Deputy Chair, Board of Trustees

What will you be doing?

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership Support & Continuity: Work closely with the Chair to provide strategic leadership to the Board and stand in for the Chair in their absence to lead Board meetings and community events.
• Transition to Strategic Focus: Support the Board in shifting from its current operational delivery focus toward long-term strategic oversight as the Hub enters its next phase.
• Meeting Management: Take an active role in managing Board agendas and ensuring meeting timeframes are respected to maintain efficient and focused governance.
• Decision-Making Support: Facilitate effective and transparent decision-making during meetings, including calling for formal votes when required to ensure clarity and accountability.
• Internal Governance: Assist the Chair in ensuring the Board functions effectively, observing high standards of transparency and community-led leadership.
• Strategic Projects: Lead on specific strategic initiatives or sub-committees as agreed with the Chair, such as partnership development or fundraising.
• Trustee Mentorship: Support the Chair in the induction and development of new Board members, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Community Advocacy: Act as a senior ambassador for the Hub, championing the "For the Community, by the Community" ethos to local residents and stakeholders.

Performance & Risk Oversight: Assist the Chair in reviewing the performance of executive leadership and overseeing the identification and mitigation of strategic risks.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a Deputy Chair who brings strong leadership, sound judgement, and a commitment to community-led social impact. This role is ideal for someone motivated by local regeneration and keen to guide a once-in-a-generation project that puts residents at the heart of decision-making.

Experience & skills
The ideal candidate will have leadership experience, ideally in the voluntary, community, or social enterprise (VCSE) sector, and a track record in strategic decision-making or governance. They will be comfortable collaborating with senior stakeholders, providing clear guidance on complex issues, and supporting robust Board decision-making. Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills are essential, as is the ability to chair or support meetings effectively.

Attributes
We are looking for someone who shares The Hub’s values, demonstrating integrity, impartiality, and sound judgement. They should be approachable, inclusive, and collaborative, with a genuine passion for community participation and social impact.

Additional
A connection to or interest in local regeneration in Swindon is highly valued. The ability to represent The Hub at local networks, including the Swindon Borough Shared Communications Network, is desirable.

This is an opportunity to help steward a historic community asset, ensuring it delivers lasting social, cultural, and wellbeing benefits for the people of Toothill.

What difference will you make?

The Deputy Chair will play a critical role in strengthening governance, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring leadership continuity as The Hub moves toward becoming fully operational. By working closely with the Chair and Board, they will help safeguard the organisation’s community-led values, support sustainable growth, and ensure that this historic asset delivers lasting social, wellbeing, and cultural benefits for the people of Toothill.

Additional information

You can download the following documents:

Before you apply

Applicants will submit their interest via the Reach website, including a CV, LinkedIn profile, or portfolio, and a brief statement (max 300 words) explaining why they are interested in the Deputy Chair role and what skills they would bring.

The recruitment process has two stages:

1. An informal interview with our Interim CEO and Chair/Director to discuss experience, motivation, and fit.
2. Successful candidates will be invited to attend the next Board meeting and give a 2–3 minute verbal presentation on why they would be suitable for the role. Alternatively, candidates may submit a short video presentation. Following this, the Board will vote on the appointment.

We aim to review applications on a rolling basis and arrange interviews promptly after submission. The process is designed to be transparent and supportive, allowing candidates to understand the role and make an informed contribution to the Board.