This vacancy has now closed

Trustee

  • Management Board
  • Unpaid
  • St Andrews Botanic Garden, St Andrews and via Teams
  • Closing 30th November 2023


  • Advertised from 1st November 2023

Role

About the role: St Andrews Botanic Garden Trust is looking to recruit a new trustee to join its Board of Directors at a time of significant organisational transformation and change. We are looking for capable, organised and experienced individuals with a strong professional background who share our enthusiasm for the Trust’s mission and charitable objectives, and who are willing to give their experience and commitment to support the Garden as it navigates this transformation in a challenging and ever-changing environment.

Our mission of botanical conservation and education has seen us take transformational steps in a short period of time and our focus now is to consolidate this progress and prepare for capital investment, growth in turnover and expansion of our engagement programmes.

The Board of Directors comprises no fewer than 5 and up to 11 trustees who play an important role in the strategic direction of the Garden. Trustees carry out the duties and legal responsibilities of being a charity trustee and company director, and are responsible for ensuring that the Garden complies with its governing document (Articles of Association), observes its charitable objectives and functions in line with the principles and practice of good governance. Specifically, the Board ensures that the Garden operates ethically, responsibly and with respect for the environment and for society at large. Where required, Trustees will act as ambassadors for the Garden and may leverage their networks to support the mission of objectives of the Garden.

At this point in time, we are seeking specific areas of expertise to complement existing Trust members in the areas of business development, innovation and entrepreneurship, or fundraising.

We expect from our trustees the following:

  • Willingness to commit the time required to fulfil trustee duties (ca 24 days per year).
  • Willingness to contribute, from time to time, to the work of specific task groups (e.g. strategy development, governance review, leading discussions, providing advice on initiatives in the domain of their special expertise).
  • Willingness to contribute to the broader promotion of the Trust’s objects and reputation.

The Board normally meets four times a year and in addition trustees are expected to join/chair one of the Trust’s three sub committees and/or advisory groups. Meetings are normally scheduled during working hours, and are normally held in the Garden. The Trust has a preference for face to face meetings but recognises that it is not always possible for trustees to attend in person. Trustees can join meetings via Teams, but a minimum number of face to face attendance at one Board meeting per year is expected.

Application notes

We provide equal opportunities and are committed to the principle of equality regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, religious belief, political opinion or affiliation, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability.

If you are interested in considering this opportunity, please contact us at shotho@standrewsbotanic.org

The stages of the application and selection process are:

Stage 1 Informal enquiry.

Stage 2 Informal conversation with the Chair and with the Executive Director, including a tour of the Garden if possible.

Stage 3 Submission of CV (up to 2 pages) and personal statement (1 page, addressing the Personal qualifications listed above).

Stage 4 Interview with the Chair and two other members of the Board of Directors.

The following documentation will be made available on request:

  • Articles of Association (these are also publicly available)
  • Most recent annual accounts (these are also publicly available)
  • Overview of structure of scheme of delegation (after Stage 2)
  • Overview of organisational structure (after Stage 2)

Dates:

Notification of interest – by no later than 30th November 2023

Informal conversation with the Chair of the Trust – December 2023

Submission of CV and personal statement 18th January 2024

Interview – week beginning 29th January 2024