Chair of the Board of Trustees

Want to support a migrant organisation striving for systemic change? We are looking for a Chair to lead the board, and contribute to the governance of an organisation, whilst centring migrant voices and experiences, and embedding our campaigning and policy work within a migrant-led agenda to help make a just society for migrants a reality.

The role of an MRN Trustee

As with any small charitable organisation, we are reliant on the skills and dedication of the trustees to support the organisation. We pride ourselves on a diverse board which primarily consists of those with the lived migrant, including refugee experiences.

As a trustee, you are instrumental in ensuring that MRN is achieving its objectives and purpose, and it is complying with its governing document and other legal requirements. Trustees are key to developing and delivering the strategy that will help drive the organisation forward.

With our Chair stepping down due to capacity reasons, we are seeking a Chair to lead the board and organisation. Alongside this, through a skills audit and analysis of our gaps, we have identified the following areas of expertise to have a full complement of skills and knowledge on the board: HR, fundraising and income generation for small/medium UK charities or businesses.

We want to reflect the communities we engage with, and therefore want to continue to attract those with the lived experience of migrating or the refugee system, who are from racialised or migratised backgrounds. We are also keen for those under 25 and those living outside of London to apply.

As a trustee you will be able to apply your significant skills and abilities, while working alongside devoted and enthusiastic trustees and staff who are committed to working and campaigning for the rights of all migrants.

​ Role description for Chair of trustees

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 CEO:
  • Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example the AGM
  • ​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 CEO to achieve this
• Where staff are employed:​
  • Liaising with the CEO to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs and to provide support as appropriate

​Leading the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the CEO

Sitting on appointment and disciplinary panels

The Vice-Chair acts for the Chair when the Chair is not available and undertakes assignments at the request of the Chair

Person specification

In addition to the person specification for a trustee, the Chair should have the following qualities:

• Leadership skills
• Experience of committee work
• Tact and diplomacy
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.

In most circumstances, it would also be desirable for the Chair to have knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the organisation and a wider involvement with the voluntary sector and other networks.