Trustee with HR expertise - Volunteer

In times of anti-migrant hostility, join us to turn the tide and strive for systemic change. We are looking for a trustee with HR expertise to contribute to the governance of the Migrants' Rights Network to help make a just society for migrants a reality.

As a HR trustee, you will be contributing to MRN's positive and nurturing culture to help the organisation achieve its objectives and purpose, and ensure it is complying with its governing document and other legal requirements. Trustees are key to developing and delivering the strategy that will help drive the organisation forward. You will be able to apply your significant skills and abilities, while working alongside devoted and enthusiastic trustees and staff who are committed to working and campaigning for the rights of all migrants.

What are we looking for?

• A significant understanding of UK HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• To be one of the board representatives to engage with the staff union and to sit on any associated staff committees.
• To provide oversight and strategic guidance on HR matters, advocate for best practices in employee management.
• Experience with trade union matters would be advantageous.
• Commit to the organisation, to the aims and objectives of MRN, and its vision.
• Want to ensure MRN is inclusive and takes an intersectional approach.
• Devote the necessary time and effort required.
• Offer strategic vision and insight.
• Demonstrate good and independent judgement.
• Think creatively to further the organisations causes.
• Be an active participant and will speak their mind.
• Have understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a trusteeship.
• Work effectively as a member of a team.
• Use their skills and experience in setting targets, monitoring, and evaluating performance and projects.
• Use their excellent networking skills, influencing and communication skills to further the organisations agenda.
• Desirably have some understanding of financial management.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.
• Be an active champion of Migrants’ Rights Network.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance.

What will you be doing?

The Migrants’ Rights Network has evolved since 2006 from a research and policy-focused organisation to one that campaigns and stands in solidarity with all migrants in their fights for rights and justice. We co‑curate campaigns using anti‑oppression practices to create transformational change, extending beyond the individual impact on migrants’ lives, to tackle oppression at its source. We believe it is not enough to reform structures and systems which are foundationally discriminatory. We are calling for a complete overhaul, and for migrants, including refugees to lead that change.

We are now slowly but surely embedding a transformational change approach into our work and practices, and we are excited to continue this in the coming years.

The role of an MRN trustee

As with any small charitable organisation, we are reliant on the skills and dedication of the trustees to support the organisation. We pride ourselves on a diverse board which primarily consists of those with the lived migrant, including refugee experiences. As a trustee, you are instrumental in ensuring that MRN is achieving its objectives and purpose, and it is complying with its governing document and other legal requirements. Through a skills audit and analysis of our gaps, we have identified the need for someone with significant human resources (HR) experience to have a full complement of skills and knowledge on the board.

All new trustees will receive induction and support from existing trustees and the staff, and ongoing access to training and refresher courses, where required. You will be contributing to making a real difference to the lives of migrants, including refugees. We strive to have a board that is representative of the communities we work alongside, and we have good representation from those with lived experience of migration/refugee system. We are committed to being a truly inclusive organisation, and want to actively encourage those who identify with a disability, as LGBTQI, or those under 25 to apply. If you have access requirements or need any adjustments to the recruitment process, please do let us know.