CHAIR of TRUSTEES

Reports to:Board of Trustees

Remuneration: N/A Voluntary Position

Hours: Up to 2 days per month including quarterly Board Meetings, Annual General Meeting and functions throughout the UK.

Minimum commitment: 3 years

Maximum term of office:9 years dependent on re-election every 3 years.

SUMMARY

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK’s leading charity working to protect our seas and marine wildlife. For over 30 years, we have championed a vision of sustainable fisheries, marine life protection and clean seas and beaches. Through targeted campaigns we have helped drive improvements in bathing water quality; advised consumers and major supermarkets on sustainable seafood choices, engaged thousands of volunteers in clearing litter from our beaches and lobbied for the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas to create havens for wildlife and fish stocks to recover.

MCSis a well-respected, top 2,000 charity with over30 years of groundbreaking work to protect our sea life. We are looking for an experienced independent Chairman to support the Chief Executive and Board in driving MCS’s development over the next period of development.

This is a key opportunity to lead a progressive and developing charity, working with a dynamic and enthusiastic team and play an important role in marine conservation.

You will act as an ambassador for our work at the highest levels, support the charity’s fundraising activities and help lead the organisation through a period of sustained development. Total time commitment is likely to be circa. 2 days a month, including at least 4Board meetings annually (usually held in Herefordshire) plus other promotional and campaign events as required.

A strategic, visionary leader with a high profile in your field, you must also have a strong understanding of the charity sector and a passion for our seas and marine life. If you are ready to lead us through to the next stage, we want to hear from you.

How to apply: In writing to the Chairman, with a brief letter outlining how you believe your skills and interests can be of benefit to MCS and a completed Trustee Profile Proforma.

E-mail applications are preferred referenced: ‘FAO Martin Spray: Chairman application’

Postal applications to be sent to: Martin Spray, Chairman, Marine Conservation Society, Overross House, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QQ

Deadline for applications:20th July 2015. Selected candidates will be interviewed in September and shortlisted candidates invited to attend a full Board meeting as observers on 7th October 2015.

Further information contact:Joanne O’Hagan, HR & Facilities Manager at Tel: 01989 566574

ROLE DESCPRIPTION

Role Title: Chairman

Key Responsibilities

  • To provide leadership to the Board and to ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of the charity.
  • To act as a figure-head to the charity
  • To support, and where appropriate, to challenge the Chief Executive and to ensure that the Board as a whole works in partnership with executive staff.

To provide leadership to the Board and to ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of the charity.

  • Lead the Trustees and members of the senior management team in the development of strategic plans for the charity.
  • Provide leadership and support to the Chief Executive and ensure that the charity is run in accordance with the decisions of the Trustees, the charity’s governing document, and appropriate legislation.
  • Liaise with the charity Chief Executive and Company Secretary to draft carefully structured agendas and well considered supporting papers ensuring timely information for Trustee meetings.
  • Chair the Annual General Meeting and Board meetings, seeking consensus and balancing the need for full debate on key questions to ensure that the business is covered efficiently and effectively in those meetings.
  • Act between full meetings of the Board to ensure decisions are acted upon and in authorising action to be taken intra vires,e.g. banking transactions and legal documents in accordance with relevant mandates.
  • Take a lead role in ensuring that the Board of Trustees fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the charity rather than taking any management role.
  • Lead on, with the assistance of the charity Company Secretary and Chief Executive, the development and implementation of procedures for Board induction, development, training, and annual appraisal of Board effectiveness.
  • Ensure that whenever practicable, Trustees visit various parts of the charity, attend some events organised by the charity and have informal opportunities to meet the senior management team, staff and beneficiaries.

To act as a figure-head to the Charity

  • Act as a spokesperson for the Charity at key events and in the media.
  • Represent the Charity at key national functions and meetings.
  • Actively support and promote the Charity’s fundraising objectives e.g. through attendance at key fundraising and supporter events and networking with potential funders

To support, and where appropriate, to challenge the Chief Executive and to ensure that the board as a whole works in partnership with executive staff.

