Trustee and Director of Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) - Young Trustee

SCOPE AND PURPOSE

The Board of Trustees is looking to appoint two young trustees to join our team, in order to benefit from the contributions and experience of the successful candidates. These aren’t token positions: the successful candidates will have the same influence, responsibilities, and liabilities as any other trustee. In turn, we commit to provide the support, training and development that you, and indeed all new trustees, need to undertake this role successfully. You will be able to help us shape and develop both the role and the way we work so that we harness your experience and wisdom at a critical stage as we drive forward our developing ambitions for the future.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
• To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuit of its objects.
• To contribute actively to the board which gives strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation and its sustainable growth.
• To secure the appointment of the Chief Executive and monitor his/her performance.

SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Aged 18‑28 years.
• Excited about working with MEI to develop the futures of young people through improving maths education.
• You don’t need to be good at maths; you may be a maths genius and feel able to share your learning, or you may have experienced or can relate to the difficulties and challenges that many young people face today.
• Pro‑active and willing to bring new ideas and perspective to our Board, with the confidence to challenge decisions, where necessary, in the best interests of the charity.
• Willing to understand and take on the duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.
• Eligible to be a trustee under Charity Commission guidelines.
• A passion for reaching other young people, great social media knowledge and skills, and insight into the relevance of our communication with and on behalf of young people.
• Some experience, including voluntary, of sitting on a committee or community group/panel.
• Great interpersonal and communication skills.
• Impartiality, fairness, and the ability to respect confidentiality.
• Willing to learn about MEI and what it is trying to achieve.

COMMITMENT REQUIRED

We are looking for someone to contribute actively to the MEI Board. We work together to find flexible ways to balance trustee commitments. You would need to commit to investing the time to learn about MEI and what it is trying to achieve. This includes undertaking a mandatory tailored induction programme, provided for all new trustees, which must be completed within the first three months of appointment. You should be willing to provide advice and support to the chair of trustees and other trustee colleagues. You should also be prepared to take up opportunities to sit on specific sub‑committees or ‘ad‑hoc’ working groups and act as a ‘Link Trustee’ to a specific area of MEI’s work.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

You will work closely with the Chair of Trustees and a trustee who will act as your mentor, as well as with all the other trustees in Board or committee meetings. You will occasionally meet with the Chief Executive, other members of the Senior Leadership and other staff. You may be a ‘Link Trustee’, working more closely with a particular team of MEI staff, learning about their work and keeping the Board informed about it and sharing your experience and perspectives. You will act as an ambassador for MEI to the wider world, occasionally representing the charity and its mission to other stakeholders in the education landscape.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES, VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS

• Aged 18‑28 years.
• Excited about working with MEI to develop the futures of young people through improving maths education.
• You don’t need to be good at maths; you may be a maths genius and feel able to share your learning, or you may have experienced or can relate to the difficulties and challenges that many young people face today.
• Pro‑active and willing to bring new ideas and perspective to our Board, with the confidence to challenge decisions where necessary, in the best interests of the charity.
• Willing to understand and take on the duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.
• Eligible to be a trustee under Charity Commission guidelines.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Trustees should prepare for and attend four board meetings per year, of which two are likely to be in person and the other two online. Board meetings are typically three hours long. In addition, there is an in‑person strategy day each year. There may also be occasions when an overnight stay will be required in order to attend a strategy day or trustee event. A trustee typically serves on one or two committees, each of which will meet 4–6 times per year for about two hours online. Trustees also attend online training or other development activities, and there will be some induction sessions in the first three months. MEI has a large and popular annual conference and all trustees are encouraged to attend at least some part of this.

TRAVEL

Travel is limited to required events, such as Board meetings and the strategy day. These are currently held in Bristol. Costs are reimbursed.

TERM OF OFFICE

One three‑year term.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested in joining us? We ask that you submit a CV when you apply through our website and send a short video. Please use Tresorit (https://send.tresorit.com/) to generate a secure link to the video file you wish to attach to your application and then send your link to hr@mei.org.uk. Please send your video before the closing date. In the video, please describe what you could bring to the role. Suitable candidates will be invited to an informal meeting and then a more formal interview, probably online, at which you will have the opportunity to meet members of the Board to discuss your experience and skills. If you’d like to know more about the role before you apply, please contact HR on the email above for a chat.