BOARD TRUSTEE JOB DESCRIPTION

Trustee governance means owning decisions that cannot be delegated. When a board lacks financial literacy or strategic range, charity law obligations go unmet and mission delivery stalls. The Board Trustee holds collective legal accountability alongside fellow trustees, scrutinising financial controls, approving strategy, and ensuring the organisation applies its resources exclusively toward its charitable objects. In the UK nonprofit sector, this includes compliance with charity law, company law, and the governing document - a layer of regulatory obligation that shapes every board decision.

As the Board Trustee, you govern the strategic direction, financial stewardship, and legal compliance of a registered charity operating within the UK voluntary sector. You sit on a collective board, working alongside fellow trustees and the chief executive to set policy, evaluate performance, and safeguard the organisation's reputation and public benefit mandate.

Career Impact: Serving as a Board Trustee develops senior governance competency - including charity law fluency and non-executive oversight - that is directly transferable to board appointments across the wider nonprofit and public sectors.

Business Impact: The decisions made at board level determine whether a charity meets its regulatory obligations, retains public trust, and sustains the funding needed to reach its beneficiaries.

Growth Opportunity: Trustees who move through finance, risk, and fundraising sub-committees build the cross-functional governance portfolio that typically precedes appointment as a board chair or charity treasurer.

• Define long-term organisational strategy, ensuring all programmes align with charitable objects and governing documents.
• Scrutinise annual budgets, spend forecasts, and management accounts to confirm financial resources meet present and future needs.
• Monitor compliance with charity law, company law, and any sector-specific regulatory requirements applicable to the organisation.
• Oversee risk identification and management, including elimination, mitigation, or formal acceptance of material risks.
• Evaluate chief executive performance against agreed goals, providing constructive challenge and support in equal measure.
• Develop external stakeholder relationships to advance the charity's mission and diversify restricted and unrestricted funding sources.
• Safeguard organisational assets, including financial reserves, intellectual property, staff, and reputational standing.
• Review board effectiveness periodically, contributing to governance improvement actions and trustee development.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as finance, law, business, or social policy, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3 or more years of experience in governance, leadership, or strategic management within a charity, nonprofit, or voluntary sector context.
• Demonstrated understanding of charity law, company law, and the duties and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Proven ability to read and interrogate financial reports, management accounts, and annual accounts to a governance standard.
• Track record of contributing to strategic planning, risk oversight, or policy development at an organisational level.
• Strong analytical and judgement skills applied to complex decisions affecting beneficiaries and public benefit.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and willingness to act in the best interests of the charity at all times.

• Qualified accountant or holder of a recognised finance credential, with direct experience of charity finance practices.
• Experience in fundraising strategy across both restricted and unrestricted income streams, including grant-making bodies and major donors.
• Familiarity with international development, community advice services, health education, or data governance as a primary operating domain.
• Prior trustee or non-executive director appointment, including sub-committee chair responsibilities.

• Board meeting attendance rate, reflecting consistency of governance contribution across the year.
• Number of material compliance findings per annual review cycle, measuring regulatory adherence under charity and company law.
• Fundraising income diversification ratio, tracking the proportion of unrestricted versus restricted funding secured.
• Timeliness of annual accounts sign-off, reflecting the board's financial oversight discipline.
• Risk register currency, measured by the frequency and completeness of board-level risk reviews.

• Base Salary Range: Uncompensated volunteer role; reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed.
• Bonus: Not applicable.
• Equity: Not applicable.
• Health Benefits: Not provided in voluntary trustee capacity.
• PTO: Flexible time commitment, typically 6 to 12 days per year including meetings and preparation.
• Common Perks: Professional development opportunities, governance training, and formal board induction.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks, including criminal record screening, may be required as a condition of appointment in accordance with charity regulatory requirements and safeguarding obligations. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the application and onboarding process. Candidates must be authorized to work or volunteer in the applicable jurisdiction.

The Board Trustee (Research Data Scotland) owns the long-term strategy that ensures RDS coordinates timely access to data about people, places, and businesses in Scotland. Reporting to the Board and working alongside the CEO, this role shapes strategic priorities and financial oversight to strengthen RDS's mission and public impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and agree long-term strategy to ensure RDS pursues its stated purposes.
• Advise the CEO on priorities and strategic direction based on the changing political or financial landscape.
• Ensure RDS complies with its articles of association, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Scrutinise budgets, spend forecasts, financial reports, and accounts to ensure financial resources meet present and future needs.
• Assure the Board that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
• Advise on risks as the organisation delivers on its strategic plans.
• Develop external relationships with stakeholders to help RDS deliver its mission and diversify funding sources.
• Safeguard the reputation and values of RDS.
• Contribute to the fundraising strategy of the organisation.

