Vacancy – Chair of the Board of Trustees, Marks Hall Estate
Marks Hall Estate is a leading visitor attraction in a beautiful heritage landscape that extends to over 2,350 acres of north Essex countryside. Managed and cared for by a charity which was established in 1971, the Estate receives no external funding. Given to the nation by Thomas Phillips Price, Marks Hall Estate will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021. The organisation is at the beginning of a very exciting period of change and development including the launch of a new five-year strategy and significant capital projects.
Marks Hall Estate includes tenanted farm holdings, residential and commercial property, broadleaved woodlands of high nature conservation value, an 18th Century Coach House event venue and, at its heart, a 200-acre Arboretum, with stunning collections of trees from every temperate area of the globe.
Marks Hall Estate is governed by a Board of Trustees, each of whom has been selected and appointed for their own relevant specialisms, to oversee the strategic direction of the charity. The charity’s object is ‘the advancement, in the interests of the nation, of agriculture, arboriculture and forestry’. The Board ensures its decision making supports the work of Marks Hall Estate, working within the parameters of the constitution of the charity.
We are seeking an exceptional candidate with an outstanding record of achievement in a field of work which is relevant to the work of our charity to join the Board as its next Chair. This is a high-profile voluntary appointment in which you will act as an ambassador for Marks Hall Estate in partnership with the Trustees and the Executive Director, leading the Board and staff team on the significant fundraising required to implement the strategy over the next five years, and ensuring that the charity complies with its charitable object as expressed in the will of Thomas Philips Price.
As well as chairing the Board and being a member of its sub-committees, the role will maintain an oversight of the finances of Marks Hall Estate as well as significant projects. With a wide network of contacts, you will lead the charity through the next phase of growth and development, building relationships with key stakeholders. You will demonstrate a visible passion and commitment to our charity, its objectives, and our planned social and environmental impact, along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
We are looking for someone who is based in East Anglia, East or North London region, who is preferably familiar with Essex and Suffolk. Marks Hall Estate is committed to diversity and we welcome candidates from all cultural and social backgrounds who demonstrate the relevant skills and expertise.
How to apply
Applications should include a CV and short Statement of Suitability for this role. The statement should give evidence of the strength and depth of your ability to meet the essential criteria for this role with specific examples to demonstrate from your past experience how you meet the criteria. This should be no more than 1000 words.
Additional documents and information about Marks Hall Estate are available on the Marks Hall website www.markshall.org.uk
Your application should be emailed to [email protected]
The closing date for applications is 21 September 2020. Interviews for those short-listed will take place in October. It is hoped that the successful candidate will be appointed by the end of October and take up post on 1 January 2021.
