Art4Space Recruiting – Board of Non-executive directors (NED)

Art4Space Recruiting – Board of Non-executive directors (NED)

Founded in 1999, Art4Space is an award winning not-for-profit social enterprise founded and run by leading women with vast experience. Visual art is at the centre of everything we do and we connect and enhance communities through art and inspire individuals through creativity. We are a local organisation with an international reach. We work with organisations and individuals to deliver creative solutions. A core aspect of our work is to enhance community cohesion and social inclusion for those marginalised by society. The combination of our activities achieve several outcomes for our service users, such as improved wellbeing, improved life skills and employability, reduced isolation and improved sense of belonging and pride for their own neighbourhood. Our services include collaborative art projects in schools and communities, accredited training, volunteering and corporate engagement. Art4Space has built up a strong level of trust, professional acumen and have demonstrated vast social impact. As we go from strength to strength this is an exciting time to join our team.

We are now looking to appoint 3 NED with experience in finance, compliance, human resources, monitoring (in respect to the implementation of grant applications). This is an exciting opportunity for someone who would like to use their skills and knowledge to support us with capacity building, long-term strategic thinking and business growth. Key time commitment will be to attend 2-hour quarterly meetings and ideally in post for at least 3 years.

 

As members of the board, NED are required to:

 

• Provide entrepreneurial leadership of the company within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed.
• Set the company’s strategic aims, ensure that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the company to meet its objectives, and review management performance.
• Set the company’s values and standards and ensure that its obligations to its beneficiaries and others are understood and met.

The board is collectively responsible for promoting the success of the company by directing the affairs. In addition to these requirements, the two executive directors and the NED are expected constructively to challenge and help develop strategy, to participate actively in the decision-making process of the board, and to scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives.

1. Key AccountabilitiesThe role of the NED has the following key elements:

• Strategy – should constructively challenge and help develop proposals on strategy.
• Performance – should scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of performance.
• Risk – should satisfy themselves on the integrity of financial information and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible.
• People – are responsible for determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors, and have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, executive directors and in succession planning.

In order to fulfil their role the NED will:

• Meet from time to time, if appropriate, as a group without executive directors being present.
• The chair be entitled to seek independent professional advice, at the company’s expense, in the furtherance of their duties.

2. Time Commitment

The two executive directors and NED must be able to allocate sufficient time to the company to perform their responsibilities effectively. The NED will:

(i) Undertake that they will be able to allocate sufficient time to meet the expectations of the role.

(ii) Disclose their other significant commitments to the board before appointment, with a broad indication of the time involved.

(iii) Inform the board of any subsequent changes.

3. Duration

Appointed for an initial term of 3 years. The term may be renewed if executive directors and the board agree. Appointments are subject to the provisions of the articles of association, including those relating to election/re-election at annual general meetings.

4. Independence

The board will determine whether the NED is independent in character and judgement and whether there are relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect or could appear to affect the judgement. The board will state its reasons if it determines that a NED is independent notwithstanding the existence, of relationships or circumstances which may appear relevant to its determination.

We want a range of lived experiences and perspectives in the company at every level and to increase the diversity of our leadership. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of mental illness or of caring for someone with a mental illness, from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and from different socio-economic, age and educational backgrounds. We want our staff and NED to better represent the populations we serve.

In return, you will join a collaborative and supportive board (additional support will be given to first-time NED) who are committed to helping achieve strategic goals.

Please apply in writing to jewels@art4space.co.uk. I am also happy to discuss any further questions.

The deadline for applications is 1st February 2021.

NED – 10 primary benefits:

1. Fast track your executive career. If you are an executive, being a NED may boost your career. While the time you have to commit to fulfil your duties as a NED has to be balanced with your other professional obligations and priorities, being a NED allows you to develop your strategic thinking and business acumen. You also approach issues from the perspective of a board member.
2. Prepare your next move, either as a portfolio NEDor as a senior executive looking to position yourself to enter the boardroom in the company for which you are an executive. A NED role may also be a complement to your existing portfolio career, which is very common for consultants and board advisers
3. Be rewarded emotionally for playing an active role in the success of an organisation. A NED makes substantive and measurable contribution to the decisions of the board and as such, to the growth and delivery of the mission and strategy of an organisation.
4. Contribute your talents and skills to a board. As a NED, you bring your experiences, expertise and skills to a board. You may also facilitate business through your connections.
5. Live varied and new experiences. A NED role may be a welcome change from having to focus on operational and managerial aspects of an executive job. Each NED role is specific the organisation on which you serve, the stage of growth at which it is when you join, the other board members and the external and internal environments. There is a lot of variety in being a NED.
6. Learn new skills. A NED is not an executive, a board adviser or a consultant. Becoming a NED calls for the development of new skills and the use of existing skills in new ways.
7. Broaden your network. A NED will interact with other NEDs on the board. Being a NED will expand your network and provide you with new professional opportunities.
8. Attract status. The NED role is a prestigious position. Being a NED will position you for other NED roles with larger organisations or bigger challenges.
9. Enjoy independence and flexibility. The NED is not an employee: he/she is appointed to a board. There is tremendous flexibility in being a NED and having a portfolio career.
10. Fulfill your need to give back to society.Being a NED allows you to “give back” because you contribute your skills and expertise for the benefits of an organisation and its stakeholders.