Chair of Trustees at Amos Trust

Amos Trust

Amos Trust is a small, creative human rights organisation founded in 1985 to challenge injustice, build hope and create change by working with inspiring partners developing local responses to global issues.

We currently work across three areas:

• Palestine Justice
  The largest of our three areas of work. We seek to celebrate Palestinian culture, support local grassroots partner projects and campaign for Palestinian rights.
  Read more
• Gender Justice
  Our inspirational local partners are committed to reaching and building trust with girls and young women who have experienced some of the worst that our world has to offer. These projects support them to live with dignity, overcome trauma, pursue their rights and aspirations, and become changemakers within their communities.
  Read more
• Climate Justice
  Those with the least political and economic power, and the least responsibility for the changing climate, are affected the most by it. We are building a network of young women climate activists and land defenders in Mexico and Central America, supporting them with the training and finances needed to establish their own local projects.
  Read more

“I’m proud to be a patron of Amos Trust as it marks 40 years of standing with those facing injustice. In a world where violence and inequality are so often met with silence, Amos chooses to listen — and to act.” Brian Eno — Musician, Producer, Artist & Activist

Amos is run by the Director and their staff team, who are responsible for all day-to-day operations. The Director also works with trustees to identify the charity’s strategic direction and deliver against it. We have an effective board of trustees who play an active role in the charity’s activities and currently has a turnover of approximately £2 million a year, holds a suitable level of reserves and employs a staff of nine.

The Chair and trustees

The Amos Chair and Board play a vital role in the life of the charity. Together, they seek to:

• ensure Amos has effective governance
• ensure Amos complies with the requirements of relevant charity law
• ensure the charity has a clear strategic direction
• ensure the charity takes due note of the risks associated with the areas in which it operates
• provide advice and insight on different areas of Amos’s operation
• provide appropriate support to the Director and the team
• act as ambassadors for the charity, opening doors to potential supporters, influencers and those who may be able to further its work
• attend events organised by Amos Trust, as and when possible.

Trustees typically sit on one of the board’s sub-committees — Finance and Risk, Fundraising or Communications — or on one of the working groups set up from time to time to support a specific area of work.

Role description

The Chair provides strategic leadership to the charity and the Board of Trustees, ensuring it is well governed, financially sound and delivering on its aims. The Chair supports and holds the Director to account, acting as the Director’s line manager.

Key responsibilities

Governance and leadership

• provide effective leadership to the Board of Trustees, enabling it to fulfil its responsibilities for the charity’s overall governance and strategic direction
• ensure the charity complies with its governing documents, charity law and Charity Commission guidance, with the full support of other trustees
• promote a culture of integrity, transparency and collective responsibility at board level
• oversee trustee recruitment, induction, succession planning and ongoing board effectiveness.

Strategic direction

• support the Board in setting, approving and reviewing the charity’s strategic plan and annual objectives
• support creativity and innovation while ensuring risks are properly identified and managed
• support the organisation through periods of growth, change or increased complexity.

Relationship with the Director

• act as line manager to the Director, providing support, challenge and appraisal
• maintain a clear separation between governance and operational management
• serve as a sounding board for the Director on strategic and organisational matters

Board management and communications

• chair Board meetings effectively, ensuring robust discussion, constructive challenge and timely decision-making
• agree agendas with the Director and Trustee Secretary, ensuring trustees receive clear, accurate and timely information
• ensure conflicts of interest are appropriately managed.

Financial oversight and risk

• work with the Treasurer and Board to oversee risk management and long-term financial sustainability
• support the development of diversified and resilient income streams.

External representation

• represent the charity publicly where the opportunity arises.

Person specification

Essential

Experience

• experience of sitting on a board or committee, whether for a non-profit or a business, with a good understanding of charity governance
• experience in a leadership or management role
• experience supporting organisations through change or complexity.

Skills and attributes

• able to advise, challenge and offer constructive feedback in a boundaried and supportive way
• works collaboratively with strong interpersonal skills
• able to lead the trustees effectively as a Board, by:
  • making good use of the skills and talents of individual board members
  • ensuring full participation of Board members across discussions and subcommittees
  • chairing meetings effectively, building consensus where possible and ensuring actions are followed through;
• tolerant of appropriate levels of risk, and welcomes the opportunity to work with a fast-moving, responsive organisation
• committed to Amos Trust’s mission and values
• committed to widening the diversity of Amos’s board, staff and supporters.

Desirable

Experience

• in, or knowledge of, one of Amos’s three areas of work
• as Chair of a board
• working closely with, or overseeing, a Chief Executive or Director
• familiarity with accounts and financial reports, with the ability to interpret financial information and ask the right questions.

Tenure, time commitment and process

The Chair and trustees are each appointed for a four-year term, which can be extended for a further four years. On average, we expect the Chair to contribute the equivalent of one to two days a month to the role.

The Trustee body meets four to five times a year for two hours, with two of those meetings held in person. Meeting times are set to suit trustees and typically fall outside a standard working day. We aim to ensure that Trustee meetings don’t spend extensive periods on policies, procedures and reports, so there’s time to properly engage with the key issues.

We are committed to building a diverse board, and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We recognise that we need to grow and develop diversity across the organisation, and hope to use this recruitment process to contribute to that goal.

If you’d like to find out more about the Chair’s position, please contact [email protected]. To apply, please send a CV and a short email or cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining why you’re well suited to the role and what excites you about the opportunity, to the same address.

Location

The role is based in the UK.

Closing date: ???????????

Image: Brian Eno, Amos’ Patron, performing as part of our Gaza fundraiser at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London — September 2025. Photography: Mark Kensett