Would you like the opportunity to join the Board of the UK’s leading authority on water efficiency?

Waterwise is an independent, not-for-profit campaigning organisation focused on reducing water consumption in the UK. We support and challenge governments, industry, customers and others to be innovative and ambitious on water efficiency. Waterwise is an incredible organisation that is punching well above its weight!

Time commitment: Four Board meetings per year, one of which will be an Away Day, plus potential membership of one Board Committee. The overall time commitment is approx one day per month. This is a three-year term, with the possibility of a further three years.

Responsibilities:

Members of the Waterwise Board are responsible for the governance and strategic direction of Waterwise. Waterwise Board Members are expected to:

• Ensure that Waterwise  has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these

• Contribute actively to the Board in giving clear strategic direction to Waterwise

• Appoint the Managing Director and monitor their performance

• Ensure Waterwise complies with its Articles, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

• Ensure Waterwise pursues its objectives as stated in its Articles

• Ensure Waterwise spends its money only on things that will help it to achieve its objectives

• Evaluate organisational performance against agreed targets

• Safeguard the good name and values of Waterwise

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of Waterwise

• Ensure that Waterwise is financially stable

• Ensure that Waterwise’s governance is of the highest possible standard

• Promote and develop Waterwise, including its equality and diversity strategy, and centring staff wellbeing

• Question intelligently, debate constructively, challenge rigorously and decide dispassionately on all matters presented to the Board

• Establish and comply with the expected behaviour for the Board and employees and the organisation’s values

In addition to the above, each Board Member should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve:

• Scrutinising Board papers

• Leading discussions

• Focusing on key issues

• Providing guidance on new initiatives

• Other issues in which the Board Member has special expertise.

Selection criteria:

• A commitment to Waterwise’s mission and purpose

• A commitment to diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities and staff wellbeing

• The ability to work effectively in a team with other Board Members and the executive team

• The ability to read, understand, and analyse electronically presented written and numerical reports and to draw out pertinent points for discussion

• The ability to express views succinctly and effectively in a formal Board meeting environment making reasoned and considered contributions.

• The ability to consider the long-term implications and take a broad view of issues, spotting opportunities, identifying risks and the means of mitigating them

• Good, independent judgement

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• A strong team player, who respects and values the views of others and is able to speak their mind with tact and diplomacy

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to meet the duties and responsibilities of the role

In addition, following a recent Board appraisal, we are seeking up four new Board Members who between them or in combination can provide some or all of the following:

• A contribution to our Board’s diversity of perspective – we welcome applications from anyone with a passion for our mission, and from a wide range of skills and experience, and we particularly welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups e.g. candidates bringing diversity in terms of age; ethnicity; socio-economic status; disability

• Expertise in the commercial use of water/industrial water consumption

• Expertise in the energy sector, particularly in campaigning and/or advocacy

• Expertise in not-for-profit or charity governance

• Digital and innovation expertise

• Expertise in corporate social responsibility and how to affect change in the commercial world

• People management, HR or training and development expertise

• Financial expertise

We are looking for people who can act as advocates for Waterwise and who will be committed to our mission and approach.  Our approach to diversity underpins our work,  and we expect all our Board Members to demonstrate a personal commitment to diversity.

Additional information about Waterwise, including our Board and executive team, is available on our website https://www.waterwise.org.uk/.

How to apply

To apply you will need to answer role-related questions. Please provide evidence and examples from your work history or other aspects of your life to answer the questions and demonstrate how you meet the criteria required. Full criteria details can be found here in the candidate pack.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact our recruitment adviser Bernice Rook, bernice@ep-uk.org – having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of the application.

The Waterwise Chair, MD and other Board Members will be holding a 30-minute drop-in session for you to ask any questions about Waterwise and being a Waterwise Board Member, on Thursday 7th April at 12.30pm, on Zoom. You can register here.

The closing date for applications is Monday 25th April.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th May, with Tania Flasck, Rose O’Neill, Bernice Rook and Nicci Russell.