Position Overview:
SEED Madagascar is expanding its Board of Trustees and wishes to appoint a Fundraising Trustee to bring expertise in supporting its work in southeast Madagascar.
SEED is a growing Charity, and the new Trustee will join an established Board in playing an important role in SEEDโs continued development. They will bring experience of working at a senior level in the field of fundraising and will ideally have worked on a charity board. We are looking for a passion for international development, along with strong people skills and an understanding of strategic planning.
Trustee Role Description
Role type: Voluntary role
Responsible to: Chair of Trustees
Base: the Board works remotely
Main Responsibilities and Duties
- Ensure that SEED and its representatives function within all legal and regulatory frameworks continually striving for best practice in governance.
- Comply with SEEDโs Code of Conduct and policies, providing leadership on its value base and organisational behaviour, including safeguarding, human resources and financial management.
- Work alongside fellow Trustees and the Senior Management Team in developing SEEDโs strategic direction, promoting and developing this through good governance and clear strategic planning. To evaluate progress made towards achieving the strategic objectives.
- Ensure that SEED operates within its Charitable Objectives and organisational strategy in order that its work remains focussed and makes the greatest impact to those it serves.
- Actively contribute to the development of SEEDโs business plan, monitoring and evaluating performance against agreed objectives.
- Prepare for and participate fully in board meetings reviewing all reports coming to these meetings.
- To undertake training when required.
- Use any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board of Trustees reach quick and sound decisions and participate in sub-committees.
- Support the recruitment of senior staff and offer on-going support and monitoring of their work.
- Assist in the recruitment, on-boarding and support of new Trustees when required.
- Act reasonably in decision making and leadership of the organisation and manage risks with a considered, proportionate and balanced approach.
- Maintain sound financial management of SEEDโs resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisationsโ objects and that assets are protected and managed to ensure the proper investment of the charityโs funds.
- Act as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for funds.
- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of SEED including having appropriate policies and procedures in place. These policies and procedures are reviewed and signed off by the Trustee Board.
- Ensure that SEED has robust safeguarding policy and procedures in place and that safeguarding is embedded across the organisation
- Safeguard the good name and reputation of SEED, acting in the best interest of the charity, staff and beneficiaries at all times.
- Promote the work of SEED externally seeking opportunities that might further the work and visibility of the Charity.
- Support the Managing Director in leading the Charity, providing advice and practical help and participating in their annual evaluation.
- Maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive or confidential information received through carrying out the duties of a Trustee.
- Remain open and accessible to SEEDโs staff through occasional communication and site visits.
Accountability:
As a Trustee you are responsible and liable for the governance and functioning of the charity and are accountable in varying degrees to a variety of stakeholders including: service users, members, funders, the Charity Commission, and Companies House.
SEED Trustees should uphold the fiduciary duty required of all charity trustees to act in the best interests of both current and future beneficiaries of the charity, being held personally liable for any breach of that duty.
Support regarding this is given by fellow Trustees, the Managing Director and the Senior Management team.
Required skills & experience:
The successful applicant will:
- Demonstrate a passion for and sound knowledge of development and/or conservation issues facing least developed countries such as Madagascar.
- Demonstrate sound knowledge and keen interest in at least one of SEEDโs core areas (community health; sustainable livelihoods; environmental conservation) or in a key functional area (management, finance, marketing).
- Have a reasonable level of understanding of legal, financial, audit and other regulatory requirements of a charity, ideally through experience as a trustee.
- Show commitment to SEED and have sufficient time and willingness to contribute effectively to board proceedings and sub committee work.
- Be able to make quick and sound decisions based on an analysis of information presented to them.
- Have the confidence to both advocate for or challenge ideas and can remain independent of any influence from other organisations or individuals.
- Be able to work effectively as a member of a team and independently.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to SEEDโs Code of Conduct and values and be a good ambassador for the organisation at all times.
- Demonstrate the ability, social skills and confidence to give clear guidance and support to other Trustees or members of staff in respect of the philosophy and procedures of SEED in order to protect the reputation of the NGO.
- Be able to work to and advocate for all of SEEDโs policies and procedures, working within SEEDโs Code of Conduct, safeguarding those that SEED works with and reporting any concerns appropriately.
- Have empathy with those living and working in a developing country with the ability and desire to work with teams from different economic and cultural backgrounds.
- Have excellent listening and verbal communication skills and a flexible and patient attitude.
Time commitments
Minimum of 4 Board meetings per year with participation on one sub-committee with its own 3 monthly cycle of meetings. There may be discussions and papers to be prepared ahead of board meetings and time spent working with the Managing Director and other Trustees. These meetings may be in person, more often are virtual and typically take between 2 and 3 hours.
The Trustee Board are encouraged to have one trustee a year take a trip to Madagascar to familiarise themselves with the environment the SEED works in and to meet and get to know the staff in country (some expenses will be covered).
SEED Madagascar actively encourages equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and aims to create a working environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination, where individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued.