Jobs

Trustee

Want to play your part in supporting climate solutions? Ashden is looking for a trustee, with expertise in sustainable cities.

Ashden’s mission is to accelerate transformative climate solutions and to build a more just world. Through our prestigious annual awards scheme, we find and share inspiring climate action solutions that will help accelerate the shift to a fairer, low carbon world.

This is a fabulous opportunity to join a smart and committed group of board members at a critical time for the climate and to guide Ashden as we seek to grow our impact.

We are keen to increase diversity on our board. In particular we are looking for women to ensure the right gender balance. We also want the board to reflect the geographies and sectors in which we work. Therefore, we would like to recruit a trustee with appropriate knowledge and experience. Someone with a good understanding of local and national UK Government that is relevant to developing sustainable cities and schools.

What makes you a good trustee?

• A commitment to Ashden and its mission.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Strategic vision; Good, independent judgement and a willingness to speak your mind; An ability to think creatively.
• Experience or demonstrable understanding of the role of a trustee, including an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

We are looking for expertise in some of these areas:

• Relevant UK, EU and international policy relating to climate change and creating sustainable cities.
• An entrepreneurial background particularly in innovation in digital/clean tech. Good understanding/experience of social change/innovation and how small and medium sized companies work.
• Experience of developing and growing new businesses. Experience in finance, impact investing, PE, VC or mainstream.
• Fundraising experience, contacts and networks.
• Experience of participating in an awards scheme is also welcome!

Trustee Duties

Ensuring the proper management of Ashden in accordance with its charitable objects and charity law, which includes:

• Ensuring that Ashden is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
• Ensuring that Ashden complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Acting in Ashden’s best interests, including safeguarding the good name and values of Ashden.
• Managing Ashden’s resources responsibly and caring for the staff.
• Ensuring that Ashden is accountable, complies with statutory accounting and reporting requirements, and is well run and effective.
• Contributing to the development of Ashden’s strategies.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise. Trustees may also be involved with internal strategic discussions, or help with external relations as appropriate, such as fundraising or speaking at events.

Trustees should be willing to prepare for and attend board meetings four times a year plus an annual away day; and, depending on where you are based, attend our annual awards ceremony. If based outside the UK, you will be asked to attend in person the annual away-day and participate by zoom in the other three board meetings (which last three to four hours). Ashden will pay for economy class travel and accommodation for the away day. We will aim to organise meetings so you can also join at least one of our events, such as the annual Ashden Awards. We hope you will also join some of our events through the year such as Ashden After Work; be prepared to work with members of the Executive Management Team on specific areas in which you have specialist knowledge, or contacts, including joining external meetings as appropriate.

Term of trusteeship is three years which is subject to renewal a maximum of three times, with a reassessment after each three-year term. Current board members can be found on our website here.

Application Process:
To apply for this exciting opportunity, please send your CV with a one page covering note explaining why you are interested to jo.walton@ashden.org. All applications should reach us by 13 November 2020. Reflecting best practice, all applications will be considered by representatives of the board and senior management and we will ask a short-list of candidates to be interviewed. We expect to conduct interviews the week of 16 November 2020.

We look forward to hearing from you!