Volunteer Company Secretary with experience of charity governance to join board of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality

What will you be doing?

The International Network for the Study of Spirituality is seeking a Company Secretary to play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running and future strategic development of a network of academics, scholars and practitioners dedicated to developing the study of spirituality through research, education and practice. Established in 2010, INSS is part of a growing global movement seeking to understand the role of spirituality in an increasingly fragmented world, including its implications for health, wellbeing, community relations and peace-keeping. The underlying premise of INSS is that ‘Human beings are essentially spiritual creatures because we are driven by a need to find meaning and value in what we do and experience’. We recognises that many people seek guidance and resolution for such questions within religious traditions and teachings while others prefer to do so within a humanistic framework, often shaped by principles of social justice; and that some may reject the language of spirituality altogether but espouse what might be called ‘spiritual values’ in their lives and work. We also recognise that there are dimensions of spirituality to which predominantly cognitive answers about ‘meaning and value’ cannot easily be found, including the lived-experience of awe and wonder. INSS produces a well-regarded, peer-reviewed, academic journal; hosts a popular biennial international conference; supports special interest groups (currently concerned with Spirituality and the Arts, Education, and Mental Health & Wellbeing); and organizes online webinars and symposia, often with like-minded organisations . Following a recent strategic review and a successful conference, INSS is at a pivotal moment in its development. Our longstanding Company Secretary and Treasurer will shortly be retiring and we are seeking to replace them as we enter a new period of growth. We are in the process of re-developing our website; and we are intending to expand our membership and to provide enhanced opportunities for networking and participating in a range of events. The person taking on the role of our next Company Secretary will have skills and expertise in dealing with charity governance matters and ensuring compliance with legal and  regulatory frameworks. They will become a vital part of our small friendly Executive team comprising academics and skilled professionals from a range of different backgrounds and will contribute to future strategic planning and policy-making. 

What are we looking for?

Experience in dealing with charity governance and regulatory frameworks & practices and, ideally, previous experience in a company secretary or charity governance role. Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small Executive team, including in an online environment. Integrity, reliability, ability to maintain confidentiality. Strong organisational and administrative skills, including bookkeeping. Experience of strategic development and planning. Knowledge of the charitable sector, ideally including fundraising strategies, and experience of working collaboratively with groups of professionals and volunteers. Familiarity with the field of spirituality studies and related areas of research is desirable but not essential; however, commitment to the values and aims of INSS is crucial.

What difference will you make?

What impact will they have? INSS aims to contribute to research in, and the development of, a field of enquiry that makes a difference, both now and in the future. As part of our Executive team you will help to support and shape our future strategic direction. You will help us to consider ways in which to enhance the Network’s visibility; to expand and support our membership through the provision of ongoing opportunities to learn, develop and research in the field of spirituality studies; and to disseminate our work and seek ways in which to encourage consideration of spiritual values in policy-making and professional practices. The Executive team works closely together and shares a number of responsibilities but the Company Secretary is absolutely crucial in ensuring the smooth, efficient and effective running of the Network. In particular, you will be responsible for maintaining and updating key documents and ensuring that INSS complies with all the requirements of charity governance and legal & regulatory frameworks. You will take the lead in organising the Annual General Meeting, including elections to the Board; compiling the Annual Report of the Trustees; co-ordinating the development of policies relating, for example, to GDPR, safeguarding etc; and, with the Treasurer, work to ensure the financial viability of the Network. Ideally, supported by our designated Digital Infrastructure Manager, you will also maintain oversight of the online presence of the Network. It is a role which will help the Network to grow, develop and contribute to an emerging understanding of the role of spirituality in an increasingly fragmented world, including its implications for health, wellbeing, community relations and peace-keeping.