Are you an organisational whiz? Can you help ensure the smooth functioning of our Board and contribute your skills and insight to the trustee meetings? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
We’re recruiting for a Trustee who can also hold the office of Company Secretary. In this voluntary role, you’re responsibilities will cover two areas: those as trustee and those specifically designated to the Secretary.
What are the responsibilities?
As Secretary, the general role is to support the Chair by ensuring the smooth functioning of the board. Either personally or by delegation, the secretary should:
- Prepare agendas in consultation with the chair and chief executive.
- Circulate agendas and supporting papers in good time.
- Make arrangements for meetings: venue or zoom, papers, equipment, refreshments
- Minute the meetings and circulate the draft minutes to all trustees.
- Ensure that the minutes are signed by the chair once they have been approved.
- Maintain a log of actions from meetings and follow up on these to ensure they are carried out
- Sit on appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary panels as required.
- Monitor the requirements affecting the charity and its activities, and ensuring that the trustees’ decisions are acted upon, and that all decisions made by the trustees are in accordance with the governing document, reflect the objects of the charity, and continue to provide public benefit.
- Keep the ‘conscience’ of the charity, by way of ensuring that the trustees continue to take decisions and act in line with the governing document, and comply with the relevant legislative and regulatory requirements the charity is subject to.
- Making arrangements for any necessary reporting to be done, for example the trustee annual report.
What are we looking for?
You don’t need previous trustee or company secretary experience to apply, but you should have a willingness to learn about trustee responsibilities and trustee or committee meeting procedures.
Qualities we are looking for:
- Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort – we hold 6-8 trustee meetings per year plus an annual Board away day.
- Strategic vision
- Good, independent judgment
- Ability to think creatively and willingness to speak their mind
- Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
- Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
- Organisational ability
- Good listening, oral and literacy skills
- Able to keep accurate records and follow up
- Knowledge of Charity law and the voluntary sector is beneficial.
What can you expect from us?
As part of our Board, you will support and shape our work and strategic direction, as well as help us achieve our core mission. You’ll play a crucial role in the smooth running of the Board and ensuring robust governance processes are in place, giving you a unique insight to the role of trustees and effective governance. In return, we will offer full support to you in your role including access to training and development. You’ll also learn a lot about our work and impact, and will have the opportunity to visit our projects as part of monitoring visits (self-funded). Reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed for attendance at in person trustee meetings.
To apply: Please send a copy of your CV and a 1-2 page cover letter or email outlining what excites you about joining the Board of PFP and what you think you can bring to the role, to janine.edwards@pfp.global. Please contact us if you would like an informal conversation before applying.
