Example job descriptions for Board roles
Good governance helps to make organisations truly exceptional. So, when you are starting a recruitment process for your new board member, it’s key to get the job description right.
Our Board Appointments Team has the expertise to help. Below we have shared some example template job descriptions to assist with your Chair, Treasurer and Trustee appointments.
Position: Chair
Term of office: Two terms of three years
Remuneration: Unremunerated, but reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed
Time Commitment: at least 2 days per month
The Board of Trustees is the ultimate governance body for the organisation, serving as stewards of the organisation’s resources, and is ultimately responsible for [organisation name]’s strategy, operations, adherence to law and regulation and financial management. The Trustees serve on a voluntary basis, and meet four or five times a year in London.
Chair Responsibilities
The Chair leads the Board of Trustees and works closely with the Charity’s Chief Executive and Senior Management Team to achieve its goals. The Chair is responsible for key areas, including:
Strategy and Governance
• Ensure that the Board operatives effectively in the consideration, iteration and approval of the strategy proposed by the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team in support of the charity’s mission and values.
• Ensure, with Trustees, that charity operates efficiently and effectively to fulfil its objectives
• Safeguarding the interests of the charity’s beneficiaries and providing oversight of stakeholder interests
• Ensuring high standards of governance and risk management.
• Ensure that the Board is as diverse as possible and provides the range of knowledge, skills and experience necessary to deliver the charity’s aims.
• Ensuring the organisation is accountable and transparent in its activities.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant charitable and company legislation.
• Oversight of the Sub Committees of the board.
• Ensure a high performing and effective board by committing to regular appraisal and review of Trustees and board performance (including managing retirements and resignations of Trustees).
Guidance and support to the Chief Executive
• Appointment of the Chief Executive and approval of Chief Executive’s salary with the Remuneration Committee.
• Line management of and work in partnership with the Chief Executive to support them achieve the aims of the charity.
• Support and guidance on operations, including personnel management.
Financial
• Ensuring, with the Board, sound financial oversight including review and approval of the annual budget
• Oversight of high standards of financial management
Advocacy and fundraising
• Using personal and professional networks to help the executive with access to potential donors and supporters including governments, international bodies, corporates, trusts and foundations, NGOs, and individuals.
• Advice and assistance in raising and maintaining the charity’s profile in the UK and internationally.
Lead Board Meetings:
• Lead all on all aspects of meeting management including.
• Encouraging discussion at Board meetings, summarising key points and ensuring decisions are made and implemented.
All candidates for Chair should:
• Show commitment to [organisation name]’s values and be able to uphold them personally;
• Share the energy and drive of the organisation and be committed to their role as Chair;
• Be able to think strategically;
• Identify big issues including those around the charity’s long-term sustainability and reputation;
• Have an interest in our policy issues;
• Be able to gain respect and support from various constituencies and stakeholders.
Objectives
The Treasurer will oversee the financial matters of the charity in line with good practice and in accordance with the governing document and legal requirements, and report to the Board of Trustees at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation. The Treasurer will ensure that effective financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place, and are appropriate for the charity. (they will Chair the Finance Committee).
Principal responsibilities:
• Overseeing, approving and presenting budgets, accounts, financial statements and financial reports to the Board of Trustees after discussion with the Director of Finance and Resources.
• Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs and are within the charity’s objects.
• Being instrumental in the development and implementation of appropriate financial, reserves policy and investment policies.
Person Specification
Candidates should have:
• An accountancy qualification or an equivalent level of experience and expertise in accountancy and charity finance.
• Analytical and evaluation skills, demonstrating good judgement.
• Experience in risk management.
• Charity experience either through an executive or previous Trustee role. Ideally with focus on Governance and Financial management.
• Knowledge of fundraising in the context of trusts and foundations (if relevant).
• Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Good communication and leadership skills, including the ability to explain financial information to all trustees, including those without financial or managerial experience.
• Experience of building relationships with senior stakeholders.
