Chair of the Board

Welcome From the Chair, David Baybut

Dear applicant,

It is with a sense of both pride and anticipation for the future, I am stepping down from my role as Chair of Quays Housing following almost six rewarding years in post. It has been a privilege to serve during a time of growth and transformation, and I am confident that new leadership will bring fresh perspectives and continued success. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of Quays Housing, supporting its mission to reduce and prevent homelessness in the UK. We are looking for someone with a diverse range of skills and experiences, who is passionate about contributing to our continued growth and impact. You will play a vital role in steering the vision,
ensuring strong governance, and making a meaningful difference to the communities Quays serve. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to the Board, our people, and all those I have had the pleasure of working with during my tenure. It has been an inspiring journey, and I look forward to supporting the next generation of leadership in any way I can as they build upon the
strong foundations we have laid together. If you or someone you know is interested in applying or would like more information, please don’t
hesitate to reach out. Quays look forward to welcoming new voices to its Board and continuing their important work.

Best Wishes,

 

 

Join Quays Housing as Our New Chair: Lead with Purpose in a People-First Organisation

Quays Housing is seeking a dedicated and experienced individual to join us as our new Chair. As a people-first organisation rooted in community values, we believe in placing individuals and their unique needs at the heart of everything we do. This commitment drives our mission to provide compassionate, quality support for those facing homelessness and housing challenges.

The Chair will play a critical role in guiding our Board, ensuring that Quays Housing remains aligned with its mission and values while adhering to regulatory standards and best practices. This non-executive position offers a remuneration of £7,000 per annum plus expenses, with a commitment of six bi-monthly meetings, conducted both online and in-person, to foster a collaborative approach to strategic decision-making.

If you are passionate about driving positive change in the housing sector, possess strong governance and leadership skills, and share our commitment to creating inclusive, supportive communities, we encourage you to apply. Applications are open until midnight on Sunday, 24 November 2024. To apply, please submit your CV and a statement outlining your qualifications, interest in the role, and what you can bring to our Board at recruitment@quayshousing.co.uk.

Please read the full details below:

Job Summary:

The non-executive Chair leads the Board, oversees its activities, and works to ensure that Quays Housing achieves its mission in line with its values, meeting the requirements the Co-operative and Community Benefits Society, FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and best practice.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Governance:

• Provide strong, effective leadership, overseeing performance and encouraging a
  collaborative and high-performing Board culture.
• Promote high standards of corporate governance, ensuring compliance with regulatory and industry standards, including adherence to the NHF Code of Governance 2020.
• Chair Board meetings, participate in subcommittees as needed, and approve changes to
  committee structures and terms of reference.
• Oversee the risk framework for identifying, managing, and reporting risks to safeguard
  Quays’ assets and reputation.
•  Act as an ambassador for the charity in partnership with the Managing Director.

Strategic Direction & Alignment:

• Establish and support a framework for the approval and implementation of the company’s
  strategic goals and Corporate Plan.
• Ensure Executive activities align with values, vision, mission, and long-term objectives
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, setting and supporting challenging targets for
  service enhancement.

Executive Support & Accountability:

• Establish a strong working relationship with the Managing Director, providing both support
  and challenge to hold them accountable for performance.
•  Work closely with the Leadership team to ensure a systematic approach to strategic
  assurance, alignment with corporate objectives, and robust performance management.
• Lead the remuneration, development and succession planning for the Managing Director.

Financial Oversight & Risk Management:

• Ensure the Board satisfies itself regarding the accuracy of financial information, approve
  annual statutory accounts, budgets, and financial plans.
• Oversee service delivery to ensure it represents good value and complies with SLA’s.
• Assess and agree on policies addressing material financial or other risks to Quays Housing.

Board Development & Succession:

• Approve changes to the Board’s size, structure, and membership, and support succession
  planning for Board and Executive roles.
• Approve Committee membership and Committee Chairs, maintaining strong, qualified leadership.

Person Specification – who we are looking for:

 – Essential Experience

• Experience of chairing a not-for-profit Board
• Experience of working in a complex group structure
• Experience of setting the strategic direction of a business
• Experience of Business Development
• Experience of driving organisational performance
• Experience of leading teams and managing performance
• Experience of setting and reviewing customer service standards

– Desirable Experience

• Demonstrable skills and experience of leadership and delivery in the homeless
  sector or close equivalent, ideally on a national basis
• Experience of funding options and funding bids
• Experience of property investment and development

Skills & Knowledge:

– Essential 

• Excellent chairing skills
• Excellent communication & presentation skills
• A strong understanding of corporate governance
• The ability to quickly process and analyse information
• Financial skills and risk management skills
• Strong commercial acumen
• Strong leadership skills

–Desirable

• A track record of demonstrating an understanding of issues associated with
  individuals who have experienced homelessness.
• A good understanding of the economic, environmental, social, and political context
  within which the homeless sector operates
• Strategic understanding of homelessness and housing solutions
• Knowledge of current and long-term housing and planning issues

Personal qualities

-Essential

• The gravitas to develop strong working internal and external relationships.
• The ability to constructively challenge
• Good independent judgement.
• A commitment to equality and equity in all aspects of the organisation and its operations
• A clear sense of social values.
• High standards of personal and professional
  integrity.
• Personal and professional credibility that will command confidence across a wide range of stakeholder interests.

Application process and key information:

To apply for this position please send an up-to-date CV to recruitment@quayshousing.co.uk
demonstrating your full career history together with a supporting statement explaining why you
are interested in the role, how you meet our person specification and what you would bring to
our Board. Applications must be received by midnight on Sunday 24 November 2024.

For Further information see here: Join Quays Housing as Our New Chair: Lead with Purpose in a People-First Organisation

Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you.