Award-winning sustainability charity seeking Chair and trustees

A fantastic opportunity to become a trustee of our pioneering organisation. We're passionate about working on practical projects that make a real difference to people's lives.

What will you be doing?

Our Trustees make an invaluable contribution to delivering our mission, bringing a range of skills and life experience to guide us as we work to achieve our strategic aims. We maintain a happy and well-run organisation, take a collegiate approach and involve trustees outside of board meetings. It is a voluntary commitment of your time which we recognise and appreciate, and we aim to make it a good experience for you.

As our current Chair and four other board members reach the end of their term this summer, we are seeking a new Chair and several trustees with a variety of skills and experiences to join us; this would include:

1. Commitment to, and experience in, sustainability: our mission is to champion a sustainable way to live.
2. Diversity: we are committed to increasing diversity within our organisation and the environmental sector as a whole. So, we would positively welcome applications from all, and treat all applications equally.
3. Entrepreneurship or commercial experience: we take an entrepreneurial and business-minded approach to our work and have won awards as a social enterprise. We earn all our income working with partners to create sustainable communities, products or business operations. We sometimes establish associated companies, and trustees may serve on the boards of these companies.
4. Strategic and corporate planning in consultancy: today we mostly deliver our work on a consultancy basis, and so executive experience at a consultancy would be helpful.
5. Financial management and planning in fast-growing markets: demand for sustainability solutions is a rapidly growing and, given our reputation as a purpose-led consultancy, lots of organisations want to work with us. This creates particular financial challenges, so we are looking to appoint a finance professional who has worked in a similar environment.
6. Real estate or retail business experience: Bioregional is a practical and applied organisation - so if you have experience in real estate, construction, engineering, architecture, sustainable products, or retail business experience.
7. Communications or policy experience: we have some great stories to tell and aim to reach key audiences to influence and change industry practice and policy.
8. Human resources: we value our team highly and so experience here is helpful.
9. Legal expertise: it is always great to have a legal mind on the board!

Estimate of time needed: 0-5 hours / month. Board meetings are four times a year, which are typically two hours long. Additional time commitment is flexible.

What are we looking for?

• Experience in the sustainability sector, particularly in the retail or built environment areas
• Prior non-executive or senior executive experience on a board of a not-for-profit, public sector or commercial entity
• Working knowledge of good governance
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively on a one-to-one basis with Directors (Executive and Non-Executive) and at board and committee meetings
• Strong team player with the ability to work collaboratively, build positive working relationships, handle diverse views and share responsibility for board decisions
• Analytical skills sufficient to understand and interpret strategy proposals and impact progress reports, to recognise the big picture, and to effectively monitor and scrutinise delivery
• Independence of thought and judgement with the ability to challenge constructively
• Ability to assess risk and promote risk awareness without being risk averse
• Demonstrable credibility and integrity with a commitment to accountability, openness, transparency, and equality of opportunity
• Ability to act as an effective ambassador internally and externally with staff, members and other stakeholders, including policy makers and regulators
• The willingness and capacity to devote the time necessary to undertake this role
• Does not have any conflicts of interest that would obstruct the undertaking of the role

What difference will you make?

In conjunction with the other members of the Board, to help formulate, determine and direct the strategy of the organisation; to monitor and scrutinise performance and risk with regard to both normal operations and the delivery of the organisation's overarching strategy; and to hold the Chief Executive and Team of Directors accountable for performance and compliance with all appropriate legislation, regulation and policies agreed by the Board from time to time.

Before you apply

Please contact us via the Reach Volunteering platform.

Deadline for applications is Friday 28 February 2025 at 1pm.

Interviews for shortlisted candidates with the CEO and Chair will take place on Wednesday 12 March or Tuesday 18 March 2025.

References will then be sought for the final candidates.

Candidates recommended by the Chair and CEO will then meet the board and executive team at the next board meeting at 3pm on 25 March, as an observer.

Successful candidates appointed will take up their role at the AGM and board meeting on 1 July 2025.