The Climate Coalition - Chair

CHAIR APRIL 2022

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INTRO We are in a critical decade for urgent action on climate and nature to avoid the worst impacts for people and for nature.

The Climate Coalition is a group of over 140 organisations in England, and along with our sister organisations Stop Climate Chaos Cymru and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, we reach across the UK to raise our voices for climate, nature and people.

The Climate Coalition is in a unique position to build support for action on climate and nature around the UK and to push for urgent action from Government, Local Authorities and other stakeholders. Our members collectively make up the biggest coalition of organisations working together for a greener, fairer future with a combined supporter base of over 20 million people.

The Climate Coalition has a track record of organising some of the biggest events in UK history calling for action on climate and nature and working with our members to engage new audiences and mainstream support for the policies and practices needed.

We are seeking a Board Chair to work closely with our trustees, director and members to provide the leadership required to help us ensure we are successful in our highly ambitious aims over the coming years.

If you have an interest in this unique and rewarding role, do speak to the team at Oxford HR and they will advise you on how to apply.

We look forward to hearing from you Patrick Begg, Interim co-chair, The Climate Coalition 2

ABOUT THE CLIMATE COALITION The Climate Coalition is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change.

Along with their sister organisations Stop Climate Chaos Cymru and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, the coalition is a group of over 140 organisations including names such as the National Trust, Women’s Institute, Oxfam and RSPB, and 22 million voices strong. The coalition reaches across the UK to ask politicians to put aside their differences and commit to doing whatever is necessary to protect the world we love.

The Climate Coalition has already achieved a great deal.

From reaching millions with their annual ‘Show the Love’ campaign; to the campaign that led to the UK becoming the first major economy to set a legally binding net zero target; to making history at the biggest ever mass lobby for climate, nature and people. In 2021 over 200,000 people showed up for the planet during the first Great Big Green Week, a celebration of action to tackle the climate and nature crises with more than 5000 events nationwide.

The coalition is led by a small, dynamic central secretariat team working in close partnership with coalition members. The Climate Coalition Board currently made up of 6 Trustees, which include campaign leaders from partner organisations. The coalition is seeking their next Chairperson, to succeed Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy and Communications at CAFOD.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 1

Strategic convening role focused on new audiences

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Engage untapped membership potential through a test and learn approach

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Create opportunities for effective, strategic collaboration to show our collective strength and to reach new audiences

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Support member organisations and the wider movement to achieve our shared goals

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OUR STRUCTURE TCC BOARD

SECRETARIAT TEAM

STEERING GROUP

POLITICS

GREAT BIG GREEN WEEK COMMS SUPERGROUP

MEDIA & PR SPRINT GROUP

HIGH AMBITION COMMS

DIGITAL AVENGERS 4

THE ROLE Remuneration

The role of Chair is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel may be claimed.

Location

Ability to attend meetings and go to the TCC office in London.

Time commitment

6 board meetings per year. Additionally the Chair is expected to have monthly meetings with the Director and the opportunity to represent TCC at various events and meetings with key stakeholders.

Reporting to Board

Objective

The Chair, working with the Board, will hold the Secretariat to account for TCC’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board, ensuring that Board members fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of TCC. The Chair will line manage and support the Director and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the Secretariat to achieve agreed objectives. They will act as an ambassador and a public face of TCC in partnership with the Director and the Board.

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RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic leadership

• Provide leadership to TCC and its Board, ensuring that it has maximum impact • Ensure that the Board fulfils their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of TCC • Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks • Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of TCC, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability

Governance

• Ensure that the governance arrangements are working effectively • Ensure the development of the knowledge and capability of the Board • Encourage positive change where appropriate and address and resolve any conflicts within the Board • Appraise the performance of the Board on a regular basis • Ensure that the Board is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge, diversity and experience needed

External Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the cause and TCC along with other Board members • Maintain close relationships with key TCC members and wider stakeholders in the climate movement, including fostering positive relationships with other sectoral coalitions • Act as a spokesperson for TCC when appropriate • Represent TCC at external functions, meetings and events • Facilitate change and address any potential conflict with external stakeholders

Efficiency and Effectiveness

• Chair meetings of the Board effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decisionmaking process • Ensure that the Board are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of TCC and that the Board takes collective ownership • Foster, maintain and ensure that constructive relationships exist with and between the Board • Work closely with the Director to give direction to Board policy-making and to ensure that meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of the Board • Monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.

Relationship with the Director and Secretariat

• To have formal line management of the Director including holding them to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives, conducting an annual appraisal, and ensuring the opportunity for professional development • Ensure regular contact with the Director and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges • Liaise with the Director to maintain an overview of the TCC’s activities, providing support as necessary • To have a visible leadership role with the wider Secretariat, providing support, encouragement and challenge as needed.

The above list is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION In addition to the qualities required as a Trustee, the Chair must meet the following requirements Personal Qualities

• Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to TCC, its strategic objectives and cause • Exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role • Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively • Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of TCC • Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment • Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours

Experience

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation • Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board • Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders • Significant experience of chairing meetings and events

Knowledge and skills

• Broad knowledge and understanding of the climate crisis, the climate movement and civil society and the current issues affecting it • Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together • Financial management expertise and a broad understanding of charity finance issues • Good understanding of charity governance issues

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HOW TO APPLY All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two separate documents.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long, explaining why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your LastName-Document Name-Date (mmyyyy) eg, Pat-Jones-CV-042022-TCC or Pat-Jones-CoverLetter-042022-TCC. Please note that all our clients recruiting in the UK are legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK, as per government regulations. For further information visit the Home Office website.

Timeline

Closing date for applications Sunday 19th June

Equality statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of The Climate Coalition’s values.

Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Get in touch

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email climate-coalition-chair@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

Next steps

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application within two weeks of applying. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

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ABOUT OXFORD HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and environment / climate sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of NGOs, social sector, corporate, public sector, and start ups from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.

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