Required Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with demonstrated commercial awareness and knowledge.
• Experience in charity finance practices and charity fundraising.
• Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to Board members and other stakeholders.
• Experience in non-executive governance and management, including strategic planning, business management, or legal knowledge.
• Knowledge of strategic thinking and turning strategy into programmes of delivery.
• Strong analytical and evaluation skills demonstrating good judgement.
• Excellent communication and networking skills with a passion for improving lives through responsible use of data, research, and innovation.

Embedded within the Board of the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy, the Board Trustee advances post-graduate osteopathic education across the UK and Europe through strategic oversight, risk management, and governance. Working closely with fellow trustees and the executive team, this role strengthens lifelong relationships with students and faculty while steering the SCCO through significant organisational and educational change.

Core Functions

• Further the SCCO's overall purpose as set out in its Articles of Association and Mission Statement.
• Agree the strategy, policy, priorities, structures, and processes of the SCCO and monitor progress against them.
• Ensure the work of the SCCO is effective, responsible, and legal, including compliance with charity law, company law, and employment law.
• Attend Board meetings and act collectively to ensure the Board operates effectively, reasonably, and prudently.
• Safeguard and protect SCCO assets including investments, cash, intellectual property, staff, and reputation.
• Identify and manage SCCO risks by elimination, mitigation, or acceptance.
• Declare and manage any conflict between personal interests and those of the SCCO.
• Keep abreast of changes in the SCCO's operating environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in strategic marketing, CRM, and database management to build lifelong relationships with students and faculty.
• Experience in change management, particularly in educational or membership-based organisations.
• Knowledge of digital marketing activities and blended or hybrid course delivery models.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically and exercise good, independent judgement.
• Strong communication skills with willingness to participate actively in discussion.
• Strong personal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Commitment to Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

A key member of the Board, the Board Trustee (BlindAid) builds the charity's strategic direction and ambassador presence across relevant forums and events to advance services for people affected by visual impairment. Collaborating across the voluntary sector and with BlindAid's leadership, this role enables sustainable fundraising and sound fiscal oversight that directly supports the organisation's mission.

Functions

• Act as ambassador for the charity at appropriate forums and events.
• Support the organisation's fundraising efforts.
• Maintain proper fiscal oversight.
• Set and maintain vision, mission, and values.
• Develop strategy.

Position Requirements

• Experience in committee or trustee work within a voluntary or charity sector context.
• Familiarity with financial management and fiscal oversight responsibilities.
• Experience or lived experience of visual impairment or the wider visual impairment community.
• Interpersonal skills including tact, diplomacy, and the ability to foster a collaborative team environment.
• Empathy with BlindAid's mission and willingness to commit time to carry out responsibilities effectively.

Reporting to the Board, the Board Trustee (Citizens Advice) leads governance and strategic direction to ensure the organisation meets community advice needs and maintains financial viability. Partnering with staff and fellow trustees, this role delivers measurable improvement in local service standards and equity outcomes.

Primary Duties

• Ensure the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and other relevant legislation.
• Contribute actively to the Board's role in giving strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance.
• Monitor whether the service meets the standards of Citizens Advice and other regulators and how well the advice needs of the local community are being met.
• Ensure the financial viability of the organisation and maintain clear lines of accountability for day-to-day financial management.
• Safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff to further the strategic objectives of the organisation.
• Maintain confidentiality about any sensitive or confidential information received in the course of duties as a trustee.
• Participate in a regular review of the Board's work and action for improvement.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience in governance, leadership, or strategy within a charity or voluntary sector context.
• Knowledge of the needs of local communities and resources available to support them.
• Commitment to the aims, principles, and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
• Sufficient literacy and numeracy to understand Board papers, financial reports, and accounts.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically and exercise good, independent judgement.
• Effective communication skills with willingness to participate actively in discussion.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, respecting views, values, and cultures different from one's own.
• Willingness to learn, develop, and examine own attitudes and challenge when appropriate.

Sitting at the intersection of international development and charitable governance, the Board Trustee (Kids for Kids) delivers firm strategic direction and financial stewardship to advance the wellbeing of the world's poorest children. Operating across fundraising, policy advocacy, and organisational oversight, this role enables Kids for Kids to apply its resources exclusively in pursuit of its humanitarian aims.

Duties

• Ensure Kids for Kids complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensure the charity applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its stated aims.
• Contribute actively to the Board by giving firm strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguard the good name and values of Kids for Kids.
• Ensure the financial stability of Kids for Kids.
• Serve as an advocate for the organisation as required, including for specific issues or events.

Experience and Qualifications

• Financial expertise with a view to becoming the charity's treasurer.
• Experience in fundraising from restricted and unrestricted sources.
• Ability to conduct communications that drive action and achieve financial objectives.
• Knowledge of policy and advocacy relevant to international sustainable development.
• Deep understanding of the needs of the poorest people in the world, especially children.