Volunteer Chair of Trustees for OperaUpClose

What will you be doing?

The Chair is responsible for providing effective leadership of the Board and ensuring it works in accordance with the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and governance framework. Working with the CEO/Artistic Director, the Chair leads the Trustees in setting strategic direction, monitoring progress and ensuring that the company’s activities focus on advancing our charitable purposes and strategic goals. They lead the Board in providing support and appropriate challenge to the staff team, and support the staff in maintaining a network of relationships with key supporters, funders and other stakeholders. They also play an active role in supporting our fundraising and development objectives. The Chair supports and performance manages the Artistic Director/CEO and maintains regular liaison with her. They also lead by example, ensuring our values our reflected in how we work. The Chair is normally required to spend the equivalent of two days a month on the role.      

What are we looking for?

We are seeking candidates with the following qualities:

Ability to lead an executive board, group or committee whose members have diverse skills and backgrounds; Ability to put the best interests of the charity at the heart of all decision making and to make judgements that advance the charity’s interests; Understanding of the standards of governance required of a charity; Ability to forward plan agendas so that all essential board work is completed in a timely way; Team management and development; A good grasp of financial issues and requirements; The ability to lead a team to define a clear strategic vision; Ability to work effectively with the Artistic Director/CEO and other staff; Ability to inspire respect and confidence from diverse groups of people; Ability to network and, as appropriate, influence and advocate on behalf of the organisation; Willingness to contribute in appropriate ways to fundraising work; A practical commitment to creating greater equality, diversity and inclusion in the making and enjoyment of opera; A passion for bringing high quality opera to under-served audiences; A commitment to engaging young people in all aspects of the company’s work; An understanding of the importance of increasing the sustainability of the company’s work; A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the Chair’s role.

What difference will you make?

OperaUpClose is now seeking a new Chair of Trustees who is passionate about bringing high quality opera to new and under-served audiences and who has the skills and networks to lead the Board as we embrace new opportunities. We are looking for someone who shares our vision and can help us achieve our current goals, including in the area of fundraising, and support the company to deliver on its commitments to greater diversity and sustainability. The company is thriving and at a thrilling point of evolution, so we are looking for someone who can build on our excellent reputation, using this great platform to help take the company to the next level. We are always looking to build the diversity of our Board and would be particularly pleased to hear from candidates who identify as disabled or who come from a global majority heritage. Ideally, we would like our new Chair of Trustees to be based in or have strong connections with the South West of England.