Job Description

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (the Institute or NIESR) is one of Britain’s leading independent policy and research institutes dedicated to understanding the economic and social forces that shape people’s lives.

NIESR has a long-standing reputation for accurate, authoritative analysis founded on excellent research, and for bringing its insights to bear on the issues of the day. As such, it acts to bring together an array of policymakers, academics, the media and other research institutes, and plays a pivotal role in both national and international policy debates.

We are seeking to appoint up to three trustees to join the Institute’s Council of Management and are seeking individuals with backgrounds in HR, leadership within an SME professional services context, or economic research.

Our Trustees are responsible for overseeing the management of the Institute, including approving strategy, operational plans and budgets, monitoring organisational performance, managing the Institute’s principal risks and ensuring the fulfilment of the Institute’s charitable objectives. The time commitment for a trustee is the equivalent of between half a day and a day a month. The role is not remunerated.

Full details of the role and responsibilities of a trustee can be found in our Trustee Candidate Pack attached. 

The skills and experience that we are looking for are:

 Experience

• An individual with senior HR expertise, preferably in a context where professional staff are the key asset of an organisation; OR
• Someone with leadership experience in a small-to-medium sized organisation, preferably within a professional services context and in an economics-related field; OR
• An internationally-renowned academic with research interests aligned to the work of the Institute.

 Skills and abilities

• An understanding and appreciation of the work of NIESR and its importance to public policy.
• The ability to act with credibility and authority in the role as trustee, preferably with experience of working in a governance or board context.
• Fully able to commit to attendance of Council meetings and relevant sub-committee meetings.
• Objectivity, fairness, independence of mind, integrity, wisdom, discretion and good judgement. 
• Strategic vision and the ability to focus on practical issues.
• Readiness to make and be accountable for decisions.
• A willingness to attend other NIESR events and engage with NIESR publications and output.

To apply

To apply for a trustee position at NIESR, please send:

• A tailored CV of no more than two pages; and
• A supporting statement of no more than one side of A4 setting out how you meet the skills and experience criteria outlined above.

Your statement should detail your relevant experience, ensuring it is aligned with the role description and person specification above, and providing specific evidence demonstrating how you meet the criteria. Your statement should also highlight your interest in the work of the Institute and your motivation for joining our Council of Management.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our board to ensure the Institute benefits — at board level — from a broader range of perspectives, more creativity in generating ideas and solutions, and to improve decision-making. In addition to finding individuals with the specific skills outlined above, we would especially welcome applications from women, who are under-represented on our board.