Careers

Role Specification and Details

Jerba Campervans is a 100% employee owned company where both employees and customers are at the very heart of the business. Providing the very best in customer service and ensuring employees have a real voice, have both been key to our rapid growth since the company was
established in 2006.

Registered by contract with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as an official Motorhome Qualified converter (one of only four UK companies) and having Volkswagen Fleet Operator status, we are a leading campervan conversion UK brand at the highest end of the market with direct customer sales across the country.

With 13 employees based at our single North Berwick site, a 2021 turnover of £3m was achieved from the production of 55 units – since our move to employee ownership in January 2018 productivity has grown year on year.

With the founder and current MD moving to a Chairman role from the middle of 2022, we are now seeking to recruit a new MD who will be able to continue to consolidate our position in the high quality sector of the UK campervan market and begin to roll out a diversification strategy that aims
to take the business into new market areas and generate significant further growth.

Challenges and opportunities lie ahead, in particular being the introduction of an all-electric VW van platform within a likely 5 to 7 year timeframe. The MD will need to have the vision, drive and strategic mindset to work with all employees in navigating the business through this crucial period and using it as a springboard for new initiatives, growing profits and increasing long term company stability.

Business Development & Strategy

• To drive the long term strategic development of the business – focusing upon increased productivity, increased/steady profitability, product/service diversification and employee job security.
• To have clear commercial vision and the ability to think and act creatively when planning and executing the strategic development of the business. In a small but growing company adaptability is key – the MD will ensure profitable trading whilst having genuine care and appreciation of all stakeholders.
• To work with fellow Directors on delivering the company’s rolling five year business plan and to closely monitor its delivery.
• To work with the fellow Directors on enabling the employee owned model to create a team input approach where co-operation, innovation and continual improvement are at the very centre.
• To understand the customers, products and competition of the markets in which the company operates and to identify opportunities for business diversification into markets where Jerba Campervans could establish itself and achieve long term, sustainable and profitable growth – our skills in technical coach building are high, but our current market reach is focused solely on campervans. The opportunities for diversification within the wider coach building field are numerous and have real potential for significant reward.
• When approached, or when opportunities arise, to have an open and can do approach to promoting the Employee Ownership model to businesses and organisations outside of Jerba Campervans.

Finance & Accounting

• To be directly responsible for the financial planning of the business.
• Together with office staff to compile monthly management accounts, full yearly accounts, annual profit &loss forecasts and annual cashflow forecasts.
• With the support of our independent company accountant, to be responsible for the tax requirements of business.

Marketing, PR & Customer Support

• To manage the Customer Support Manager to ensure that all tasks assigned to them are completed as required and to work with them on developing new initiatives for improving such key areas as customer satisfaction, order conversion rates, product/service offerings and profit margins.
• To work with the Customer Support Manager in planning and organising attendance at exhibitions and consumer motorhome shows – currently NEC (6 days Oct) and Glasgow (4 days Feb).
• To support the Customer Support Manager in providing assistance to existing customers as required and when needed to communicate directly with new enquirers in order to answer queries and convert enquires into orders.
• To be directly responsible for delivering and developing the company marketing and PR strategy.
• To be the main point of contact with the company PR agency and work with them on new PR opportunities.
• To manage and work with the in-house Digital Marketing Specialist on maintaining and developing the company website and creating new social media content which is focused upon the target customer.

Workshop & Office

• To manage the Operations Director, to help them develop their skills and ensure that all tasks assigned to them are completed as required.
• To manage all office staff, to help them develop their skills and ensure that all tasks assigned to them are completed as required.
• To work closely with the Operations Director, Customer Support Manager and office team in refining systems that ensure all products needed for every conversion are clearly communicated prior to their required order date.
• To take the lead role in working with all members of the office team on building upon and further developing the customer focused side of the company Statii MRP (Material Requirements Planning) IT system.
• To work together with all fellow employees on continual improvement across the company – from office and workshop processes to the working environment, customer experience and community impact of the business as a whole.
• To work with the Operations Director and office team to ensure all systems and processes are compliant with the requirements of the company ISO9001 certification.
• To be the main contact point with key suppliers, industry bodies and other affiliated organisations – such as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, National Caravan Council, Employee Ownership Association, Good Business Charter and Scottish Enterprise.

Personal Profile

• A natural leader with excellent skills in listening, encouraging and communicating – teamwork is a crucial element of our continued success and is highly valued by employees and customers alike.
• Gathering information from multiple sources must come naturally to you in any decision making process – you must be inciteful and creative, but ultimately be decisive. Communicating your decisions to employees with reason is key to driving the business
  forward.
• Firm but fair is a necessity. Ultimately the MD is the final decision maker, so when required you must be able to make the hard choices with both a hard business head and if needed a hand of compassion.
• Seeing above the daily mix of challenges and looking ahead for future challenges and opportunities Is key. You must be driven to identify and achieve new business trading objectives, whilst also staying focused on the detail of the here and now.
• A careful balance of risk and reward is vital. Working with all employees you use skills and experience to evaluate the best opportunities for long term growth and take the employees with you as ideas and plans develop

Package & Benefits

• The role is a permanent position and is office based at our North Berwick workshop, with the occasional requirement to travel to exhibitions, events, customer/supplier meetings etc.
• Working hours are 8am to 5pm Mon to Fri with the occasional requirement to work part of a weekend for specific customer appts etc.
• Holiday – 30 days inc. statutory (rising to 32 after 5 yrs service and 34 after 10 yrs service).
• Company pension scheme – if you choose not to opt out of the stakeholder scheme then the company will contribute 5% of your salary.
• Annual profit related bonus for all employees – due to our employee owned status this is tax free up to £3600. Paid on last day of Feb and only after 12 months’ service.
• Full sick pay is provided.
• Salary – £50k to £75k depending upon experience.

For further details please email our current MD, Simon Poole; info@jerba.co.uk

Jerba Campervans Ltd, Unit B, Halfland Barns, North Berwick, EH39 5PW
www.jerbacampervans.co.uk
Tel: 01620 890374