Independent Trustee Director

The Rooflight Co is an established, employee-owned British manufacturing business with more than 30 years’ experience supplying conservation, heritage and architectural markets. We have a strong reputation for quality, design and customer service, and our co-owners take pride in the craft and care that goes into every product we make. We aim to be the trusted partner for our customers, and the preferred choice for both customers and employees.

Employee owned since March 2019; we are strengthening our Trust Board and have an exciting opportunity for an independent Trustee to join Rooflight Trustees Limited. The purpose of Rooflight Trustees Limited and the members of the trust board is to represent the interest of all employee shareholders of the company, acting under the terms of the Trust Deed and our guiding principles of values led culture, innovation and long-term sustainability.

The Trustees’ role is to ensure the company is run in the best long-term interest of the beneficiaries (our Co-owners). They execute this by providing oversight and additional scrutiny and challenge to the Operating Board of Directors and Leadership Team.

The Trust Board is composed of:

• Two employee (Co-owner) Trustees appointed by Co-owners (excluding the Operating Board of Directors and Leadership Team)
• One independent Trustee appointed by the Operating Board of Directors and Leadership Team
• One independent Trustee appointed by the Trust Board (Rooflight Trustees Limited)

One of the independent Trustees is appointed chair by the Trust Board (Rooflight Trustees Limited).

Role of the trustees

• Hold the company’s directors and leadership team to account for the company’s strategy and delivery of the long-term sustainability and profitability of the company.
• Deliver in their fiduciary responsibility in representing the interests of the employee owners as beneficiaries of the trust at all times, acting as an ambassador of both the trust and the company as a whole.
• Ensure Trust governance and oversight, including managing risks and ensuring there are adequate internal controls.
• Challenge the company’s directors and leadership team to show practical commitment to strategic planning, objective setting, managing individual and team performance and succession pathways.
• Keep themselves informed of all the challenges that are relevant to the business at the time through Board meeting minutes and conversations to enable the offering of constructive insight and advice when requested.
• Actively promote all aspects of the role of the Employee Ownership Trust and its members, and strongly embed the values of the business in their own behaviour.
• Support the company vision of growing exceptional people through recruiting, developing and retaining people to realise their full potential.
• Consider and approve, or disprove, any changes to the company’s article of association.
• Appointment of the Managing Director.
• Agree the framework for distribution of EO bonus or profit share payments.
• Agree remuneration of the Operating Board of Directors.

Skills, Experience and Behaviours

Skills

• Ability to interpret and challenge financial, operational and strategic reports at what would be considered director levels of capability.
• An understanding of good governance.
• Ability to evaluate and manage strategic risk.
• Be able to think differently and challenge existing thinking in a constructive manner.
• Contribute to discussions from a position of neutrality bringing in expertise and knowledge of other business models, cultures and organisations (on a confidential basis) to the benefit of the trust and fellow trustees.

Experience

• Experience of operating at a strategic level within a commercial company.
• Prior experience of acting as a trustee, director or similar statutory leadership position.
• Understanding of employee-owned structures (desirable).
• Background in Manufacturing (desirable).

Behaviours (aligned to TRC Values)

• Ownership: takes responsibility, follows through and builds accountability.
• Professionalism: consistent, respectful and sets a good standard.
• Resilience: steady under pressure and constructive in approach.
• Focus: prioritises well, acts at pace and supports customer commitments.
• Pride: sets high standards and encourages the same in others.

What We Value

As an employee-owned business, our mission is guided by our three principles: values-led culture, innovation and long-term sustainability. These principles shape how we operate and how we support each other as co-owners. To succeed in this role, your values and behaviours will need to align with our five values: Ownership, Focus, Professionalism, Resilience and Pride. These help us create an environment where people can grow, contribute and be recognised for the value they bring.

Working Pattern and Location

• Three-year term
• Quarterly Board meeting (4 days total) + meeting preparation