Jobs & Volunteer Positions
Chair
Salary: Voluntary (Expenses Paid)
Location: Remote working, with in person attendance to quarterly meetings in person.
Liaison with: Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Company Secretary, Senior Management Team.
Thames21 is an environmental charity dedicated to transforming the River Thames and its tributaries. Our goal is to build climate resilience and tackle the nature emergency across London and the Thames Basin. Thames21 is actively engaged in delivering healthier rivers using nature-based solutions to build climate resilience and biodiversity. We are working to develop, deliver and showcase innovative and sector-leading initiatives through increasingly extensive and influential networks and collaborations. As the impact of the climate emergency increases, our work has never been more needed or urgent.
We work hand-in-hand with communities, providing training and support for citizen scientists, engaging people in local river enhancement efforts, and advocating for action and long-term river stewardship at the community level. We bring awareness to the public of the vital role that rivers play in the natural environment and in providing adequate and clean water for people. Our pioneering approach has gained us international recognition from partners around the world.
Do you care passionately about tackling the impact of climate change and restoring biodiversity across London and the Thames Basin? Do you want to engage with communities, tackling inequalities and helping people to become climate aware and climate active? If the answer to both these questions is yes, then read on.
We’re looking for a dynamic Chair for our Board of Trustees to help take this fast-growing and ambitious charity to the next level.
Main duties and responsibilities
The role involves ensuring good governance, advocating and networking for the organisation, supporting and challenging the CEO and Management Team, ensuring that the organisation’s growth is steady and sustainable, and motivating and managing the charity’s Trustees.
If you can operate effectively at a strategic level, with a good understanding of governance and risk, and want to help us deliver our vision for healthy rivers, we would like to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
• Provide leadership to the organisation and the board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes.
• Support the growth and development of Thames21 to deliver on the aims and objectives of its 5-year plan that started in 2023.
• Support the fast-growing charity to plan and achieve ambitious but sustainable growth.
• Support the development of the charity’s current corporate governance arrangements to ensure that such arrangements remain fit for purpose.
• Chair and facilitate board meetings, giving direction to Board decision -making and ensuring that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, including staff and volunteers.
• Represent the organisation at events and meetings and act as a spokesperson as appropriate.
• Network on behalf of the organisation to connect with key influencers, partners and funders and bring them into the charity’s work.
• Lead the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the Chief Executive. The candidate will also sit on the Finance Management Sub-Committee & Fundraising Sub-Committee.
• Liaise with the Chief Executive and the wider management team to keep an overview of the charity’s progress and provide support as appropriate.
• Monitor potential risks and challenges facing the organisation, supporting the steps taken to mitigate them.
• Assist with the recruitment and development of Board members, fostering a diverse and inclusive Board.
• Set a supportive, positive and proactive culture at Board level, reflecting the Thames21 core values and encouraging Board members to actively contribute their skills and expertise to the organisation.
For more information and how to apply, please see the attached job description.CH02224
Closing date: 31st March 2024