Espresso Press
Founding Non-Executive Director - Volunteer
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Founding Non-Executive Director
We’re looking for a Founding Non-Executive Director to bring fresh perspective, thoughtful challenge and complementary expertise as we build a literary home where Black women writers can create, connect and build creative lives on their own terms.
What difference will you make?
Espresso Press is being built from the ground up, so our first Non-Executive Director will have the opportunity to make a real difference at a formative stage.
- Their perspective and expertise will help us turn an ambitious creative vision into a strong, sustainable organisation one with good governance, sound decision-making and the foundations needed to attract funding, develop meaningful partnerships and grow our work over time.
- Just as importantly, they’ll bring another voice into the room. As a founder-led organisation, independent challenge and different perspectives will help us test our thinking, spot opportunities and risks we might otherwise miss, and make better decisions about where to focus our energy and resources.
- Ultimately, stronger foundations mean we can create more opportunities for Black women writers more space to develop and experiment, more routes to publication and visibility, more opportunities to connect with one another, and more ways for their work and creative lives to become part of the cultural record.
We’re building Espresso Press with the long view in mind. The contribution of our first NED won’t only be felt in the decisions they help us make now; it will help shape the kind of organisation Espresso Press becomes, the culture we establish and what we’re able to make possible for writers in the years ahead.
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What are we looking for?
We’re looking for someone who believes in what Espresso Press is here to do and is excited by the opportunity to help shape a new literary organisation from the beginning.
- You’ll have a genuine interest in literature and a belief in creating more opportunities for Black women writers. You don’t need to work in publishing or be a writer yourself.
- We’d love to hear from people with experience in one or more of
- fundraising or philanthropy
- strategic or corporate partnerships
- social impact, CSR or EDI
- finance, accounting or investment
- marketing, communications or brand
- retail, merchandising or e-commerce
- governance or organisational development
- or another area you think could help Espresso Press flourish.
- We don’t expect one person to bring everything on this list. What matters most is good judgement, curiosity, integrity and the confidence to bring your own perspective. We want someone who can be both supportive and constructively challenging able to ask thoughtful questions, disagree when needed and stay open to possibility.
- As an organisation created to serve Black women writers, we particularly welcome applicants who bring lived experience or a meaningful understanding of the communities we exist to support.
- Previous board or trustee experience is very welcome, but absolutely not required. This could be your first Non-Executive Director role. We care much more about the perspective, experience and way of thinking you bring than whether you already know your way around a boardroom.
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Above all, we’re looking for someone who wants to help build something thoughtfully, collaboratively and for the long term.
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What will you be doing?
Espresso Press is at the very beginning of its journey. We’re now looking for our first Non-Executive Director to join the board alongside Founder and Executive Director Ella Achola and help us build strong foundations for what comes next.
Alongside the board, writer and creative practitioner Giselle La Pompe-Moore will support Espresso Press as a trusted strategic advisor and our literary “Head Auntie”, offering creative guidance, perspective and wisdom as the organisation grows.
This is an opportunity to come in early. Over the next year, our priorities include establishing good governance and financial systems, securing our first funding and partnerships, developing our publishing and writer development activity, and growing a community around Espresso Press.
Our new Non-Executive Director will meet with the Executive Director every other month and provide strategic oversight, constructive challenge and another perspective as the organisation develops. They’ll help us think through key decisions, review plans and finances, identify risks and opportunities, and make sure we’re building sustainably while staying true to the reason Espresso Press exists.
They won’t be expected to deliver programmes or manage the organisation day to day. This is a voluntary governance role.
This is a chance to help lay the foundations of a literary organisation at the very start of its story — and help build something we hope will still be here for generations to come.
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