Board Secretary - Tetbury, United Kingdom - Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

Description

FRIENDS OF WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM

Board Secretary (hybrid remote working, part-time, fixed term contract)

The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is one of Britain's finest tree collections, with the vision to be a world leader in trees, inspiring people through conservation, education and participation.

With over 600 acres homing 15,000 specimens and 2,500 species of tree from all over the world, the arboretum plays a vital part in research and conservation, and is a significant visitor attraction, drawing over 500,000 visitors each year.

In 1985, a small group of enthusiasts who saw the need to work with the Forestry Commission to preserve, enhance and enlarge this unique landscape, met for the first time.

This group became the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum (The Friends), a registered charity.

Today the charity employs a small number of staff who manage a supporter base of around 40,000 members, some of whom volunteer at the arboretum.

In addition, in 2020 the charity formed an enterprise strand, which is now responsible for managing and running the Westonbirt Arboretum Shop.

Working in close partnership with Forestry England, we all strive to achieve Westonbirt
Arboretum's 10-year Vision, supporting conservation, education and participation to connect people with trees. You can find more information about our charity work at
and further information about Forestry England at


About the role

Board Secretary (hybrid remote working, part-time, fixed term contract)

Salary:
£14 per hour


Location:

This role is predominantly remote working but on-site attendance is required for meetings at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8QS.

Hours/days: 7 hours per week to be worked flexibly


About the Role

We are looking for a part-time Board Secretary to work on a 12 month fixed term contract starting in July 2023.

Working closely with the Board Chair and Charity CEO, the Board Secretary will provide support and guidance to the Board of Trustees and ensure that the charity meets its organisational, reporting and governance obligations and other best practice.

This role provides administrative and clerical support to the Board through minute taking, coordinating meetings and agendas, and other support as required.

The Board Secretary ensures that the Board is well informed and that its activities, the work of its committees and its annual general meeting are well run and well documented.

Main Duties include:

• Coordinate the scheduling, collation and issue of agendas and associated papers, attendee list and apologies for Board meetings, all other Trustee Panel meetings and sub

- committee meetings as required with the Chair and CEO

• Keep copies of the charity's constitution and Board policy statements and general Board correspondence, keeping good records
• Support the chair in the development and continuous improvement of the board policy documents

• Board Administration

• Notify Board members of meetings in accordance with the constitution, keeping records of board attendance and ensuring there is a quorum at Board meetings and the AGM
• Attend all Board and Trustee Panel meetings whether onsite or remotely (avg. 1 or 2 per month) recording accurate minutes of all meetings, recording all motions and decisions of meetings and providing draft minutes for approval by appropriate Chair and final copies for the Chair to sign for accuracy.
• Maintain copies of minutes of Board meetings, all other Trustee Panel meetings and subcommittees, keeping lists of officers, Board members and committee membership.
• Lead on coordinating and arranging the AGM, including booking a suitable venue, ensuring the members are invited through the members' magazine (ensuring this meets constitutional requirements) and ensure all appropriate documentation is issued to the meeting
• Ensure that the Board meets good governance standards and the requirements of the Charity Commission, providing advice and guidance and training to Trustees whenever appropriate.
• Holding the organisation to account against the standards required of the charity by the regulating bodies (Charity Commission and Companies House) having up to date knowledge or the ability to find it.
• Responsible for Data Protection and UKGDPR compliance of all activities undertaken by Board members, ensuring that policies and practices are adhered and are kept up

- to-date in line with current guidance.

• Support the Chair with an annual board review and trustee skills matrix

Experience in a similar role of trustee board governance or equivalent board work and implementation and maintenance of good practice in charity governance frameworks would be an advantage, however, training will be provided.

How to apply

• CV

Application closing date - 5.00pm Friday 30th June 2023

Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, Westonbirt, The Natio