Advisor on the Board of Trustees

Role Title: Advisor on the Board of Trustees

Location: Remote (within the EU, UK, Serbia, or Bosnia)

Reporting to: Chair of the Board of Trustees

Start date: March 2024

Time commitments: Four – six board meetings per year, an annual strategy day as well as other activities between meetings as required by the role.

Duration: Probation period 3 months, including attendance at a board meeting. Minimum commitment 2 years, maximum 5 years.

Remuneration: The role of Advisor is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel may be claimed.

Overview of the role

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

All trustees should also be aware of, and understand, their individual and collective responsibilities and should not be overly reliant on one or more individual trustees in any particular aspect of the governance of the charity.

By joining Indigo’s Board of Trustees, you will work alongside our four current trustees. We encourage applicants with a strong network, strong fundraising background, strong marketing background and/or lived experience of being a refugee to apply. However, we would still really encourage you to apply if you don’t have any of the above.

Get a glimpse into what being an Indigo advisor means here.

Responsibilities & Statutory Duties

• To ensure the organisation complies with its governing document.
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document.
• To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives – the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how ‘charitable’ and ‘worthwhile’ those activities are.
• To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation.
• To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation’s funds.
• To appoint the CEO and monitor his or her performance.
• To ensure we are working within any agreed policies adopted by the Charity.

In addition, with other trustees to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:

• Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
• Being responsible for the performance of the charity; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
• Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.
• Without becoming directly involved in managing risk, boards can fulfil their role in risk oversight by:
  • Developing policies and procedures around risk that are consistent with the organization’s strategy and risk appetite.
  • Following up on management’s implementation of risk management policies and procedures.

The above list is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Advisor will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role. As well as the various statutory duties, any trustee should make full use of any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board make good decisions.

Terms

The charity’s Advisor (and board members) will serve a minimum two-year term, maximum five-year term. The Advisor has the right to attend any working groups or sub-committees.

Person Description

The qualities required of a Trustee of the Charity:

Personal Qualities:

• Demonstrate a strong and visible commitment to the Charity, its strategic objectives and cause.
• Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the Charity.
• Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events & meetings outside of office hours.
• Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role.
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively.
• A team-oriented approach to problem solving and to management.
• Happy to represent the charity at external functions, meetings and events where appropriate.
• Commitment to promoting equality and diversity.
• Preparedness to make recommendations to the board and a willingness to speak their mind with diplomacy.
• Able to exercise independent judgement and take reasonable care, skill and diligence in their role on the Board.
• Understands, accepts and able to fulfil the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• A positive and ‘can-do’ outlook as well as a good sense of humour.

Experience:

• Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees.
• Successful track record of achievement through their career.
• Experience of external representation.
• A strong background in law, marketing, fundraising, and/or networking is preferred.
• We strongly encourage people with lived experience of being a refugee to apply.

Knowledge and skills:

• A good knowledge and understanding of the European refugee crisis and the volunteer sector, as well as the current issues affecting them.
• A good network of connections is preferred.
• Good understanding of charity governance issues.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proactive and self-driven.
• Strong organisation and planning skills.