  • Liaise closely with the Chief Executive to keep an overview of the organisation's affairs and to provide support as appropriate;
  • Line manage and lead the process of appointment and appraisal of the head of staff / Chief Executive, ensuring they have the opportunity for professional development and appropriate support;
  • Ensure that when necessary, the Chair and the Trustees challenge the Chief Executive constructively and only in the best interests of the charity as ‘critical friends’;
  • Facilitate change and address conflict within the Board and within the organisation, liaising with the Chief Executive to achieve this;
  • Ensure through the Chief Executive, that the staff understand the role of the Board and that the Chief Executive provides an effective channel of communication between the Board and staff;
  • Ensure that staff are aware of the Board’s appreciation of their successes and hard work;
  • The Chair of Trustees must also fulfil the statutory role and duties of a Trustee.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an experienced leader who is genuinely driven by the work of marine conservation and able to display a commitment to MCS’s ethos, aims, and objectives. The successful Chair will have the natural ability to operate at a strategic level and engage with a broad spectrum of people, inspiring them to engage with the Society’s aims. Experience of committee work is desirable but more useful will be the ability to lead a team effectively. The Chair of the Trustees must become a fully paid up member of the Society and act in an unpaid capacity (relevant expenses can be reclaimed) and will commit to give the necessary time and effort to engage effectively with the work of MCS.

Must have a personal commitment to the marine environment

Able to work closely with Trustees, the Chief Executive and management team, building positive working relationships in a constructive and consultative environment.

An inspirational leader with the skills to represent MCS at the highest level throughout the UK.

Demonstrable committee leadership experience and knowledge of the charity sector and / or organisational development.

Able to travel on a regular basis to promote MCS at events throughout the UK.

Able to commit up to 2 days per month in support of MCS work and the role of Chairman, including attendance at MCS meetings, events and functions.

Skills and experience:

The Chair will need to possess the following attributes:

  • Leadership - positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interests of MCS
  • Effective communicator - to inspire people from all walks of life to engage with MCS work.
  • Experience of committee work and ability to lead a team effectively and with tact and diplomacy.
  • Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by MCS and a wider involvement with the voluntary sector and other networks.

The Chair must have:

  • Integrity, impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
  • Commitment to the organisation and its objectives
  • Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
  • Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as a Chair and Trustee
  • Good, independent judgement
  • Willingness to speak their mind
  • Ability to lead whilst working effectively as a member of a team

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  • Prospective candidates should apply in writing to MCS Chairman, Martin Spray with a brief letter outlining how you believe your skills and interests can be of benefit to MCS and a completed Trustee Profile Proforma.
  • E-mail applications are preferred referenced: ‘FAO Martin Spray’ to
  • Postal applications to be sent to: Martin Spray, Chairman, Marine Conservation Society, Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QQ
  • Deadline for applications: 20th July 2015.
  • A Trustee will contact prospective candidates to arrange an initial meeting or phone call to ensure understanding of the requirements of the role.
  • Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview by 2-3 existing Trustees in September.
  • If as a result of this interview, it is agreed to proceed, you will be invited to attend a Trustee Board meeting (7th October 2015) as an observer, to meet the Chairman and other Trustees.
  • Arrangements will be made for you to meet with the Chief Executive and MCS staff to gain an insight into the activities of the charity and its future direction either before or at the 7th October meeting.
  • Following these meetings and if the Trustees approve your application, the successful candidate will be offered the role of Chairman and asked to put in writing to the existing Chairman, confirmation of their commitment to become a Chair of MCS, including a signed Trustee Declaration Form that they are eligible, and providing references if requested.
  • MCS is set up as a Company Limited by Guarantee. As a Trustee you will also become a Director of MCS and will be sent the registration documents required by Companies House to complete and sign.
  • As part of the Company Law requirements your appointment will be formally approved by the membership at the next AGM in November 2015.

Appendix A: STATUTORY ROLE AND DUTIES OF A TRUSTEE

  • To ensure that MCS complies with its governing document (i.e. its memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
  • To ensure that MCS pursues its objects as defined in its governing document;
  • To ensure that MCS applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects i.e. the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are;
  • To ensure major risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed regularly and systems are established to mitigate these risks without the charity becoming risk averse;
  • To contribute actively to the board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to MCS, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets;
  • To safeguard the good name and values of MCS;
  • To ensure the effective and efficient administration of MCS;
  • To ensure the financial stability of MCS;
  • To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity's funds;
  • To appoint the Director, monitor his/her performance and support him/her in that role.

