We’re seeking to appoint up to 5 new NEDs to join the Zero Hour (CEE Bill Alliance Ltd) Board, at this pivotal moment to help invigorate and shape the organisation during its transformation into a truly nationwide campaigning power.
Download the pdf NED job pack →
Salary
Unremunerated (reasonable expenses paid)
Term
A fixed term of 6 months with the potential to extend for a further 6 months, by mutual consent.
Role purpose
The post-holder is a Director of Zero Hour (CEE Bill Alliance Ltd) and works in partnership with the other Board members to ensure that the CAN Bill campaign is effectively managed, accountable to its stakeholders, and achieves its strategic goals and objectives.
Main responsibilities
- Ensure that Zero Hour complies with its governing documents, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Ensure that Zero Hour pursues its purposes for the public benefit
- Contribute actively to the NED Board member role in providing strategic direction to Zero Hour’s Co-Directors, including setting overall strategy, policy and values; defining goals and setting targets; evaluating performance; and ensuring Zero Hour pursues its strategic objectives
- Make sure that Zero Hour responsibly manages its resources and contribute to ensuring the campaign’s sustainability
- Support the Co-Directors and monitor their performance
- Act at all times in Zero Hour’s best interests and comply with all relevant policies
Person specification
Zero Hour is looking for individuals with:
- Ideally with Board experience in a not-for-profit/charitable, public sector or commercial organisation
- Experience of operating at a strategic leadership level
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and an ability to challenge constructively
- Sound independent judgement the ability to listen to and respect the views of others; to think corporately and strategically; to problem-solve; to handle competing priorities; and to make informed decisions
- An interest in the key issues involved in running a political and/or grassroots campaign
- A willingness to learn about the relevant statutory and regulatory requirements of an environmental not-for-profit working in the political arena
- Committed to Zero Hour’s vision, strategy and values, including our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
Specialisms
We are seeking a diverse set of skills in our new NEDs, and would particularly welcome individuals with an expertise in:
- Fundraising
- Finance
- HR
- Policies and compliance
- Legal
Time commitment
- Four Board meetings per year, including one away day
- Board meetings will be held in-person in London (with a hybrid option) and the away day will likely be in London (but may be held elsewhere in England)
- NEDs are also expected to undertake a Champion/Lead role where appropriate and, by request, support the Co-Directors in their specialist areas
- Occasional stakeholder and/or fundraising events and training
How to apply
If you believe that you can help Zero Hour to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.
Zero Hour is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, particularly from under-represented groups.
To apply for a NED role, please send the following documents via email to [email protected] by 23:59 on Sunday 1st October 2023:
- An up-to-date CV
- A supporting statement (maximum two pages) outlining your interest in the NED position, and your fit against the criteria set out in the person specification and role description.
If you want to know more about the role or selection process, please contact Zero Hour’s Co-Directors, Dr Amy McDonnell and Oliver Sidorczuk ([email protected]).
Who we are
We are Zero Hour. We work for and with local communities across the UK, helping them speak truth to power by calling on our elected representatives to lock the science into law, and tackle the climate-nature crisis, head on.
We’re well placed to make a difference as Zero Hour is the only grassroots-led UK advocacy campaign calling for a joined-up, legally-binding, and people-powered plan to tackle the root causes of the climate and ecological emergency.
We’re an impact-led, pragmatic, and dynamic environmental not-for-profit, working hard to ensure that all political parties commit to backing the Climate & Nature Bill—which is currently before the UK Parliament—and deliver the fairer, greener, sustainable future we need.
With governments and businesses failing to act with the urgency needed, our vision—of a society where everyone is empowered to hold politicians to account in the fight for a liveable future—has never been more important.
What we do
At Zero Hour, we work with community groups, partner organisations (from The Co-operative Bank to Friends of the Earth), expert scientists, and politicians of all persuasions to bring about the environmental changes we need.
Since our launch in 2020, we’ve grown in size and influence. Close to 200 MPs and Peers, 250 councils, 500 partners, 200 scientists, and 40,000 members of the public are working together to make the CAN Bill a reality.
Our ambition is to bring the CAN Bill into law, and this includes securing the backing of the political parties—as their manifestos are prepared in the months ahead—via a grassroots pressure campaign in constituencies and councils across the nations.
We’re a small organisation, which means we’re also agile, bold, and unafraid to call for what’s needed—now—before it’s too late to act.
Our mission and commitment will be tested as we approach the next Westminster election (likely in autumn 2024)—and though we remain committed to our mission—there are big questions ahead, not least around funding our ambitious plans.
Who we’re looking for
Like many environmental campaigns, we operate in a challenging fundraising environment. As we continue to improve our strategy and grassroots model—ensuring that we have the culture, structures, systems and capabilities to build on our progress—we’re looking for new Non-Executive Directors to join us at this crucial moment for the future of environmental policymaking; and the future of Zero Hour.
We’re seeking to appoint up to 5 new NEDs to join the Zero Hour (CEE Bill Alliance Ltd) Board, at this pivotal moment to help invigorate and shape the organisation during its transformation into a truly nationwide campaigning power.
We’re searching for people to bring strategic understanding, offer a breadth of vision—and a strong grasp of complex governance issues—as well as being committed to Zero Hour’s vision and strategy.
Our new NEDs will be joining a committed Board, working alongside our inspiring Co-Directors, a brilliant core team of (digital, grassroots, partnerships, research, and comms) campaigners; alongside our dedicated CAN Bill volunteers across the nations.
You will have a keen understanding of how governance needs to adapt to better respond to the challenges faced by a forward-thinking, growing, agile environmental organisation—and you’ll bring a track record of fostering organisational growth and ambition.
Our new NEDs will bring intellectual versatility, energy, and integrity to Zero Hour’s Board. You will contribute to the strategic direction of the CAN Bill campaign—and offer governance support to the campaign Co-Directors. You’ll also bring sound reasoning attributes and the ability to think corporately and critically.
We’re seeking a diverse set of skills and lived experiences in our new NEDs, and would particularly welcome people with experience of operating at a strategic leadership level in:
- Fundraising
- Finance
- HR
- Policies and compliance
- Legal
Zero Hour’s strapline has long been “let’s secure a liveable future” and—together—we can help bring about the just transition to a zero carbon, nature positive future for everyone in the UK.
WhatsApp
