Job Description

This is an opportunity for a person with experience of leadership to bring together trustees and staff with a diverse range of skills around a shared vision of a world where no girl is held back by her period. 

What will you be doing?

We are completing the process of developing our strategic priorities for the next five years and have recruited a number of new trustees from different backgrounds and disciplines to support the charity as it enters it next phase of development. The chair will bring together this new team and senior staff to build a shared vision and strong foundation for future success.

Strategic leadership

• Provide leadership to the Charity and its Board, ensuring that the Charity has maximum impact for girls
• Responsibility for the Board operating within its charitable objectives, and provide a clear strategic direction for the Charity

Governance

• Encouraging positive change and, where appropriate, address and resolve any conflicts within the Board
• Appraising the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis
• Regularly refreshing the Board of Trustees incorporating the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the Charity effectively, reflecting the wider population
• Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision making process

External Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the cause and the Charity
• Maintain close relationships with key influencers and stakeholders
• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation when appropriate
• Represent the charity at external functions, meetings and events
• Bring new relationships and opportunities to the charity and use personal and professional networks to support the charity’s growth

Relationship with the Executive Director and the wider management team

• Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the Executive Director, as s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives
• Conduct an annual appraisal and remuneration review for the Executive Director in consultation with other Trustees
• Ensure that the Executive Director has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support

Fundraising:

• Work with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees to ensure the charity has the resources it needs to realise it’s strategic objectives.

What are we looking for?

The key quality we are looking for in our chair is leadership- somebody who can bring together professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds and enable them to work together towards a shared vision.

Personal Qualities

• Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively
• Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the Charity
• Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment
• Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours

Experience

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Successful track record of achievement through their career
• Experience of governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Experience of chairing meetings and events

Knowledge and skills

• Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together

Experience of any of the following would be an added benefit:

• Prior experience working in East Africa or on girls’ rights related issues in a low or middle income context
• Prior experience working on girls’ rights related issues or in education in the UK
• Personal experience of menstrual related barriers or challenges
• Experience of public health research and the development of evidence based policy and programming

What difference will you make?

Irise International is committed to creating a world where no girl is held back by their period and over the last five years has been working to bring an evidence based approach and perspective to menstrual health. It is only in recent years that the issue has been recognised as a neglected girls’ rights and health issue and much work is needed to inform policy and practice in the UK and East Africa.

We are completing the process of developing our strategic priorities for the next five years and have recruited a number of new trustees from different backgrounds and disciplines to support the charity as it enters it next phase of development. The chair will bring together this new team and senior staff to build a shared vision and strong foundation for future success.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Irise brings together individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures creating a passionate team who are committed to building innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges girls face during their periods whilst supporting women’s leadership at all levels of the organisation. Its an opportunity to learn about different cultures and disciplines in a collaborative space and to bring together different skill sets to create something special.

We're thrilled that period poverty and menstrual health are finally being recognised as important issues and this is an opportunity for someone to help us shape policy and practice in an emerging sector.

Please feel free to get in touch to discuss the role in more detail. We're also open to individuals attending board meetings or exploring joining the board as Vice Chair for a period to see if we are a good match.