Chairperson in Bristol

Milestones Trust is a respected and long‑established charity supporting over 540 people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health needs across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire. With a proud 40‑year history, the Trust is known for its person‑centred approach, high‑quality services, and strong values: we start with the individual, we bring people close, we take our creativity to work, and we are courageous in our approach.

Operating at significant scale, Milestones Trust employs over 1,300 staff, delivers services with an annual income of approximately £48m, and manages a diverse portfolio of services and assets in a complex and highly regulated social care environment. They are now seeking to appoint a new Chair of the Board of Trustees to provide strategic leadership, uphold strong governance, and work closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Team as the organisation enters an exciting new strategic cycle (2026–2030).

The Chair will guide a committed and experienced Board, ensuring the Trust remains focused on its mission, delivers measurable outcomes, and continues to innovate within a challenging social care landscape. As Chair, you will have formal governance responsibilities, including oversight of Board and Committee effectiveness, ensuring appropriate delegation and assurance across core committees (including Finance & Resources, Governance & Risk, and Support & Development), and supporting robust decision‑making, accountability, and compliance with charity governance standards. You will also play a key role in supporting, appraising and constructively challenging the Chief Executive.

We are keen to hear from individuals with senior leadership experience in the not‑for‑profit sector, whether through executive roles, non‑executive positions, or significant voluntary involvement. You will bring strategic insight, sound judgement, and a collaborative leadership style. You will also demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of charity governance and board effectiveness, including experience of leading or chairing boards or committees
• The ability to oversee organisational performance, risk, and assurance through effective committee structures
• Financial acumen, with the confidence to interpret complex financial information and support long‑term financial sustainability
• Experience operating within complex organisations, ideally within regulated or stakeholder‑rich environments
• A commitment to fostering an inclusive, high‑performing board culture that enables constructive challenge and collective accountability
• Experience of change management, risk oversight, and working with complex stakeholder environments will be particularly valuable

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a values‑driven organisation with a strong reputation, solid financial footing, and clear ambition for the future. The Chair will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Board operates effectively, adding value at both strategic and organisational levels while supporting sustainable growth and innovation.

For further details and to apply, please send your CV and Expression of Interest to Sandy Hinks and Leighann Beck via recruit@moonexecsearch.com, quoting reference MC2735.

Milestones Trust has retained Moon Executive Search to manage this campaign and is therefore unable to accept CVs from third‑party agencies. All CVs and Expressions of Interest received will be forwarded directly to Moon Executive Search for consideration.