Trustee & CIC Non Executive Director

Are you interested in becoming a Trustee or NED?

Would you like to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of the most innovative actors in the water stewardship and water, sanitation and hygiene sectors?

We’re seeking a Finance Trustee for our Charity board, plus a new NED for our CIC board.

Join Frank Water’s friendly and effective team as we enter an ambitious new phase.

Who should apply?

We want to hear from you whether this would be a first Trustee/NED role, or you already have experience. We value fresh perspectives and new ideas as well as experience. Frank Water wants to ensure a diverse Board so that the people we serve and our community benefit from diversity of knowledge, skills, experience and background.

We encourage people of colour, who are LGBTQIA+, disabled, under 30 and/or from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to apply. You don’t have to have been a Trustee or NED before. If you have the skills, knowledge and experience we need, we will support you through training and mentorship if needed. We know it can be daunting joining a board, so we’ll support you all the way.

If you’d like to have an informal chat, we’d be delighted to talk to you.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 19 September.

This is an unpaid voluntary role, requiring a 3 year (one term) minimum commitment, ideally two terms (6 years).

For this recruitment round we are looking for people who can bring insights from a broad range of experience and backgrounds, but we are especially interested to hear from those who’d suit these roles:

• Finance Trustee: Finance & Accounting or similar skills & experience
• CIC Non-Exec Director: Events & Festivals or Food & Drinks sector skills & experience

About Frank Water

At Frank Water our mission is to alleviate global water poverty, enhance health, and protect the natural environment by improving the way that people understand and use water, with a focus on those most in need.

We’re two organisations (with a joint board of Trustees and NEDs) that share a single vision of a global water system that can provide everyone, everywhere with access to enough, good-quality water to sustain their livelihoods, protect their health, and unlock their potential, which conserves the environment and, at the same time, maintains peace and political stability.

To achieve this vision, we work overseas and in the UK, via our registered charity (Frank Water Charity/Projects – approx £600k annual income) and our social enterprise (Frank Water CIC – approx £100k+ annual income). Our work is centered around Sustainable Development Goal 6 – providing access to safe water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Frank Water Charity raises funds to provide vulnerable communities overseas with long-term access to safe water, sanitation, and good hygiene. We partner with other leaders in the WASH sector to research and develop new technologies and practices and advocate for the change that’s needed for a water-secure world.

Frank Water CIC raises funds to support our charitable programmes and raises awareness to inspire the UK (and beyond) to value and protect the world’s most precious resource. We do this through our refill services, water coolers, and bottled spring water (in glass bottles only), encouraging individuals to consume less and reuse, recycle and refill more.

The Charity is represented on the Board by Trustees, the CIC by NEDs.

Our team

Frank Water is a small team of predominantly part time staff based out of a hub in Bristol. We have a senior leadership team led by our Joint CEOs and a passionate team in support. We also have excellent colleagues based overseas, who support the management and delivery of our programmatic work.

We have just been through an exciting development stage, our 20th year of Frank Water, welcoming in new Joint CEOs to work alongside our Founder, who is stepping back from operational leadership to focus on fundraising & advocacy.

Frank Water Charity/Projects currently has a Board of 6 Trustees, whilst our wholly owned trading subsidiary, Frank Water CIC, has a Board of 3 Non executive Directors.

The two Boards work very closely together and although they have some separate governance/legal requirements, we have joint Board meetings each quarter to ensure a full understanding and engagement across the activities.

Our Board meetings are held quarterly in Bristol and normally last around 3 hours. We expect our trustees to take part in one annual strategy/governance day and to communicate with other members of the Board regularly between meetings and to engage with relevant members of the staff team on a monthly basis to support in guiding and advising their work.

We expect our Trustees & NEDs to be willing to network on behalf of Frank Water, acting as Ambassadors for the cause whenever appropriate.

It is expected that a Board role would take approximately 4 hours per month, in addition to quarterly Board meetings and annual Board Development Day.

As a Trustee you will…

Have a big impact

By having a core role in a small organisation, where resources are tight and your insight, experience and guidance will make a really significant difference.

Support our development

By providing strategic input and accountability, helping us focus on our plans and deliver impact.

Help spread the word

Extending our reach to new audiences both in the UK and abroad, sharing our stories with your networks and advocating on our behalf.

Be at the forefront

Of innovation in the WASH and water stewardship sectors, driving the sector forwards and impacting thousands of lives through your support of Frank Water.

Being a Frank Water Board Member

Being a volunteer on our Board means you get to have a positive impact on the direction of a thriving, innovative Charity, without the delivery.

Our CIC & Charity board is a diverse group of people who act in the organisations best interests, set the strategy, make key decisions and oversee the running of the organisation.

By joining the Frank Water board, you would help us at a pivotal time in our programmatic and organisational development. You would help us to set overall aims in line with our strategy, approve budgets and support staff by talking through exciting new ideas and checking we’re delivering on existing plans.

As a Board Member of Frank Water you would:

• Help us to develop new and better ways to deliver our vision of a future where everyone, everywhere has access to resilient water resources for generations to come.
• Be a vital part of our Board’s role in steering Frank Water’s strategic direction, helping us set out, and succeed in reaching our goals for global water security.
• Make sure we comply with our governing document, charity law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Help ensure effective and efficient governance of Frank Water, such as appropriate policies and procedures.

Feel free to ask any questions about what it means to be a Trustee or NED, but you can also read about the role and responsibilities of a charity Trustee by reading The Essential Trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do. The responsibilities of a CIC NED are very similar.

Person specification

The following are the skills, abilities and experiences that we are seeking from a new Board member. You may also have additional strengths that are not listed below which we would be interested to hear about.

We will assess your potential to contribute to the Board, not just track record. We are seeking a Board with a diversity of perspectives, experience, skills and backgrounds. Frank Water is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equality of opportunity. You will be asked to complete an Equal Opportunities form with your application.

You will have a:

• Desire to positively impact our WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) mission
• Willingness to share your relevant knowledge, experience and expertise
• Willingness to share our work and fundraising appeals with your network
• Commitment and the time needed to contribute to the Board
• Ability to be objective and maintain confidentiality
• Understanding of the legal requirements of being a charity and a Board member
• Ability to work as a member of a team

Experience relevant to the roles

• Finance Trustee: Finance & Accounting
• CIC Non-Exec Director: Events & Festivals or Food & Drinks

Commitment & remuneration

Commitment from you

• Minimum of 3 years (1 term) in the role
• Attend quarterly board meetings which are held in Bristol or remotely
• Attend annual development/away day
• Read and respond to board papers and communications between meetings in a timely manner with the Board or staff team
• There may be additional time spent via Google Meet or in person where possible, on subgroup meetings. They are set in accordance to need to monitor progress, activity and policy in a given area.
• Ad-hoc networking on behalf of Frank Water, when appropriate opportunities arise.

The role requires no more than 4 hours a month, although some months might require more and others significantly less.

Board members are invited to attend Frank Water events, providing opportunities to network, learn more about our work and enjoy being part of our community.

Remuneration

Board members are reimbursed for travel and other expenses to attend board meetings but the role is voluntary.

Support from us

A full induction tailored to NED & Trustees’ requirements will be available. This includes an introduction to Frank Water for all new board members; option of training and mentorship for first-time Trustees/NEDs.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 19 September.