Voluntary, three-year term, expenses paid

SOS-UK is seeking to recruit 3 additional members to our board of trustees, to progress and shape our rapidly growing educational charity for addressing sustainability and climate justice.

Introducing SOS-UK

SOS-UK was created by students and staff at NUS in 2019 to go further and faster in tackling the climate emergency and ecological crisis and deliver on climate justice through education. We are striving to get more young people leading on, and learning for, sustainability; to repurpose the education system around the climate emergency and ecological crisis; and to make sustainability more inclusive, so it is for everyone. We run engagement programmes and systems change campaigns, produce influential research and deliver training and development initiatives. We work with most UK universities, many colleges, numerous public sector organisations and increasingly environmental and sustainability charities.

SOS-UK employs 35 staff, with over a half being young people, and our turnover is £1.4 million per year. Our charity registration number is 1184011. We are an ambitious and fast-paced organisation that is in strong growth, reflecting the desire of the existing trustees to urgently take action on the climate emergency and ecological crisis.

About the role

We currently have four fantastic trustees, as detailed here: www.sos-uk.org/about. We are looking to add three more external (non-student) trustees with specific experience and expertise. You will need to be able to commit to a minimum of 5-6 days work for us a year on a voluntary basis, which includes preparing for, and attending, our four board meetings each year. Board meetings are a mix of online and in-person events.

We are particularly interested in applicants who can bring specific expertise or experience in the following areas:

• Corporate governance and charity law
• Digital engagement and/or software development
• Finance and financial audit
• Human resources, personnel and trade union relations
• National education policy
• Nature and biodiversity, and tackling the ecological crisis
• Safeguarding
• Strategy development and experience of leading an organisation in strong growth
• Working in the devolved nations

We are looking for people that reflect our values: 

• Student-centred
• Inclusive and supportive
• Driven by social justice, anti-oppression and solidarity
• Responsive, dynamic, flexible
• Reliable and honest
• Transparent and accountable
• Team-focused and collaborative
• Understanding and caring

You should also have a passion for taking action to tackle the climate emergency and ecological crisis and be an advocate of youth action and agency.

As an SOS-UK trustee, you will gain insight into the breadth of our work, be part of a dynamic team of trustees and wider organisational staff team, all of whom bring a wealth of experience of supporting young people and transforming the education sector.

More info

For an informal conversation about becoming a trustee for SOS-UK, please contact Richard Dunne via [email protected].

We’re totally committed to equality of opportunity for all. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, ages, ability, ethnicities, genders, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

How to apply

Please apply by sending a CV and cover letter to [email protected]. Please ensure to include disclosure of all current and previous paid and voluntary roles for consideration of any potential conflicts of interest.

The deadline to apply is 12 noon on Friday 20 May 2022.

There will be online interviews in the week commencing 30 May 2022. Depending on the number of applicants, you may be asked for an informal interview to discuss your application in advance of any interview.