General Duties of Directors (Trustees) under the Companies Act 2006

  1. Duty to act within powers
  1. Duty to promote the success of the company
  1. Duty to exercise independent judgement
  1. Duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence
  1. Duty to avoid conflicts of interest
  1. Duty not to accept benefits from third parties
  1. Duty to declare interest in proposed transaction or arrangement

Further information about the responsibilities of a Trustee and Charity law can be found on the Charity Commission website:

Trustee Candidate Proforma

The purpose of the Trustee Candidate Profile is to provide specific information to Trustees about your background, areas of expertise and the aspects of MCS work that you would be able to actively support as a Trustee. The information provided will be shared with MCS Trustees and staff only and will not be published in the public domain.

1. Name:
2. Home Address:
Phone:
E-Mail:
Web Site(s):
3. Occupation and current role:
4. Other Directorships:
5. Membership of any professional networks or associations (business and conservation):
6. Please list other charity memberships, relationships and type of support (e.g. donations, voluntary work, participation) given to date:
7. Trusteeship of / other links to Charitable Trusts & Foundations:
8. Please include any other relevant information including any conflict or potential conflicts of interest:

It is hoped that MCS Trustees would be able to fulfil one or more of the following key skill areas.

Please identify which areas your profile best matches and describe how you may be able and willing to support the work of MCS.

Please also complete non-core areas where possible, for example the potential for networking and personal fundraising can apply to all. If you are unable to help in any specific areas due to a conflict of interest please indicate this too.

1. Conservation
  • Do you have a sound knowledge ofa range of issues relating to marine conservation, both problems and solutions. Please specify.
  • Have you, through your own determined or innovative individual action, effected positive change for the marine environment.
  • Do you have experience of development and implementation of environmental strategies through leading or working with, or within, NGO or public sector organizations at the national or European level.
  • Are you able to work with MCS staff to facilitate introductions with senior civil servants, MPs (including devolved administrations) and ministers
  • Are you able to facilitate introductions to senior members of other key 3rd sector social interest groups such as Women’s institute, Rotary, University of 3rd Age who are potential supporters for MCS.

  1. Fundraising/Business Development/Networking:
Are you:
  • Able to help inform MCS fundraising strategy.
  • Able to facilitate introductions to potential corporate supporters at a decision-making level.
  • Able to support MCS projects by making donations, and/or introduce other potential donors to MCS.
  • Willing, with the support of MCS Head of Fundraising, to network with and help ask potential major donors to support MCS.
  • Willing to host / organise fundraising events, please give examples of the events you would be happy to host/arrange.

  1. Communications/marketing
Are you able to:
  • Inform, and help evaluate MCS communications strategy?
  • Facilitate relationships with broadcasting, print and / or online media organisations and key individuals?
  • Facilitate access to artists, designers and other creative individuals/networks?
  • Inform marketing planning and brand development.
  • Assist with market research with in depth experience of marketing theory and practice.
  • Advise in planning, carrying out and monitoring direct marketing.

  1. Governance and business development
Do you have specific experience in:
  • Organisation/business management and development.
  • Charity law and governance.
  • Financial/budget management and accounting.
  • Facilitation and training.
  • Human resources e.g. employment law, personnel management.

  1. Grass Roots Resources
  • Do you currently participate in any MCS projects or events? E.g. Seasearch, Sea Champion, Beachwatch?
  • Would you be willing to join in with or support MCS projects and events? Please specify which.
  • Are you a member or participant in any association, club, sport or recreation with relevance to the work of MCS?
  • Do you have any affiliation, which could provide feedback to MCS on public perception and opinion of marine matters?

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Marine Conservation Society May 2015

Registered Charity Nos: 1004005 (England and Wales) SCO37480 (Scotland)

Company Limited by Guarantee no. 2550966