Chair

Main responsibilities:

In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, duties of the chair include the following.

• Providing leadership to the organisation and the board by ensuring that everyone remains focused
on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes in order to provide greater public benefit
• Chairing and facilitating board meetings
• Giving direction to board policy-making
• Checking that decisions taken at meetings are implemented
• Representing the organisation at functions and meetings, and acting as a spokesperson as appropriate
• Bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making
• With the chief executive:
  • Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example annual general meeting
  • Setting agendas for board and other general meetings
  • Developing the board of trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession planning
  • Addressing conflict within the board and within the organisation, and liaising with the chief executive (if staff are employed) to achieve this
• Liaising with the chief executive to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs and to providesupport as appropriate
• Leading the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the chief executive
• Sitting on appointment and disciplinary panels where required
• The vice-chair acts for the chair when the chair is not available and undertakes assignments at the request of the chair

Essential

In addition to the person specification for a Trustee, the Chair should have the following qualities.

• Commitment to accommodation Concern’s objects, aims and values and willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities
• Strategic and forward looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship and adhering to Nolan’s seven principles of public life.
• Strategic leadership skills
• Experience of working with committees/Volunteers
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
• An understanding of the challenges facing UK small/medium sized charities in maximising income streams and donor cultivation

Desirable

• To have knowledge and/or experience of the national and local landscape around poverty, homelessness and/or debt.
• Experience of involvement/partnership working with the voluntary

Think you could be the right person for the role? Why not download our trustee recruitment candidate pack for more information.