JOBS
Current Openings
Polar Collective: Chair of the Board
Duration: Commitment of at least 3 years
Role: Voluntary
Location: Remote
Introduction
The Polar Citizen Science Collective is an innovative charity that aims to protect and conserve the polar regions through the power of citizen science. As an organisation we use the reach and leverage of polar travel to help collect data from some of the most remote regions in the world. We work in partnership with leading scientists, polar tour operators, and individuals to collect valuable data that directly contributes to scientific research, that can be used to bring about impactful change, increased protection, and meaningful conservation to these precious regions.
The Polar Collective Team
We are a small, energetic, and passionate group of specialist polar guides, scientists and individuals who see this unique opportunity to help protect the polar regions. If you share the same passion for protecting and conserving the polar world, then we would love you to join us.
About the Role
The current Chair of Trustees has been a major driving force for the organization since 2018, having led it from a collective of passionate friends and innovative ideas into an accredited charity (October 2020). Over the last five years the organization has grown from casually working with a handful of tour operators to establishing formal agreements with over nine prominent polar operators. The scientific research has also evolved from the organization finding existing projects, to actively collaborating on new projects that can use the reach of the Polar Collective to help secure rich and meaningful data.
As a newly established charity we have spent the first two years developing our theory of change and organisational strategy, whilst building and formalising new partnerships with a wide range of polar tour operators and scientists. We have also formed a small secretariat who deal with day-to-day operations and relations with scientists and tour operators. We are now in the position where we wish to build on these successful foundations and secure critical new funding and investment, whilst successfully growing the profile of the organization and positioning ourselves as an important contributor to the protection of the polar regions.
We currently have annual running costs of c.US$65,000 per annum, which we have successfully covered to date through our existing partnerships. The organisation’s short-term ambition is to secure annual funding between US$100,000 – US$150,000 over the next 12-24 months, with a longer-term intention to increase this to US$700,000 – US$1,000,000 by 2027/28.
Following five years of dedicated service and inspiration, our current Chair will be stepping down. We are therefore now looking for a new Chair of Trustees, to lead us through the next stages of the charity’s development, helping us to build upon our solid foundations and expand this important work.
Terms of Appointment: The Chair of Trustees will serve for an initial terms of 3 years with the possibility to serve for a further 3 years
Role and Responsibilities: The main responsibilities of the Chair of Trustees will be;
- Strategic Leadership: Ensure that the Board is effective in setting and implementing the Polar Collective’s strategic direction, in line with the organisation’s vision and mission
- Good Governance: Ensure that the Board of Trustees operates effectively as a collective unit and fulfils all of its statutory duties and mandatory responsibilities in regard to the governance of the organisation
- Partnership Working: Establish and maintain a positive and constructive working relationships with the Chief Executive and Secretariat to help achieve and deliver against the charity’s agreed objectives
- Fiduciary Responsibility: Work with the Board of Trustees and Chief Executive to protect and safeguard all of the Polar Collective’s resources and investments, ensuring financial probity at all time
- Accountability: Provide leadership to the Board of Trustees and hold the Board and Chief Executive to account for the Charity’s mission and vision, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their collective and individual duties
- Ambassadorial: Act as an impactful advocate, ambassador and public face for the Polar Collective, effectively represent the charity with the Chief Executive as appropriate
- Meeting Management: Ensure all trustee meetings are effectively chaired, well managed and inclusive, ensuring decisions taken at the board meeting are monitored and implemented
- Best Interests: Ensure that Board decisions are always made in the best interests of the charity and that the Board takes collective ownership of these decisions.
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.
Experience
- Experience of charity governance and sitting on a UK charity trustee board
- Senior level experience in strategically leading and managing an organisation
- Experience of externally representing an organisation and acting as a spokesperson
- Considerable experience in chairing and managing meetings
- Ideally experience in leading fundraising efforts and engaging with donors
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong leadership, people management skills and the ability to chair meetings effectively.
- Comprehensive knowledge of charity governance and UK civil society
- An understanding of legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship
- Strong inter-personal, networking and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role
Qualities and Behaviours
- Full alignment with Polar Collective Values
- Passion for Polar and environnemental causes
- Strong commitment to integrity, honesty, accountability and objectivity
We welcome interest and applications from all, irrespective of their age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. If you would be interested in applying for this role and joining our dynamic team, then we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV with a personal statement (max 500 words) to: resume.polarcollective@gmail.com by 9th May 2023. Interviews will be in the 2 weeks following the closure of applications.
