Chair of the Board of Trustees

Background

Medact organises the health community to work towards a world in which everyone is able to live healthy, dignified lives, supported by political and economic systems that centre health justice. Our priority work areas are some of the most pressing threats to health and wellbeing, including ending state violence, housing & energy justice, and migrant access to healthcare. Medact seeks systemic solutions to major social problems, and is unafraid to hold decision-makers to account. We launched our new five-year strategy at the end of 2025, embedding our vision for how we win and how we grow.

We're member-led, and our membership spans a range of people who work in health, including nurses, doctors, midwives and clinical researchers, as well as people from the wider health community.

We are now looking for a new Chair of our Board of Trustees. Our Chair will support the Executive Director and staff to help build on our achievements and realise Medact's vision. They will work with their fellow Trustees to make up a strong and effective Board governing the Charity.

We see our Chair as having the ability to advocate on behalf of Medact's work as well as helping to build the membership and public image of the organisation. They will bring with them strong relationships within the health community and broader social justice movement.

Main responsibilities

• Lead the Board in working with the Executive Director to maintain vision, purpose, strategic direction, goals and values of Medact
• Manage the Board, including Trustee recruitment, ensuring that Trustees comply with their duties, that the Board performs effectively and the Charity is well-governed.
• Line-manage the Executive Director, including supporting them in their professional development
• Support the Executive Director in developing organisational strategy
• Maintain proper fiscal oversight of the organisation alongside the Treasurer and Executive Director
• Establish and monitor adherence to organisational policies
• Ensure compliance with governing documents
• Ensure compliance with charity law and other legal requirements
• Ensure board reports, papers and record of meetings are maintained
• Chair board meetings and facilitate board communications, and chair our AGM

Criteria

Essential:

• Has a health worker or wider health community background with relationships and networks that position them well to fulfil an ambassadorial role for Medact
• Is committed to Medact's vision, purpose and culture and its way of working, and able to communicate this enthusiasm to others
• Can demonstrate facilitation, advocacy and mediation skills
• Has the skills and capacity to line manage the Executive Director, including organisational management and supporting the Executive Director's continued professional development
• Understands and accepts the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of Trustees, and the difference between governance functions and management functions
• Has a high level of integrity and sound judgement
• Is able and willing to devote the necessary time to the role
• Is a member of Medact (or prepared to join Medact)

Desirable:

• Is experienced in governance/strategic leadership of a charity or NGO
• Has lived experience of being part of one of the communities Medact's work seeks to support
• Has strong strategic awareness of the campaigning world and the health community's role in it, either in a grassroots or NGO setting.
• Is a good communicator with public speaking, writing and interpersonal skills, able to empower and challenge supportively, and work with and motivate a diverse team of Trustees
• Experience in successfully raising funds from major donors

Term of office

The Chair's term is two years, following which the Trustees may re-elect the Chair for a further one or two term(s). If the Chair is co-opted as a Trustee, they are 'Chair designate' until formally elected at the next AGM.

Time requirement

The role will require a time commitment of around 2 days per month, on average, with more time required in some months than others.

This will include planned quarterly board meetings of approximately 2-4 hours, normally held online but from time to time in London with facilities for joining remotely, as well as occasional events and the Medact AGM. The Chair must be available to support the Executive Director and fellow Trustees between Board meetings, including taking responsibility to deal with issues which arise, and regular one-to-one meetings with the Executive Director.

Finally, we would require that the Chair be able to put some time into promoting Medact to funders, health institutions and other networks and organisers. This may not require substantial additional time, as it may be something the Chair could integrate into existing relationships and communications.

How to apply

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification and send a CV and cover letter of no more than 2 pages setting out your reasons for applying, and what you feel you could bring to Medact, via the button below with the subject "Chair of the Board".

Timeline

Applications are open until 9am on Monday 9th March.

We aim to interview candidates in March. Please let us know when applying if you are unavailable during this period.

Principles

Medact is absolutely committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We value diversity and lived experience, and acknowledge the under-representation of people from certain backgrounds both within the health community and wider campaigning movements. We are determined to correct this and particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; people with disabilities (including mental illness); people from the LGBT+ community; and people who identify as working class (or have done so in the past). Any potential conflicts of interest should be declared for review by the Board.