Role Description
As we continue our year-on-year growth, we are looking for new Board members: a Treasurer, a Governance Trustee, and a Legal & Ethics Expert.
We are looking for individuals who are team players, with the ability to apply your knowledge and insights across a diverse range of challenges beyond the specialisms you possess. We are open to a wide range of backgrounds, including but not limited to:
- Established networks with NGOs
- Experience of working as part of or with a charitable foundation
- Experience in Africa, the US or Asia
- Fundraising expertise (especially in review of complex contracts)
- Private sector experience
- Carbon, forestry and/or biodiversity expertise
- Livelihood / economic models’ expertise
Overall purpose of the Board
Nominated by our General Assembly, our Board steers WeForest’s mission and every Trustee has a clear view on its roles and responsibilities. The work of our Board includes:
- Representing WeForest– acting with integrity, transparency, accountability and passion, our Trustees embody our values and mission. We expect our Trustees to adhere to our Code of Professional Ethics
- Advancing our mission – holding the executive to account to ensure we are maximising our impact, and review and approve our annual strategies
- Fulfilling legal and fiduciary obligations – ensuring key risks prevention and mitigation measures and adequate policies for ethics are in place, reviewing and signing of legal, financial and contract documents
- Oversight of our CEO – including recruiting and nominating, supporting, assessing performance, and setting compensation
- Supporting recruitment – helping recruit Trustees and Directors for WeForest, as well as exit interviews for Directors
- Serving as an expert – providing expertise and guidance to the Board in general or to specific department
- Shaping culture – being committed to the aims and principles of diversity and inclusion, ensuring we are a positive place to work
In addition to the general responsibilities of a Trustee, duties of the Treasurer are as follows:
- Familiarity with financial management policies and procedures
- Adoption of budget and financial statements
- Approval of the annual audit
- Approval of legal structures and major investments
- Advising on the financial implications of WeForest’s strategic plans
- Ensuring that the annual accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies
- Ensuring that the annual accounts are scrutinised in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented
- Keeping the Trustee Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
- Approval of guidelines for risk, cash, and reserve management
- On-going Sounding Board and safeguard for financial topics
In addition to the general responsibilities of a Trustee, duties of the Governance Trustee are as follows:
- Leading on reviewing minutes drafted from meetings
- Ensuring availability of pre-reading documents
- Acting as a facilitator for Board, leadership and group meetings, including agreeing agendas, quality control of submitted papers, and ensuring proper recording of minutes and actions
- Holding Trustees accountable for their work
In addition to the general responsibilities of a Trustee, duties of the Legal & Ethics Expert are as follows:
- Professional familiarity of legal & ethics policies
- Acting as WeForest’s safeguard for legal & ethics
- Regular participation in legal & ethics sessions