Appointments to the new Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

DSD Charities Implementation Team

Level 3- Lighthouse Building- Gasworks Business Park- Ormeau Road- Belfast BT7 2JB

15 Aug 2008

Kieran Doyle

Kieran.doyle@dsdni.gov.uk

028 9082 9427

www.dsdni.gov.uk

The Charities Bill ("the Bill"), introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Minister for Social Development on 10 December 2007, provides for the establishment of a Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The Commission will be a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Social Development and will be responsible for the regulation of charities in Northern Ireland and for promoting best practice in the management and governance of the charitable sector.

Appointments to the Commission will not be made until after the Bill has received Royal Assent [expected to be granted before the summer Recess]. As prescribed by the Bill, the Department for Social Development will have responsibility for
appointing the Commission which will be [a body corporate] consisting of a Chief Commissioner, a Deputy Chief Commissioner and 3 Commissioners.

The Chief Commissioner and Deputy Chief Commissioner will have:-

- proven leadership skills, management ability and the capacity to fully develop Board Members
and staff;
- outstanding communication and influencing skills;
- the capacity to form and maintain excellent working relationships and promote a spirit of team working within the Commission;
- strong analytical skills and the ability to make informed and timely decisions;
- ability to formulate strategies, policies, and procedures relating to the operation and governance of a public body;
- several years' experience of contributing effectively on a Board of comparable scale and complexity; and
- commitment to the seven principles which underpin the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies.

Charity Commissioners will have:-

- a sound working knowledge of the not for profit sector and a commitment to its aims and values;
- an appreciation of the changing role of charity regulation in Great Britain and Ireland and an appreciation of the interrelationships between the charity sector and Government, public and private sectors;
- practical experience and a sound understanding of strategic and financial planning; and

- good communication and interpersonal skills;

Candidates are expected to have knowledge or experience in at least one of the following areas

- legal experience in the charity field;
- charity fundraising; or
- finance, accounting and corporate governance.

At least one Commissioner will have responsibility for legal issues and must be either a barrister or a solicitor of at least 7 years' standing.

Duration of contract: An appointment of a person to hold office as a member of the Commission shall be for a term not exceeding 5 years.

Time Commitment: 1 - 2 days per month

Remuneration: There will be no remuneration attached to these appointments. All Commissioners will receive normal travel and subsistence allowances in respect of expenses incurred whilst on Commission business.

All public appointments are made in accordance with guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland and must comply with the statutory requirements under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, i.e. the promotion of equal opportunity and diversity.

How to Apply:

An information pack and application form can be obtained as follows:-

In writing from: DSD Charities Implementation Team, Level 3, Lighthouse Building, Gasworks
Business Park, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JB
Tel: 028 9082 9427 E-Mail: Kieran.doyle@dsdni.gov.uk Web: www.dsdni.gov.uk

Closing date for applications is Friday 15 August 2008