Trustees x3

About the role

The Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust is registered as both a charity (No. 1157392) and a company (No. 08834787). Our Board members are both Trustees of the Trust and Directors of the Company. Four Board members act as the Trust’s officers: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.

This is an opportunity to help guide a growing environmental charity at a time when rivers face significant challenges but also present important opportunities for positive change. Our work takes place within a changing landscape of environmental policy, land management and funding, making effective governance, strategic thinking and partnership working increasingly important.

Our Trustees work collectively with our Trust Director to guide the strategic direction of Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust and support the delivery of our vision. As the organisation continues to develop, we are looking for people who are keen to contribute their skills, knowledge and experience to help shape our future.

We are aiming to appoint a number of new Trustees in this round of recruitment. This will enable new Trustees to join the board at an exciting time of change, and the induction process will encourage peer to peer knowledge sharing and growth.

About you

As a Trustee, you will contribute to the strategic development, good governance and financial sustainability of the Trust. Working alongside fellow Trustees and the Director, you will help ensure that the organisation remains effective, resilient and focused on delivering its charitable purposes.

We welcome applicants with a range of backgrounds and experiences who share our commitment to healthy rivers and thriving communities. You do not need to be an environmental specialist to make a valuable contribution to the Board.

We are particularly interested to hear from people who:

• Have experience of leading and managing growth within an organisation.
• Can highlight how we could support finance and business in delivering biodiversity and carbon offsets.
• Have experience in developing successful corporate funding relationships.
• Have a background in any of the following areas: financial management, community engagement, marketing, and communications, fundraising and strategic planning.
• Can broaden and deepen the diversity of thought and experience represented in our organisation. We aim to represent and reflect diverse communities.
• Have experience and understanding of land-use and farming and the opportunities available for landowners and environmental organisations to work together to bring positive impacts for all.

It would also be ideal if you had:

• A desire to tackle nature and climate emergencies, in particular in the water environment.
• A track record of successfully working within or managing a senior team.
• Experience in writing funding bids and a good understanding of what makes them successful.
• An ability to think strategically and discern how to prioritise opportunities that will ensure growth and sustainability.

Full details of the role and responsibilities can be found in the applicant pack on our website.

The closing date for this role is 11pm on Sunday 29th November.

No agencies please. We would be happy to discuss the role further. Please contact [email protected] with any queries or to arrange a phone conversation with the Director.

Initial telephone interviews will be held in December. Applicants who proceed to the next stage will need to complete a skills audit form and attend an online interview.

Successful candidates will need to:

• provide references
• confirm that they are eligible to act as a Trustee and Director
• supply the registration details required by Companies House and the Charity Commission.

Subject to successful completion of all stages, the new appointments will take effect from the next Board meeting on Tuesday 19th January 2027.