Chair of Trustees at Khulisa
Khulisa is looking for a new Chair to join our board, in line with the launch of our 2021-24 earlier this year. We have ambitious objectives, and we are looking for someone with the creativity, networks and leadership skills to oversee and support an ambitious period of growth. Given the nature of our work to serve young people who have experienced trauma and adversity, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence, school exclusion and/or the justice system. We actively promote an inclusive culture and encourage applications from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.
The responsibilities of the Chair
The Chair will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity alongside the Chief Executive, with a view to advancing Khulisa’s ambitious objectives. Supported by the Vice Chair, who will oversee the day to day governance piece, the Chair will be ultimately responsible for holding the Board and Senior Management Team to account for the charity’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board, and ensuring that each Trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. They will support and challenge the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board operates well as a team, and works closely with the entire Senior Management Team to achieve agreed objectives.
Role Description
In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, the Chair will use their network, skills and experience to support Khulisa achieve ambitious aims.
Duties of the Chair include the following:
- Chairing and facilitating quarterly board meetings
- Representing Khulisa at functions and meetings, and acting as a spokesperson across a range of events, with a particular focus on income generation and policy influencing
- Brokering relationships between external stakeholders and Khulisa’s CEO and/or relevant SMT member where opportunity to advance Khulisa’s ambitious social mission is present, with a particular focus on income generation and / or policy influencing
- Bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making
- Addressing conflict within the board and within Khulisa, and liaising with the Chief Executive and/or Vice Chair to achieve this
- Where staff are employed:
- Liaising with the Chief Executive to keep an overview of Khulisa’s affairs and to provide support as appropriate
- Leading the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the chief executive
- Sitting on appointment and disciplinary panels
Statutory duties of our trustees include
- Ensuring that Khulisa pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy
- Ensuring that Khulisa complies with its governing document (ie its trust deed, constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Ensuring that Khulisa applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects (ie the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, however worthwhile or charitable those activities are) for the benefit of the public
- Ensuring that Khulisa defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
- Safeguarding the good name and values of Khulisa
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of Khulisa, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
- Ensuring the financial stability of Khulisa
- Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
- Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive
- ad-hoc support on specific projects related to their area of expertise
- To represent the charity at external events
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
Time Commitment
Our board usually meets 4 times per year as a whole board, and then an additional 4 times per year as part of a committee. In addition, we ask Trustees to be available to provide ad-hoc support on specific projects related to their area of expertise and to represent the charity at external events. In the case of the Chair we would require representation at an annual fundraising and policy event, support with brokering relationships between Khulisa’s CEO and potential new donors and supporters, and acting as a spokesperson at functions and/or for media and PR purposes.