Chair of the Board

Our Chair plays a vital role in making sure that Possible achieves its core purpose. They provide leadership and direction to the board of trustees, enabling effective governance of the charity, and they closely manage the Director team to support—and challenge—them to achieve their vision for the organisation.

Possible is about to embark on its next phase as an organisation with the implementation of its new four year organisational strategy. This is a really exciting, important time to join the team in such a pivotal role, and have a real impact on the successful delivery of this work.

Note: Possible has traditionally had a single Chair, but recently appointed two interim Co-Chairs when our previous Chair stepped down. We’re open both to applications to be a single chair, and applications from pairs interested in performing the duties as Co-Chairs. We’re unable to accept applications from individuals wishing to be paired with other candidates as Co-Chairs.

Duties

As our Chair, it is your responsibility to:

• Lead Possible’s board in its key role to ensure that the organisation carries out its purposes for the public benefit.

• Lead the board’s role in its work to set the organisational vision, mission and strategy that delivers on our charitable objects, working closely with the Co-Director team.

• Act as a team leader for the board, working with the Co-Directors to prepare for quarterly board meetings. Chair regular and extraordinary board meetings.

• Act as key liaison between Co-Directors and the board between board meetings, with regular meetings that actively support the Co-Directors to unblock, negotiate, mitigate or resolve issues that are challenging the organisation’s ability to deliver.

• Oversee annual reviews for Co-Directors, ensuring they are fulfilling their job description and meeting established expectations, and, where necessary, help recruit new Co-Directors.

• Lead the recruitment of Co-Directors, new trustees and future Chair.

What you will bring

We’re looking for someone with prior experience of serving on a charity board and demonstrable leadership experience. However, you do not need experience of being a Chair if it is clear that you are ready to step up, and you do not need experience working in the climate sector, either, although we are looking for someone with knowledge of it.

It is really important to the Board and staff team that the Chair shares their passion for the organisation and are realistic about their capacity to provide their full attention when needed.

These are the qualities and skills that we think are essential for a successful chair:

• Strong, proactive communicator who can liaise between Co-Directors, other senior Possible staff and the Board.

• Excellent facilitation skills, ideally integrating anti-oppressive practices, with the ability to guide conversations towards conclusions and hold space in such a way that ensures all voices are heard.

• Confidence holding disagreement and conflict with understanding and empathy, while encouraging resolution.

• Passionate about finding innovative solutions to obstacles and challenges.

• Robust understanding of charity law and best practice, including legislation around political impartiality and campaigning.

• Experience working or volunteering with values-based organisations or grassroots groups that have a commitment to EDI and/or anti-oppression.

• Knowledge about the UK climate movement and climate policy and action.

We ask that all our trustees can speak to the following criteria:

• Interest in tackling the climate crisis by strengthening public support for climate action by focusing robustly on how it helps people’s lives here and now.

• Demonstrable enthusiasm for Possible’s approach to climate action.

• Able to devote time, enthusiasm and effort to the duties and responsibilities of being a trustee.

• Commitment to Possible’s values and ongoing anti-oppression work.

• Independent judgement and willingness to ask questions and challenge.

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