Chair of the Board of Trustees

René Cassin – the Jewish voice for human rights – is looking to appoint a new Chair to guide this established charity through challenging times.

We live in an era characterised by populism; a hostile environment towards minorities, refugees and asylum seekers; and increasing levels of attacks on the most basic principles of human rights – principles that Jewish activists and jurists did so much to secure in the years immediately following 1945.

The continuing reverberations internationally and in the UK of the devastating events of 7 October 2023 continue to have a major impact on our human rights advocacy both within our community and with external partners.

There has never been a greater need for a strong Jewish advocate, actor, and partner to make the case for the contemporary importance of human rights values and protections. There has never been a more important time to get involved in our work.

In response to these challenging times, René Cassin is in a unique position to leverage the moral case associated with our namesake (as co-author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and our convening power as a trusted and influential Jewish human rights organisation with the authority to speak on fundamental values.

In an increasingly divided and fractured society, we can be a distinctive force for changing attitudes both inside and outside the Jewish community. We advocate for human rights values within our community, and we form strong alliances with groups whose contemporary experiences of marginalisation, discrimination and, in the case of the Uyghurs, genocidal policies sadly reflect our own histories and experiences.

The Chair’s Role

MAIN FUNCTIONS

• Chairing and planning Board meetings effectively. Ensuring that all trustees’ voices are heard, and that optimum use is made of trustees’ skills and experience.
• Charting the long-term future for René Cassin.
• Providing active support for our Executive Director. Offering a professional appraisal experience and regular 1-2-1s.
• Actively engaging with current and potential donors and being a recognised presence with our staff team, supporters, alumni and stakeholders.
• Inputting into the planning of our events and our external communications.
• Ensuring that René Cassin has a solid and sustainable financial strategy.​

Essential experience

• Effective Chairing.
• Strong commitment to fundraising and willingness to utilise professional networks for that purpose.
• Strategising.
• Background in human rights or related fields.
• Knowledge of the contemporary UK Jewish community.
• External relations, public speaking.
• Partnership practice, willingness to leverage professional and personal networks.
• Strong personal alignment with human rights values and principles.

Desirable experience

• Financially literate, including experience in risk management.
• Background in fundraising, confidence in approaching potential individual donors.
• Understanding of international human rights principles, mechanisms and charters.
• Relevant background work and/or engagement within the Jewish Community.
• Relevant non-executive experience.
• ackground in the charity sector including funders trusts & foundations.