Trustee

The MS Society is seeking new Trustees. People who want to help us to become even more effective and who share our commitment to stop MS. Strategic thinkers with excellent communication skills, who can assimilate complex information and ask challenging and strategic questions.

Being a Trustee of the MS Society is a challenging and rewarding experience. We’re seeking four Trustees who share our values and our commitment to stopping MS.

Join our Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees sets our strategy and monitors its implementation. This is no mean task when you consider that we’re made up of around 270 local groups, 5,000 volunteer roles and close to 300 staff, with an annual expenditure of around £29 million. We’re the largest not-for-profit funder of MS research in the UK, supporting world-class research projects, while offering information and support for people who are living with and affected by MS.

Trustees need to be strategic thinkers with excellent communication skills, who can assimilate complex information and ask challenging questions. Our Trustees are expected to have – or be prepared to develop – an understanding of MS, as well as being expected to commit the time and energy needed to do a great job.

The role is unremunerated though expenses are reimbursed – we would never want anyone to be put off being a Trustee because of concerns about the cost of travel or accommodation to attend meetings. Applications from across the UK are encouraged – where you live does not affect whether you would be a good Trustee.

We’ve identified a number of priorities for our Trustee recruitment this year and we’re looking for people who will help us address one or more of them.

Connection to MS

People affected by MS are at the heart of our decisions and work – we welcome applications from people who have a personal connection to MS.

Skills and expertise

We’re looking for individuals with the following specific skills and expertise:

• Impact measurement and evaluation
• Fundraising
• Marketing and communications
• Digital transformation
• Service provision within the charity sector
• Knowledge of the research environment
• People, culture and values

Diversity

We actively encourage applications from people from the following groups who are currently under-represented on our Board to help broaden the Board’s diversity:

• People from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds (BAME)
• LGBTQ+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and other identities)
• People with personal experience of financial hardship or claiming welfare benefits

Learning and development support

Although our starting point is to look for people who have experience at Board level in other organisations, we realise that a lack of diversity on other Boards or the challenges of working with MS may mean that you haven’t had the opportunity to acquire that experience. So if you believe you can help address the priorities we’ve set ourselves as a Board, with support and development from our Governance Team and a Trustee mentor/buddy, then please don’t let your lack of Board level experience stop you from applying.

How to apply

Please apply via our Online Recruitment system, including a supporting statement of up to 500 words and attaching your current CV to your application.

Please refer to the role description and information pack when completing your supporting statement, and explain how your skills, personal qualities and experience (paid work, volunteering and personal experience) would help you perform the role of Trustee. Please also tell us about any connection you have to MS and explain your interest in the MS Society.

The closing date for applications is 19 July 2020 at 5pm.

Online and telephone interviews will be held during week commencing 10 August 2020.

If you have any questions about the Trustee role or you’re unable to apply online, please contact Danielle Walker, Governance Manager, on 020 8438 0839 or by email at [email protected].