Vice Chair of Trustees

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to join our Board of Trustees as the Vice Chair. In this voluntary role, you will support the Chair of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer in ensuring strong governance, clear policy development, and effective leadership across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting the Chair in providing leadership to the Board of Trustees and ensuring effective governance across all aspects of the charity’s work.
• Working closely with the Chair, CEO, and Trustees to oversee the charity’s strategic direction and ensure all decisions reflect our mission, vision, and values.
• Supporting and contributing to the work of the Fundraising and Risk Group, ensuring that policy and governance considerations are built into the group’s decisions.
• Attending and actively participating in: Six Trustee Board meetings per year, Quarterly Fundraising and Risk Group meetings, two 1-2-1 meetings per year with the Chair of Trustees (face to face or via Teams), the charity’s AGM and occasional additional meetings or events, as needed.
• Taking a lead role in reviewing and developing the charity’s policy framework, including ensuring that policies are reviewed regularly, compliant with current legislation, and embedded into everyday practice.
• Helping to identify and support the development of future Trustees and volunteers.
• Acting as an ambassador for Harry’s HAT, representing the charity in external settings with professionalism and warmth.

Alongside their statutory duties, trustees should apply their individual skills and experience to support effective Board decision-making. This may include reviewing papers, leading discussions, or projects, focusing on key issues, and offering specialist advice or guidance.

Skills

The ideal candidate will have experience of charity governance and leadership, along with a strong understanding of policy development and compliance.

Essential

• Experience of chairing or supporting a committee, board, or working group.
• Strong knowledge of charity governance and an understanding of the legal duties and responsibilities of Trustees.
• Experience in developing, reviewing, and implementing organisational policies.
• Strategic awareness and the ability to think critically and objectively.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to support and challenge constructively.
• Discretion when working with sensitive information, and strict adherence to confidentiality when required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance.

Desirable

• Prior experience serving as a Trustee or Vice Chair.
• Familiarity with small charity governance and policy development.
• An understanding of safeguarding and risk management.

Personal Attributes

• Integrity, fairness, and the ability to remain impartial.
• A willingness to devote time and effort to attending and preparing for committee meetings,
• Ability to form constructive working relationships with co-trustees, staff, and volunteers within Harry’s HAT
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills