Chair of the Board of Trustees

Chair of Wendover Youth Centre

Job Description

Objective

The Chair will hold the Board and Executive Team to account for the Charity’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The Chair will also support and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the entire Executive of the charity to achieve agreed objectives. He or she will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity.

Principal responsibilities

Strategic leadership

• Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that the Charity has maximum impact for its beneficiaries

• Ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the Charity

• Ensure that the Board operates within its charitable objectives, and provides a clear strategic direction for the Charity

• Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, and manage and mitigate the risks

• Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability

Governance 

·         Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the Charity.

• Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Trustees

• Encourage positive change where appropriate Address and resolve any conflicts within the Board

• Appraise the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis

• Ensure that the Board of Trustees is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills,

knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the charity effectively, and which also reflects the wider population

• Work within any agreed policies adopted by the charity

External Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the cause and the charity

• Maintain close relationships with key members of the Government and with key influences

• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation when appropriate

• Represent the charity at external functions, meetings, and events

• Facilitate change and address any potential conflict with external stakeholders

Efficiency and effectiveness

• Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process

• Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests

of the Charity and that the Board takes collective ownership

• Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between the Trustees

• Work closely the trustees to give direction to Board policymaking and to ensure that

meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of trustees.

• Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.

Relationship with the staff members

• Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with all youth workers, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives.

• Ensure regular contact with the youth worker(s) and develop and maintain an open and supportive

relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries, and challenges.

• Liaise with the youth worker(s) to maintain an overview of the Charity’s affairs, providing support as necessary

• Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the youth worker in consultation with

other Trustees

• Ensure that the youth worker has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support