Chair of The Board

Contact is looking for up to two people to become Chairs and lead our Board of Trustees. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a nationally known multi-arts venue on a mission to change the face of UK culture.

**OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE**

**SALARY**:Voluntary

**WORKS WITH**: Board of Trustees, AD/CEO, Senior Management Team, Other nominated staff members

**HOURS**: Attendance at Board Meetings & events

**STATUS**: 3 year term (1 term) - possibility of 2 terms

**CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS**: Friday 11th August

**MAIN TASKS**

The Board of Trustees has overall control of Contact and, as Chair of that Board, you will be responsible for making sure that we achieve our aims and ambitions in an effective and accountable way. You will do this via:
**Board Governance**
- Play a key role in the recruitment of board members, ensuring that the Board of Trustees is diverse and reflective of the communities in which it works.
- Ensure that the Board fulfils its duty to ensure the sound financial health of Contact with systems in place to ensure financial accountability
- Organise how the Board support SMT
- Chair quarterly board meetings
- Work with Executive and Management Assistant to plan and collate board meeting paperwork and give final approval on Agenda
- Support Chairs of sub-committees where needed
- Manage Chair inbox
- Organise / facilitate voting when necessary (both in and outside of meetings)
- Ensure Board is working effectively, facilitating change and addressing any conflict as necessary both within the Board and the organisation, liaising with the AD/CEO as required.
- Facilitate Board skills audit, thus ensuring that the Board of Trustees brings skills, knowledge and expertise appropriate for Contact’s needs
- Provide leadership, support and challenge to the Board, ensuring that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and manage and mitigate those risks
- Provide signatures for legal documents
- Ensure that Contact complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations, both as a limited company and as a charity
- Be on hand in some instances to organise extraordinary board meetings with short turnover

**Staff Governance**
- Work with the AD/CEO, Board of Trustees, staff and young people to develop and inform the strategic direction of Contact, setting policy, defining mission, goals and objectives and evaluating performance against agreed targets
- Line manage AD/CEO, including setting performance objectives and opportunities for professional development
- Build a strong, effective and constructive working relationship with the AD/CEO, ensuring that they are supported and accountable for achieving agreed strategic objectives
- Lead on the appointment of the AD/CEO with support of HR, when required
- Develop and effective working relationship with the members of the Senior Management Team

**Fundraising**
- Represent Contact in conversation with major stakeholders + funders (including core funders) on a regular basis, acting as an ambassador for Contact.

From 2020 at least 50% of Trustees are young people under the age of 30 in line with our core objective to ensure that young people are at the heart of our decision making. All our Trustees are passionate about the work that we do and provide a strong supportive network for each other and staff.

**Trustees are expected to have**:

- Enthusiasm for the work of Contact and to be an advocate for Contact in the wider community.
- Commitment to carry out the general responsibilities as outlined above.
- The time to prepare thoroughly for meetings, regularly attend and participate at Board meetings and other Board events (minimum attendance standard at meetings/events - 50%) and to contribute to the work of Contact
- A good working knowledge of the range of Contact’s activities and regular attendance at performances, events and fundraising activities.
- A willingness to deal openly with staff and colleague Board members.
- A preparedness to offer personal and business skills and experience to support the work of the staff when required.
- The ability to treat sensitive information confidentially.