Property trustee

Property Trustee/Head of Property Committee

Overall Purpose

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.

Main Responsibilities

• To work with Pecan management to oversee the charity's property function.
• To help Pecan obtain best value from the property it owns on a freehold basis, while acting in line with the charity's objects.
• To help Pecan achieve best client value from all sites inhabited (as owner-occupier and tenant), while acting in line with the charity's objects.
• To ensure adequate oversight of the facilities management function within head office (as with all trusteeships, this is not an operational role).
• To chair the Property Committee 6-10 occasions annually.

Wider trustee duties incl. the following:

• ensure that the charity, and its representatives, function within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and in line with the organisations’ governing document, continually striving for best practice in governance.
• To uphold the fiduciary duty invested in the position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in the charity.
• To take appropriate professional advice in all matters where there may be material risk to the charity, or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties. This course of action will ensure the obligation to exercise their duty of care.
• To determine the overall direction and development of the charity through good governance and clear strategic planning.
• To avoid any personal conflict of interest.

Main Duties

• Ensuring the charity complies with legislative and regulatory requirements, and acts within the confines of its governing document and in furtherance to organisational activities contained therein.
• Acting in the best interest of the charity, beneficiaries and future beneficiaries at all times.
• Promoting and developing the charity in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance to society.
• Maintaining sound financial management of the charity’s resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisation’s objects and that its investment activities meet accepted standards and policies.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the charity and its resources.
• Acting as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for funds, if appropriate.
• To maintain confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential information received.
• Whilst there is no formal requirement to live in or near south London, trustees are expected to attend in-person meetings on a small number of occasions each year, including at PECAN.

Accountable to

As trustees are responsible for the governance and functioning of the charity, they are accountable in varying degrees to a variety of stakeholders, including: service-users, members, funders, the Charity Commission, and Companies House. Close attention must be given to the governing document.

Skills

Building management; facilities H&S; surveying; property market understanding.