Role Description
Key purpose of the role
The Chair provides strategic and inclusive leadership to our Board of Trustees, ensuring that Waldorf Learning Foundation delivers meaningful change in line with our strategy and mission, lives our values, and is well governed as a Charity, and that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities and contributes inclusively and creatively to our shared goals. Through line management of the Chief Executive on behalf of the Board, the Chair holds the Charity’s small team accountable and supports the CEO to achieve its goals, ensuring that the Board and its individual members work closely with the staff of the Charity to achieve agreed objectives. Through their external relationships and networks, and in partnership with the CEO and with other trustees, the Chair champions the Charity’s work, influences in favour of its goals, and helps ensure productive partnerships with its key stakeholders.
Remuneration:
The role of Chair is not paid. Expenses incurred may be reimbursed in line with our trustee expenses policy
Location:
Online, with annual or twice-yearly in-person Away Day meetings with the full board in variable locations (previously Oxford and Stroud), and occasional in-person meetings with the CEO, locations tbd by mutual agreement.
Time commitment:
Approximately 10-15 days/year, comprising
- Four early-evening Board meetings per year, 90 minutes each plus preparation
- Two in-person all-day Board retreats/meetings per year
- Regular meetings with the CEO, and ad hoc meetings with other trustees as needed
- Work to support the CEO, for example in framing strategic decisions for the Board or dealing with email correspondence
- Stakeholder meetings on behalf of the Charity
Reporting to: Board of Trustees
Term of appointment: Three years, renewable for a further three years
Responsibilities
Strategic leadership
- Provide leadership to the Charity and its Board, ensuring that the Charity has maximum impact;
- Ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for and have opportunities to contribute to 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 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 and address and resolve any conflicts within the Board;
- Appraise / organise for a review of the performance of the Trustees and the Board on a regular basis, and submit to the same regular review as Chair;
- 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, with trustees who reflect the diversity of the UK’s wider population;
- Work within agreed policies adopted by the Charity, and champion and oversee their implementation.
External Relations
- Act as an ambassador for the charity and its vision;
- Maintain close relationships with key stakeholders as appropriate and in consultation with and support of the CEO;
- Act as a spokesperson for the Charity 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 with the Chief Executive to give direction to Board policy-making 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 Chief Executive and the staff team
- Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives;
- Support the Chief Executive, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles;
- Ensure regular contact with the Chief Executive and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges;
- Liaise with the Chief Executive to maintain an overview of the Charity’s affairs, providing support as necessary;
- Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the Chief Executive in consultation with other Trustees;
- Ensure that the Chief Executive has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support.
Additional information
The Vice-Chair acts for the Chair when the Chair is not available and undertakes assignments at the request of the Chair.
The above list is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.
