Board Member/Director

Join the Board of Urras nan Tursachan and help shape the future of Calanais, contributing your skills, experience and perspective as we enter an exciting chapter for the organisation and the Visitor Centre.

About Urras nan Tursachan

Calanais Visitor Centre is entering an exciting new chapter. With the redeveloped Visitor Centre now open and operational, our focus is on establishing Calanais as a high-quality visitor attraction, a thriving and sustainable organisation, and an important asset for the local community. Alongside providing an outstanding experience for visitors, Calanais has an important role as a local employer. We want to provide good-quality, year-round employment, create opportunities for people to develop and grow, and build an organisation that is well managed, financially sustainable and able to invest in its future.

The Role

Board Members/Directors are responsible collectively for the strategic leadership and good governance of Urras nan Tursachan (The Calanais Stones Trust). Working alongside fellow Board members and the Management Team, you will help ensure that the organisation is well run, financially responsible, sustainable and focused on achieving its long-term ambitions. Board members are not expected to become involved in the day-to-day management of the organisation. Instead, their role is to provide strategic direction, oversight, support and constructive challenge, while using their individual skills and experience to add value where appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute actively to the strategic direction and future development of Calanais;
• Attend and participate in monthly Board meetings;
• Prepare for meetings by reading papers and considering key issues in advance;
• Contribute to effective governance, oversight and decision-making;
• Help ensure that Calanais is financially sustainable, well managed and appropriately governed;
• Provide constructive challenge and support to fellow Board members and the Management Team;
• Contribute your own skills, knowledge, experience and networks where these can benefit the organisation;
• Provide occasional ad hoc advice, support or involvement between Board meetings where appropriate;
• Act as a positive ambassador for Calanais;
• Support the organisation's commitment to providing good-quality, year-round local employment;
• Help ensure that the organisation remains connected to and responsive to the local community;
• Act in the best interests of Calanais and support the collective decisions of the Board.

Our Priorities for the Next Chapter

• Establish the new Visitor Centre as a first-class visitor attraction;
• Deliver an excellent and distinctive visitor experience;
• Celebrate and protect the heritage, history and cultural significance of Calanais;
• Strengthen Calanais's role as an important community asset;
• Develop a financially sustainable and profitable organisation;
• Grow commercial and earned income;
• Provide good-quality, sustainable local employment throughout the year;
• Create a positive workplace where employees can develop and thrive;
• Strengthen partnerships;
• Ensure that Calanais is well positioned for long-term growth and sustainability.

Requirements

We are interested in hearing from people who have a genuine passion for Calanais and would like to use their skills and experience to contribute to its future. You do not need previous Board experience to be considered. We are looking for people who:

• Care about Calanais and its importance to the islands;
• Understand, or are willing to develop an understanding of, the local community, culture and context;
• Can think strategically and contribute to the bigger picture;
• Are willing to ask constructive questions and offer considered challenge;
• Work collaboratively and respect different perspectives;
• Bring skills, experience, knowledge or networks that could help the organisation develop;
• Can act with integrity, good judgement and in the best interests of Calanais.

We welcome a broad range of professional, voluntary, community and lived experience. We are especially keen to speak to individuals who have a lived experience in any of these areas: tourism and visitor attractions; commercial/business development; finance; heritage and culture; hospitality and retail; fundraising and income generation; people, HR and organisational development; marketing and communications; digital development; community development; Gaelic language and culture; sustainability; property and facilities; education; and governance and strategic leadership. We also recognise the particular value of people who have strong knowledge of, or connections with, Lewis and the wider Outer Hebrides.

Time Commitment

Approximately 5–10 hours per month. This will normally include:

• Attendance at a monthly Board meeting;
• Preparation and reading ahead of meetings;
• Occasional ad hoc support, advice or participation in Board activity between meetings.

There may also be occasional strategy sessions, development meetings or events.

Term of Appointment

Four years, with the possibility of renewal.

Location

Board meetings will normally be held online.

Remuneration

This is a voluntary, unpaid position. Reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out Board duties may be reimbursed in accordance with Calanais's expenses policy.

Benefits

Joining the Calanais Board offers an opportunity to:

• Help shape the future of one of the Outer Hebrides' most significant heritage and visitor attractions;
• Contribute directly to the economic and community impact of Calanais;
• Help support high-quality local employment;
• Use your professional and personal experience in a meaningful way;
• Work alongside people with a shared commitment to Calanais;
• Develop your own governance, strategic and leadership experience;
• Play a part in an exciting period of organisational growth and development.

Most Importantly

We are looking for people who want to make a difference. You do not need to be an expert in every aspect of running a visitor attraction or organisation. A strong Board is made up of people with different skills, experiences and perspectives who work well together. If you are passionate about Calanais, interested in its future and believe you have something to contribute, we would be delighted to hear from you.

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining the Calanais Board, we would love to hear from you. Please send us a short Expression of Interest statement telling us why you would like to become a Board Member, what interests you about the future of Calanais, and the skills, experience, knowledge or connections you believe you could bring to the Board. This does not need to be a formal application – we are keen to hear about professional, community, voluntary and lived experience that you feel would help you make a positive contribution. Please send your Expression of Interest to Claire Smith, Orbit Agency: claire@orbit.agency by 9th October 2026.