Vice Chair Trustee

In addition to the general role of Trustee, which is detailed below, the Vice Chair will stand in for the Chair during any absences and be a support to the Chair. As well as this, the Vice Chair Trustee will:

• Deputise for the Chair in their absence or when the workload is high. This would include chairing Board meetings and participating in sub committees, liaising with the Managing Director and other trustees
• Assist the Chair in the management of the Board, to include meeting preparation and ensuring that governance structures are working effectively
• The Vice Chair will join one of the sub-committees
• The Vice Chair will need previous Board experience at a senior level in a not-for-profit sector. Ideally this will include some experience of chairing or leading discussions with fellow board members.

There is an expectation that the Vice Chair will progress to become the Chair as and when the Chair steps down. This would be subject to the Board and the Chair taking a view as to whether this is appropriate, and to a full board vote.

Overview of SEED:

SEED Madagascar is a successful, growing British Charity working in partnership with communities in the southeast of Madagascar. We integrate high-quality community health, rural livelihoods, schools and conservation programmes to support long term, sustainable change and add to international best practice through research and publication.

SEED has been working in Madagascar for over 20 years and has a wide range of impactful projects ranging from school building to sexual health, from beekeeping to improving lemur habitats. More recently, SEED has been working to address the famine in the southeast with emergency food distribution.

Employing most of its staff in Madagascar, SEED also engages international staff and interns as well as running a volunteer programme. Full details of our operations can be found on our website which includes our annual report and accounts, fundraising advice and information on our staff and Trustees: https://madagascar.co.uk/

The role will carry the usual responsibilities of a Trustee as defined by the England and Wales Charity Commission http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc3.aspx and we encourage all applicants to read through this prior to making application.

Main Responsibilities and Duties:

• Ensure that SEED and its representatives function within all legal and regulatory frameworks continually striving for best practice in governance.
• Comply with SEED’s Code of Conduct and policies, providing leadership on its value base and organisational behaviour, including safeguarding, human resources and financial management.
• Work alongside fellow Trustees and the Senior Management Team in developing SEED’s strategic direction, promoting and developing this through good governance and clear strategic planning. To evaluate progress made towards achieving the strategic objectives.
• Ensure that SEED operates within its Charitable Objectives and organisational strategy in order that its work remains focussed and makes the greatest impact to those it serves.
• Actively contribute to the development of SEED’s business plan, monitoring and evaluating performance against agreed objectives.
• Prepare for and participate fully in board meetings reviewing all reports coming to these meetings.
• To undertake training when required.
• Use any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board of Trustees reach quick and sound decisions and participate in sub-committees.
• Support the recruitment of senior staff and offer on-going support and monitoring of their work.
• Assist in the recruitment, on-boarding and support of new Trustees when required.
• Act reasonably in decision making and leadership of the organisation and manage risks with a considered, proportionate and balanced approach.
• Maintain sound financial management of SEED’s resources, ensuring expenditure is in line with the organisations’ objects and that assets are protected and managed to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
• Act as a counter-signatory on charity cheques and any applications for funds.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of SEED including having appropriate policies and procedures in place. These policies and procedures are reviewed and signed off by the Trustee Board.
• Ensure that SEED has robust safeguarding policy and procedures in place and that safeguarding is embedded across the organisation.
• Safeguard the good name and reputation of SEED, acting in the best interest of the charity, staff and beneficiaries at all times.
• Promote the work of SEED externally seeking opportunities that might further the work and visibility of the Charity.
• Support the Managing Director in leading the Charity, providing advice and practical help and participating in their annual evaluation.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive or confidential information received through carrying out the duties of a Trustee.
• Remain open and accessible to SEED’s staff through occasional communication and site visits.

Accountability:

As a Trustee you are responsible and liable for the governance and functioning of the charity and are accountable in varying degrees to a variety of stakeholders including service users, members, funders, the Charity Commission, and Companies House.

SEED Trustees should uphold the fiduciary duty required of all charity trustees to act in the best interests of both current and future beneficiaries of the charity, being held personally liable for any breach of that duty.

Support regarding this is given by fellow Trustees, the Managing Director and the Senior Management team.

Required skills & experience:

The successful applicant will:

• Demonstrate a passion for and sound knowledge of development and/or conservation issues facing least developed countries such as Madagascar.
• Demonstrate sound knowledge and keen interest in at least one of SEED’s core areas (community health; sustainable livelihoods; environmental conservation) or in a key functional area (management, finance, marketing).
• Have a reasonable level of understanding of legal, financial, audit and other. regulatory requirements of a charity, ideally through experience as a trustee.
• Show commitment to SEED and have sufficient time and willingness to contribute effectively to board proceedings and subcommittee work.
• Be able to make quick and sound decisions based on an analysis of information presented to them.
• Have the confidence to both advocate for or challenge ideas and can remain independent of any influence from other organisations or individuals.
• Be able to work effectively as a member of a team and independently.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to SEED’s Code of Conduct and values and always be a good ambassador for the organisation.
• Demonstrate the ability, social skills and confidence to give clear guidance and support to other Trustees or members of staff in respect of the philosophy and procedures of SEED in order to protect the reputation of the NGO.
• Be able to work to and advocate for all of SEED’s policies and procedures, working within SEED’s Code of Conduct, safeguarding those that SEED works with and reporting any concerns appropriately.
• Have empathy with those living and working in a developing country with the ability and desire to work with teams from different economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Have excellent listening and verbal communication skills and a flexible and patient attitude.

Time commitments:

Minimum of 4 Board meetings per year with participation on one sub-committee with its own 3 monthly cycle of meetings. There may be discussions and papers to be prepared ahead of board meetings and time spent working with the Managing Director and other Trustees. These meetings may be in person, more often are virtual and typically take between 2 and 3 hours.

The Trustee Board are encouraged to have one trustee a year take a trip to Madagascar to familiarise themselves with the environment the SEED works in and to meet and get to know the staff in country (some expenses will be covered).

SEED Madagascar actively encourages equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and aims to create a working environment free of bullying, harassment, victimisation, and unlawful discrimination, where individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued.