| Vacancy: | Trustee (three positions, including Scotland and Northern Ireland representatives) |
| Salary: | Voluntary and unremunerated (reasonable expenses are reimbursed) |
| Duration: | 1 or 2 terms (3 or 6 years) |
| Application: | Please submit a CV and cover letter (up to 2 pages) and send to Matthew McKeague, Chief Executive, The Architectural Heritage Fund, by email. |
| Deadline: | Friday 15th January |
| Interview: | Interviews will take place at the end of January
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The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is currently seeking to appoint three new trustees to join its Board. The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a leading heritage charity founded in 1976 to help charities, community businesses and social enterprises across the UK find solutions for vulnerable historic buildings. We do this by offering advice, grants and loans.
Over the last 40 years the AHF has awarded loans with a total value of £124m to nearly 900 projects across the UK and has made more than 1200 individual early project grants offers totalling nearly £9m. We are the UK’s leading heritage social investor and the only specialist heritage lender. This is a unique opportunity to join an ambitious, innovative and forward looking organisation.
Two trustees are needed to represent Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively. We are also particularly looking for people to apply who have experience, skills and knowledge in the following areas:
- Conservation and heritage led regeneration
- Architecture
- Fundraising
- Social investment
- Running or working at a senior level in a social enterprise, community business or charity
Role Description and Responsibilities
In addition to attending approximately five Board meetings per annum (usually taking place in London), you may be expected to provide further advice and input to the AHF’s Grants Panel, Credit Panel, Audit and Risk Committee and other sub-committee structures, according to your areas of expertise. As a trustee you will be required to:
- Ensuring that the Board fulfils its responsibilities in a cost effective manner:
- to agree appropriate strategy and policy objectives, in accordance with AHF’s purposes;
- to monitor progress in implementing the strategy by reviewing performance against plan;
- to ensure that objectives are achieved and risk is managed appropriately;
- to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to support, monitor and review the effectiveness of the work of the Board, the Chief Executive, other staff, and volunteers;
- to maintain an overview of the work of the Finance and Audit Committee, Credit Panel and Grants Panel, and other sub-committees as appropriate, to ensure that AHF’s finances and property are prudently and systematically managed; and
- to ensure that the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
- Contribute directly to the achievement of AHF’s objectives:
- to utilise personal skills, experience and attributes to lead/contribute directly to AHF’s work, taking responsibility for delivery of strategic goals in agreed areas;
- to attend Board meetings;
- to use specific knowledge or experience to help the Board reach sound decisions. Including scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice and guidance in areas of AHF’s work in which the trustee has special expertise.
- Maintaining and developing AHF’s reputation and influence:
- to be an advocate for the AHF and to act as a spokesperson for the charity where appropriate;
- to help to promote AHF to a wider audience of potential supporters, beneficiaries, decision-makers and opinion-formers.
Skills and Characteristics
We are looking for senior, experienced or emerging leaders who have a strong track record of delivery and achievement in their field. With excellent judgement, integrity, strategic awareness and good interpersonal skills, you will be able to remain objective and challenge supportively. Above all, you will be committed to our values and objectives and be willing to develop your knowledge of the context in which we operate. We would expect you to demonstrate an interest in the heritage of the UK and show understanding of the challenges, and opportunities, of bringing redundant historic buildings back into economic and social use, often in economically deprived areas.
The ideal person is able to:
- communicate clearly and take an active role in discussions
- challenge sensitively and constructively
- engage and influence others, within and outside the AHF
- stay focussed on AHF’s mission and objectives
- act as an advocate for the organisation
- undertake training and development to support the role
Eligibility
Some people are disqualified by law from acting as trustees, including anyone described in sections 178 to 180 of the Charities Act 2011. This includes:
- anyone who has an unspent conviction for an offence involving deception or dishonesty;
- anyone who is an undischarged bankrupt;
- anyone who has been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the Court or the commission for misconduct or mismanagement;
- anyone under a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986;
- anyone who has entered into a composition or arrangement with their creditors which includes an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA), and is currently on the Insolvency Service Register;
- anyone under the age of 18 years old.
Commitment to diversity
In accordance with our commitment to promote equality of opportunity and diversity across all of our areas of work, we particularly welcome applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled people and younger people, who are currently under-represented on our Board.
Trustee Compliance and Duties
For more detailed guidance on the information below please see the Charity Commission’s guide: The essential trustee: what you need to know.
How to apply
If you would like to join the Board of one of the leading heritage organisations in the UK, please send a brief CV and a covering letter (by email only) that demonstrates your suitability for the vacancy to oliver.brodrick-ward@ahfund.org.uk. Your application should reach us by Friday 15 January 2018 and will be assessed by the AHF’s Nominations Committee. We will contact you shortly after the 15th if you have been selected for interview. Interview location and date will be confirmed at the time. (In exceptional circumstances, we can offer interview via video conferencing)
If you would like to set up an informal discussion with our Chief Executive about the AHF or the role, please contact Oliver Brodrick-Ward for an appointment. Tel: 020 7925 0199.
You can find more details of the AHF and the impact of our work at: www.ahfund.org.uk