RSPCA South London Retail Trustee - Volunteer in Croydon

We’re looking for a Trustee who can bring expertise to our retail portfolio, our most important income stream, and help grow its profitability. The RSPCA is broken up into regional branch areas. Each branch is responsible for all the local animal welfare. Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that RSPCA South London achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that we have a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the executive team to enable us to grow and thrive, helping us to assist as many animals in need as possible. Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals. Your efforts will have a very real impact on the welfare of animals in our branch area.

What are we looking for?

• Commercial awareness – A strong knowledge of the fast fashion/homewares retail sector including customer experience and local market.
• Retail experience – Proven track record in the retail sector in operations, finance, or management. Ideally this would include experience in the charity retail sector, but this is not essential.
• Financial expertise – Strong understanding of financial management principles and practices and the ability to oversee the financial health of the retail aspects of the Branch.
• Strategic thinking – Ability to provide strategic guidance for our retail operations, including identifying new opportunities and assessing risks.
• Communication and interpersonal skills – Ability to communicate effectively with the board, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders.

We are looking for a Trustee who is willing to provide hands‑on leadership for the charity’s retail activity including actively working with branch manager & shop teams to identify income opportunities and risks, respond to local market trends, and improve operational performance and stakeholder relationships.

What will you be doing?

We want someone with a background in retail who is passionate about our cause and keen to explore new ways of working to ensure our retail offering continues to fund our essential animal welfare work. You’ll play a key leadership role in shaping our future and helping us grow sustainably by ensuring our shops are operated in a way that serves the community and delivers profitability to the charity which will in turn unlock more opportunities to deliver vital animal welfare services. Your retail expertise will directly enable life‑saving work. We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board.

Duties

• Support and provide advice on RSPCA South London’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to the Branch Manager in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Contribute to regular reviews of the charity’s governance through attending Board meetings, and being adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect RSPCA South London’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.

As a small charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.