Specific Treasurer responsibilities:
• Chair and attend the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee.
• Liaise with relevant staff and Board members to ensure the financial viability of the organisation.
• Regularly support the reporting of the financial position at Board meetings.
• Oversee the production of regular forecasts, an annual budget and a long-term financial plan.
• Oversee the production of annual statutory accounts and review with the auditors.
• Provide advice to the Chair on sign-off of annual report and accounts.
• Ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures and controls are in place.
• Appraise the financial viability of projects, plans, proposals and other initiatives which may have a financial or corporate structure implication as needed.
• Ensure that effective Risk Management practices are embedded.
Follow with main Trustee responsibilities:
(see our trustee job description)
Remuneration: This is a voluntary, unremunerated role. Reasonable travel and childcare expenses to all meetings are covered. (Adjust as necessary)
Term: 2/3/4/5 years – up to 2/3 terms (Adjust as necessary)
Time commitment: Four board meetings per year and four committee meetings per year – plus annual away day, annual event and ad hoc work. (Adjust as necessary)
Reporting to: Chair & Board of Trustees
Job Description:
We value diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds.
We particularly encourage applications from XXX candidates, as these groups will shortly be under-represented on our Board due to Trustee Terms.
Previous experience as a Trustee is not essential and we are committed to investing in training and support for candidates at the start of their trustee journey or have additional needs we can support to ensure they can contribute fully.
To be a Trustee of an organisation is an exciting and fulfilling role. The most effective Boards are ones which benefit from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets. The role of a Trustee is to ensure that the charity fulfils its duty to its beneficiaries and delivers on our vision, mission and values.
The statutory duties of a Trustee are:
• To ensure the organisation complies with its governing document – sometimes known as a trust deed, constitution, or articles of association.
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document.
• To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives – the Charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how ‘charitable’ and ‘worthwhile’ those activities are.
• To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
• To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation’s funds.
• If the organisation employs staff, to appoint the Chief Executive and monitor his or her performance.
In addition, with other trustees to hold the Charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:
• Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
• Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
• Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee uses any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This involves scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
• We are seeking Trustees to be active and engaged in our work, including joining at least one of the Charity’s sub-committees or external advisory groups (if relevant).
• Keep informed about the activities of the charity and wider issues which affect its work. Work with fellow Trustees in a collaborative way, using feedback to enhance Board effectiveness and performance and agreeing individual objectives with the Chair to shape personal contribution
• Ensure that the voices of all communities we represent, are listened to, are part of and involved in the decision-making process, with a particular focus on xxx communities who have historically been excluded.
• Be an integral part of our anti-racism journey by investigating your own racial biases and how these show up in your work, bravely leading conversations about structural racism and dismantling whatever structural barriers you can that are preventing people of colour from succeeding.
The above list of duties is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Trustee will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.
Person Specification:
Individuals are sought who have a strong empathy with the Charity’s mission and an in-depth understanding of its work and ambitions are particularly sought.
The Board of Trustees are jointly and severally responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.
All Trustees should also be aware of, and understand, their individual and collective responsibilities, and should not be overly reliant on one or more individual trustees in any particular aspect of the governance of the Charity.
Experience and Commitment:
• Strategic vision, sound and independent judgement.
• Ability to communicate persuasively and a willingness to speak their mind.
• Demonstrable experience of building and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues to achieve organisational objectives.
• Understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion with the ability to bring diverse perspectives to the Board.
• A proven track record of sound judgement and effective decision making.
• A history of impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.
Knowledge, skills and understanding:
• Commitment to the Charity and a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Understanding of the charity’s work, impact and users.
• Willingness to be available to staff for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis.
• Good, independent judgement and strategic vision.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• An understanding of the respective roles of the Chair, Trustees and Chief Executive.
Download the template job descriptions below
You can download the full Word documents via the buttons below. If you would like to learn more about how we can help your recruitment, contact our team today, they would be happy to help.
