Chair Person

We are looking to recruit a Chairperson for our Charity Board.

BE United’s Chair will play a leadership role both within the organisation itself and in championing its mission to the outside world.

Who we are

BE United is an arts, cultural and social organisation. Our mission is to advocate, nurture and celebrate Black people working in the performing arts, screen and cultural sectors in Scotland.

Our vision is a world where everyone is inspired, united and enriched through creativity.

Our values are:

Equity: to create a more equitable world, society and sectors.
Empowerment: to empower ourselves and others, to be the best that we can be.
Excellence: to go above and beyond in our work.
The role

BE United is a relatively small organisation in a period of growth, so while it is possible that this could be your first chair role, applicants will need to be able to demonstrate considerable previous senior management or governance experience.

It will be useful, but it is not essential, if the postholder is well-networked in Scotland. BE United is deeply invested in Black leadership and so we would love a Chair from the Black community however this is not essential and if you are not from this community, we still welcome your application.

Applicants should demonstrate a familiarity and understanding of the challenges faced by our community and a have a strong desire to create and drive positive change forward. Our Chair should be comfortable in making tough decisions and leading a dynamic group of people on our board.

You don’t need to have an arts background or a university degree to be a Trustee, or to have reached any particular stage in your career. We want to hear from people who bring something new, will challenge us, and who want to help us grow. We invite applications from people who are passionate about BE United’s vision, the performing arts, screen and cultural events sector, and those with lived* and/or professional experience in these key areas:

● Law

● Strategic Planning & Business Management

● Accounting/Financial governance

● Funding, Fundraising and Sponsorship experience

● Charity Governance

If you don’t meet any of the above but think you can make a great chair, we still encourage you to apply, but we may prioritise other applicants to ensure a well-rounded, representative board.

Please note that the role is unpaid, and the deadline for sending us your application is 10th October 2023.

*By this we mean: “Personal knowledge about the world gained through direct, first-hand involvement in everyday events rather than through representations constructed by other people.” Some may consider it more in terms of personal identity or culture. You do not have to disclose which, if any, lived experiences you identify with as part of the application process.

Some examples include: being chronically ill, d/Deaf, Black British, Black African, desi, disabled, LGBTQ+, non-binary, refugee or Asylum Seeker, visually impaired, working class, mixed heritage and so on.