Chair of Trustees

**National Space Centre**

**Chair of Trustees**

**Job Description & Person Specification**

**Precis**

The National Space Centre is a charity with a mission to get people excited about space and help develop the next generation of scientists and engineers. Its activities are overseen by a Board of Trustees who are also directors of the company known as National Space Centre (‘Trustco’).

**The Role**

The Board of Trustees is responsible for The Charity’s assets (buildings, estate and intellectual property) and for the delivery of the charitable object as agreed with the Charity Commission. It sets the long term vision, approves the business plan (originated by the subsidiary operating company or ‘Opco’) and reviews performance against plan.

The Chair oversees The Charity’s governance and runs the Board of Trustees by setting its agenda, chairing its meetings and getting the best from those attending. They work in partnership with the Chair and Chief Executive of Opco to oversee the running of The Charity and its wide range of exciting activities.

The appointment is for a three year term.

**The Board**

The Board comprises 12 Trustees with an appropriate mix of skills, experiences and thought. It currently meets three times a year. In February it reviews the previous year’s performance. In July it considers substantive issues relating to its charitable vision and impact. In November it reviews the draft rolling three year business plan. It receives an additional three reports between meetings that keep Trustees abreast of progress.

The Chair has a Vice-Chair to provide assistance and cover. In addition, one Trustee is asked to represent The Board on the Opco Board and others are asked to join committees and workshops or otherwise support the running of The Charity’s activities. Trustees are invited to attend events from time to time throughout the year.

Trustees are unpaid but out-of-pocket expenses can be covered.

**Key Responsibilities**

The Chair:

- Reviews the Trustee membership and ensures an appropriate balance of skills, experiences and thought. Leads the recruitment of new Trustees and ensures a suitable induction programme
- Agrees the number and duration of meetings required to allow Trustees to fulfil their role of setting the Vision, approving the Business Plan and assessing performance against plan
- Chairs the meetings in a manner that gets the best from the Trustees
- Chairs the AGM (which currently precedes the November Board meeting)
- Appoints Trustees to committees
- Appoints the Chair of Opco and sets pay for the Opco Chair and Non-Executive Directors
- Represents The Charity on formal and informal occasions, on and off site. Representation can include meetings, stakeholder engagement and formal speeches
- Assesses and, as required, improves Board performance
- Ensures that a successor is found before the term of office ends

**Person Specification**

The Chair could have a space, industrial, academic or charitable background. They may represent a charity stakeholder but must at all times act independently of it.

They will
- be a credible, senior operator with extensive board experience and excellent chairing skills
- have a demonstrable affinity with The Charity’s vision but equally have the business acumen to assess its financial performance, challenge its accounts and ensure its long term sustainability
- align with The Charity’s philosophy, values and reputation including its commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility
- have an excellent track record of success that may encompass relationships with partner organisations, stakeholders and funders
- have outstanding communication skills; both written and oral, including the ability to speak in public and to the media
- be available to attend meetings and events in Leicester with reasonable notice
- have sufficient IT skills and the unfettered ability to join/chair meetings remotely via eg Microsoft Teams
- have no conflicts of interest that would compromise performance in the role