Indepent Trustee - Volunteer

We particularly welcome people who have developed significant experience in the public sector, private sector, charities or other voluntary and community organisations. Each brings different perspectives, networks and ways of thinking, all of which can add value to Citizens Advice Essex.

You may have held a senior management, leadership, director, trustee or governor role, although we are interested in the experience and capabilities you can bring rather than a particular job title or career route.

We are looking for trustees who can

• think strategically and see the wider picture;
• exercise sound, independent judgement and provide constructive challenge;
• contribute confidently to Board discussion while listening to and respecting different perspectives;
• bring experience or insight that can help us respond to change and identify new opportunities;
• build effective relationships with other trustees, our staff team, member organisations and external partners;
• use their own professional experience to strengthen our governance and development; and
• where appropriate, take a lead on a committee, strategic workstream, project or particular area of organisational development.

Relevant experience could include organisational leadership and change, governance, public services, local or central government, commercial development, finance, public affairs, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, commissioning or working across complex organisations and consortia. This list is deliberately not exhaustive.

An understanding of the environment in which charities and public services operate would be helpful, but we equally value experience from outside the sector that can challenge established thinking and introduce different approaches.

Most importantly, you should share our commitment to the purpose and values of Citizens Advice, understand the responsibilities of trusteeship, be willing to learn about our work and be interested in making an active contribution to the future development of Citizens Advice Essex.

Hybrid

What will you be doing?

Citizens Advice Essex brings together nine local Citizens Advice organisations across Greater Essex and also leads a growing portfolio of regional and national services and partnerships.

We are looking to strengthen our Board by appointing an additional Independent Trustee who can bring fresh perspective, sound judgement, senior-level experience and the potential to take a leadership role within our governance and strategic development.

As a trustee, you will share responsibility for the strategic direction, governance and financial oversight of Citizens Advice Essex. You will attend quarterly Board meetings and contribute to at least one of our committees. Depending on your experience and interests, we would also expect trustees over time to lead or help drive particular workstreams, projects or areas of strategic development, working alongside fellow trustees and our small staff team.

We are particularly interested in people who can help us think through change and opportunity as the environment around us evolves, including local government reorganisation and devolution, changing public-service commissioning, partnership working and the continued growth of Citizens Advice Essex.

We are deliberately open about the sector from which you come. Senior experience gained in the public sector, charities and voluntary organisations, or the private sector can all bring different and valuable perspectives to our Board. What matters most is the ability to apply that experience thoughtfully to our purpose, ask good questions, exercise independent judgement and contribute constructively to our future direction.

Experience of organisational change, leadership, governance, public affairs, government, commercial development, partnership working, stakeholder management or working across complex organisations or consortia would all be relevant.

We are not looking simply for someone to attend meetings. We want an Independent Trustee who is interested in making an active contribution, bringing their own experience to the table and, where appropriate, taking responsibility for helping lead particular areas of our work.