Trustee of Oxfam Great Britain

Job content

SHAPING A STRONGER OXFAM FOR A RADICALLY BETTER WORLD

Oxfam is a global movement of millions of people who share the belief that, in a world rich in resources, poverty isn’t inevitable. Oxfam GB has launched a new strategy working for a world where everyone has the power to thrive, not just survive, and tackling the biggest challenges that perpetuate poverty. We’re radically shifting resources and power to those we are here to serve – and ensuring that everything we do is safe, feminist and anti-racist.

As part of our regular rotation of Board members, Oxfam GB seeks at least two new Trustees, most importantly with a commitment to our vision and values. One Trustee will bring skills in international advocacy and campaigning, and another will bring skills in understanding and influencing government policy in the UK. Ideally, at least one of our new Trustees will be based in the Global South, or will have significant links to the Global South or have spent a significant part of their recent life there.

Use your experience to help drive and support Oxfam’s strategic direction and be part of a worldwide movement of millions of people working towards one goal – an end to poverty for everyone.

You’ll join a supportive and diverse Board of Trustees who are focussed on ensuring the delivery of a radical new agenda for Oxfam. In turn, you’ll commit some 10 to 15 days per year – including pre-reading. Applications are required by 5pm GMT Sunday 20 June 2021.

We are committed to diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. For these Trustee roles in particular, we aim at least to maintain the representation of black and minoritized ethnicities on the Board and ideally to increase the representation of women.

THE TRUSTEE ROLE

Oxfam GB is led by its Board of 12 Trustees, who are responsible for overall governance and strategic direction. Being an Oxfam GB Trustee is an influential and valuable role and you will make an important contribution to our current work and future direction – in particular you will support us to implement Oxfam GB’s strategy for 2020 onwards as outlined above. This includes a change process in countries and regions to create a stronger, more globally coordinated Oxfam in support of the wider Oxfam Confederation strategy and reforms.

We are looking for at least two new Trustees. All Trustees need to demonstrate a commitment to Oxfam’s vision and values and ideally at least one of our new Trustees will be based in, or have significant links to, the Global South or will have spent a significant part of their recent life there. One Trustee will support the work of the Board and its Programme Committee by bringing experience and insights which will help guide and inform our international advocacy and campaigning priorities. Ideally this will include contemporary skills in the application of digital technology in advocacy and campaigning. Another new Trustee will have significant experience in the workings of the UK political environment to support us in better engaging with Government and officials.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The knowledge and skills we’ve listed below represent “the perfect candidate”. No one is perfect so please do not be deterred if you do not fulfil every line. We are looking for individuals committed to Oxfam’s values and able to fulfil the overall brief.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• An ability to contribute significantly to the work of the Trustees, particularly through the application of relevant senior management or practitioner expertise
• Understanding of the role of a Trustee and how Trustees can interact with Oxfam’s executive Strategic Leadership Team to best effect
• Experience of operating strategically at a board level or of leadership and management of organisations and networks
• And either:

PROFILE 1:

• A track record of success in influencing the policies or priorities of governments and/or global corporates on issues relating to social or environmental progress
• A good understanding of the political forces influencing the international institutions and forums through which these debates happen, with a strong network of senior contacts
• Preferably, contemporary skills in the application of digital technology in advocacy and campaigning

Or, PROFILE 2:

• A track record of success in influencing the policies or priorities of the UK government on international issues
• A good understanding of how the current political processes operate, with a strong network of senior contacts

Required Attributes

• Proven track-record of successfully implementing and overseeing effective policies and processes, driving accountability throughout an organisation or otherwise bringing change
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together
• A demonstrable commitment to Oxfam’s aims, values and work
• Credibility in your sphere of work and personal gravitas to help lead a major charitable organisation to deliver sustainable progress towards a bold mission and to live its values
• Strong inter-personal and relationship-building abilities

In addition, shortlisted candidates will be assessed at interview on fit with our organisational values and key organisational attributes. These are set out in the Core Details document which is part of the online application pack.

TIME COMMITMENT – AND OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

Your minimum commitment in an average year is likely to be about 10 to 15 days (including pre-reading), of which 10 would be on fixed dates, planned well in advance. We encourage active participation and Trustees often choose to give more time. The initial term of office is for 3 years, with the potential to be reappointed for a further 3 years.

There are four Board meetings a year, usually in Oxford, UK . We also hold a Strategy Away Day (in practice, a day and a half) in the UK once each year. In addition, we ask Trustees to visit an Oxfam programme internationally once every three years

Trustees are usually expected to participate in one of the Board Committees and in occasional stakeholder events, and to be available to support management with advice as needed.

We’d ideally like our new Trustees to join the Board this October (attending your first Board meeting on 6-7 October). In your first few months you should allow for 2 or 3 additional days for induction (including meeting the members of Oxfam’s Strategic Leadership Team).

This is an unpaid role but expenses (such as for travel and childcare) are paid for attendance at Board and Committee meetings and other Trustee activities, in accordance with our expenses policy. Some employers encourage and enable trusteeship as part of wider career development and corporate social responsibility.

We’ll give you a full induction and ongoing development, including sessions at every Board meeting about our work and the Trustee role. An experienced Oxfam Trustee will be your mentor for your first year.

ABOUT OXFAM

Oxfam GB is a member of the international confederation Oxfam, working together with partners and local communities in 65 countries around the world in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning.

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Find out about everything we do here - http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do

TO APPLY

At Oxfam, we are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality is part of the organisation, reflecting the equality, justice and belonging we want all people to feel in the world. The more diverse our Board and our workforce, the better we’re able to respond to, bring new perspectives to and tackle today’s global challenges. To that end, if you’ve ever thought Oxfam wasn’t for you; if you think we could be doing things differently; or if you’ve felt you could never apply for this role: please read more about the role online and, if you’re interested, apply – we really want to hear from you.

For full information and to apply online please go to www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/working-at-oxfam-gb You’ll need to answer a short list of standard questions and to upload a CV and a covering letter explaining how you believe your skills and experience match the requirements of the role, directly addressing the criteria outlined in the Person Specification above.

We hope you’ll apply – but if you’d like to discuss the role you can talk with our Head of Governance Judeth Neville. Please initially email Judeth on jneville1@oxfam.org.uk

Closing date: - 5pm GMT Sunday 20 June 2021

Interview date: - 19 or 20 July in Oxford (if Covid restrictions allow) or (if candidate is overseas or Covid restrictions require) by Zoom

Vacancy reference: - 0641