Leeds Building Society Foundation Chair

Leeds Building Society; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused charity is seeking a Chair for the Leeds Building Society Foundation. This role involves leading quarterly board meetings, guiding trustees in funding decisions, and ensuring governance compliance. Candidates should have previous trustee experience, strong leadership skills, and an understanding of housing or homelessness issues. The charity values diverse perspectives and is committed to creating an inclusive environment. This is a part-time commitment of 3-4 hours per month and an opportunity to make a significant impact in the community.

Benefits

Inclusive Employers Gold accreditation

Purpose-focused culture

Opportunity to impact communities

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and committed to the role.
• Ability to empower trustees and chair meetings effectively.
• Understanding of social issues faced by communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead quarterly board meetings at the Head Office.
• Support trustee development and act as a figurehead.
• Ensure governance compliance with strategic community giving.

Skills

Previous trustee experience

Strong leadership skills

Understanding of charity governance

Ability to measure project impact

Open to new ideas

Job description

How you'll help us live our purpose

We've been helping our members save for their future and buy their own home since 1875. Join us and you'll play a big role in helping us to put home ownership within reach of more people, generation after generation.

It's a purpose that drives everything we do. And you can play your part too, join us Chair to the Leeds Building Society Foundation

How you'll make a difference

Leeds Building Society Foundation is an independent grant-making charity funded by the Society and its members. We support UK registered charities that help people in need of a safe and secure home.

The Foundation distributes approximately £350,000 annually through its large and small grant schemes. Funding decisions are made quarterly by a board of independent trustees, who also set strategy and ensure compliance with charity governance and best practice.

Following the retirement of our current Chair after nine years as a trustee, we are seeking a new Chair to lead the Foundation's strategic direction and approach to grant giving. The role includes:

• Leading quarterly board meetings at our Head Office.
• Empowering trustees to make impactful funding decisions aligned with our purpose and response to housing and homelessness challenges.
• Ensuring governance compliance, supported by the Secretary.
• Supporting trustee development and acting as a figurehead for the Foundation.
• Bringing external insight to inform our work.

What will you bring to the role?

• Previous trustee experience - enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and committed
• Ability to chair quarterly board meetings and be an ambassador for the Foundation.
• Has professional and/or lived experienced in housing or homelessness.
• Understands the social issues charities and communities face.
• A good understanding of charity governance and passion for strategic community giving.
• Ability to review project impact, measure risk, and interpret financial data.
• Strong leadership skills and can unite and guide trustees
• Open to new ideas and challenge the status quo.
• Able to dedicate 3 - 4 hours a month to the role and support the Grants Manager and the Board

Why choose us?

Our business is centred around our people. Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do, as shown by our Inclusive Employers Gold accreditation in 2023 and 2025. We're committed to equal opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

You'll be joining a truly purpose-focused culture which helped us win the Leading with Purpose award at the 2023 Business Culture Awards. This recognises how we've embedded our purpose with our colleagues, and the actions we've taken to put home ownership within reach of more people, generation after generation.

Why wait? Apply now

We'd love to hear from you. But don't wait around - we may close the advert early and we'd hate for you to miss out.

We're devoted to creating a culture and workplace that is representative of the communities we serve. If you'd like to work with us but are unsure if you meet the full criteria for a role, please contact our Grants Manager on [e-mail]