Overview
The IEEP - CHAIR position offers a dynamic leadership opportunity to guide and shape the strategic direction of the Institute for Environmental and Economic Policy within the region. As the Chair, you will spearhead initiatives that promote sustainable development, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and drive impactful research and policy advocacy. This paid role is essential for steering the organization’s mission forward, ensuring effective management, and inspiring a team committed to environmental excellence. Your leadership will be pivotal in elevating the institute’s influence and advancing regional environmental priorities through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships.
Responsibilities
- We would love to hear from candidates interested in guiding and
- supporting our Institute in its growth and impact, and shaping
- how we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming
- years. You will work alongside highly experienced and respected
- fellow trustees to ensure IEEP UK achieves its mission and remains
- accountable to stakeholders. Your specific responsibilities will
- include:
- Lead quarterly online board meetings.
- Act as line manager for the Executive Director, providing guidance
- and acting as a sounding board on a wide range of issues.
- Ensure the board has the necessary skills and experience to
- effectively undertake its role.
- Ensure the board works effectively with the Executive Director and
- wider staff team, mentoring, guiding and holding to account, as
- appropriate, to support organisational excellence.
- Ensure governance compliance, supported by the Executive
- Director and the Head of Finance and Operations.
- Act as a figurehead and spokesperson for the organisation.
- Bring external insight to inform our work.
Experience
- We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experience who can fulfil the
- following criteria:
- Commitment to IEEP UK’s mission, strategy
- and its objectives.
- Understanding and acceptance of the legal
- duties, responsibilities and liabilities of
- trusteeship.
- Ability to devote the necessary time and
- effort to their duties as a trustee.
- Ideally UK based
- The Chair will have:
- Prior leadership and chairing or similar
- experience, with a deep understanding of the
- issues our charity works on
- Experience in long-term strategic planning,
- and organisational development.
- Experience engaging with funders.
- Ability to chair meetings, ensuring that all
- voices and perspectives are heard.
- Professional experience of environmental
- issues, and connections throughout
- the sector, and ideally understanding of
- environmental policy and IEEP’s work.
- Experience or good understanding of
- European politics and policy-making.
- Experience and ideally active involvement in
- public affairs, with knowledge of UK policymaking,
- and cross-party contacts
- A good understanding of charity governance.
- Ability to review programme impact, assess
- risk, and interpret financial data.
- Strong leadership skills and experience of
- aligning strategy and delivery.
COMMITMENT
∞ Meet regularly with the Executive Director
∞ Review and input to board agendas ahead of the quarterly meetings
∞ Review board minutes
∞ As part of our cooperation agreement with our sister organisation, IEEP Aisbl, the chairs of both boards also serve as a trustee
of each others’ boards to ensure good communication and strategic decision making.
∞ Attend:
- quarterly Board meetings for both organisations. Currently for three hours and online for IEEP UK, and mix of hybrid/in
person for IEEP Aisbl i.e. 8 meetings in total
- pre-Board quarterly meetings with the Executive Director and the Head of Finance & Operations (45minutes online)
- IEEP UK AGM/strategy day, currently in person and the best part of a day.
- IEEP Aisbl general assembly, hybrid, 3 hour meeting.
- IEEP annual reception, currently 2 hours London/Parliamentary event
- All trustees are encouraged to attend and get involved in IEEP UK events and working groups and sign up to our newsletter
to stay abreast of our work outside of Board business and updates. Trustees will often chair our events and webinars.
∞ Estimated time commitment – 12 days per year
∞ Between meetings trustees are asked for periodic approvals for programmatic work and budget decisions by email.
∞ Like all trustees, you will typically serve a three-year term, renewable for two additional terms with a maximum of three consecutive
terms i.e. nine years in total. With unanimous board approval, the chair’s role can be extended for a further three year term.
∞ This is a voluntary, unremunerated role. Expenses are provided for travel and accommodation necessary for delivery of the role
with prior agreement with the Executive Director.
Please send your CV and a cover letter, to
[email protected], clearly marking the title of
the email: ‘IEEP_UK – Chair - [YOUR NAME].
In the covering letter we would like you to answer four
questions about your experience, why you’d like to
become IEEP UK’s chair, and how you meet the desired
profile:
1. What in particular interests you about the role
and our organisation.
2. What skills, experiences and/or perspectives
would you contribute to the organisation and its
current strategic aims.
3. What are the key characteristics of an effective
board team and its process.
4. Imagine it’s five years from now. What has IEEP
UK achieved that makes you particularly proud,
and what role did you play in it?
Application deadline:
Monday 3 August, 10am
Interviews:
A first round of video interviews is expected to take place over
August, depending on the availability of candidates. This will be
followed by an in-person interview for shortlisted candidates, in
September. We are looking to on board the new Chair over the end of
2026 in order to start officially as Chair from 2027.
IEEP UK welcomes offers from candidates of diverse backgrounds.
For further information on IEEP UK, please visit our website at
https://ieep.uk/
This role requires a proactive leader with a passion for environmental sustainability and a commitment to making a tangible impact within the region. If you possess strategic vision, management expertise, and a drive for positive change, we invite you to lead our organization into its next chapter of growth and influence.
Work Location: Hybrid remote in London
