Responsibility for lifeguarding/supervising the swimming pools, as well as the set-up and take-down of equipment, pool water testing and administering First Aid in the building. • Attended regular training in order to keep my qualifications valid and up-to-date. • Explained exercises and demonstrated how to perform them / use gym equipment correctly. • Designed exercise routines and workouts to suit all ages, abilities and needs.• Worked effectively as part of a team.

• Overall responsibility for the stationery department of the store, including maintaining stock levels, reordering and merchandising. • Chose new products and monitored sales in order to ensure the success of my department. • Provided excellent levels of customer service, both at the till (including cash handling) and on the shop floor.

• Acted as Duty Officer as part of my shifts, with overall operational responsibility for the Marina, Harbour and all associated buildings.• Recorded the movement of all vessels and ensured the safe berthing of all craft in the Marina and Harbour. • Completed daily inspections of these areas and ensured strict compliance with health and safety, carrying out general maintenance and repairs where necessary. • Assisted with berth allocations, took regular inventories (electric usage etc.) and kept accurate and complete records. • Covered reception and admin duties.