We’re seeking to appoint up to 4 new volunteer NEDs to join the Zero Hour Ltd Board, at this pivotal moment to help invigorate and shape the organisation during its transformation into a truly nationwide campaigning power.
Please see here for the full NED pack.
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 and Nature Bill — 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 grassroots campaigners, 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 250 MPs and Peers, 400 councils, and over 1,000 partner organisations, 1,200 scientists, and 74,000 members of the public are working together to make the CAN Bill a reality.
Our ambition is to bring the CAN Bill into law, navigating the complex political landscape and building the sustained pressure to achieve this 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.
Who we’re looking for
Like many environmental campaigns, we operate in challenging times. 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 4 new volunteer NEDs to join the Zero Hour 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 who can bring their personal commitment and experience of the climate crisis and how it affects them and ordinary people across the UK to Zero Hour’s leadership and governance.
Successful applicants need not have prior NED, charity Trustee, or other governance experience: as an organisation and a Board we are committed to nurturing new leaders at every level. We are especially committed to facilitating increases in diversity in our sector because we acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in environmental campaigning.
We are particularly keen to receive applications from people of colour; people with disabilities or other health conditions; people who identify as LGBTQIA+ or with different gender identities; and people who identify as working class (or have done so in the past).
While we recognise that certain terms to describe minorities and underrepresented groups can be problematic, these are the terms we currently use at Zero Hour. We are always open to a discussion on our use of these terms in order to do better.
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.
We are recruiting four new NEDs as the work of this comparatively young organisation is growing and a small number of longstanding NEDs are stepping down. The existing seven NEDs have a broad range of experience in campaigning, HR, finance, and good company governance, and want to bolster the team to ensure we have the capacity in the Board to match the organisation’s growth and impact ambitions.
You will have an appreciation for the importance of good governance and a commitment to actively engaging on how to adapt and respond to the challenges faced by a forward-thinking, growing, and agile environmental organisation. You’ll be keen to thoughtfully foster organisational growth and maintain high levels of ambition while caring for the individuals who implement that vision.
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 critically about what is best for the campaign as a whole.
We’re seeking a diverse set of skills and lived experiences in our new NEDs, and in addition to seeking to foster new leaders in the sector it would be helpful to have specific experience in:
- Finance and Fundraising • Diversity and Inclusion in Campaigning
- Legal and compliance • Media, Social Media, and Communications
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.
Role description
Role title
Non-Executive Director
Salary
Unremunerated (reasonable expenses paid)
Term
We are looking for NEDs to offer a 2 year commitment, with the possibility of extension through mutual agreement.
Role purpose
The post-holder is a Director of Zero Hour 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. It is anticipated that the post-holder will consider joining at least one of the Board’s Committees to support its focussed work: current committees include the Finance and Risk Committee and the People Committee.
Main responsibilities
- Perform all the duties of a Company Director in line with UK regulations and best practices.
- 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 and maintains operating as a non-profit organisation.
- 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:
- Committed to Zero Hour’s vision, strategy and values, including our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- A willingness to learn about the relevant statutory and regulatory requirements of an environmental not-for-profit working in the political arena.
- An interest in the key issues involved in running a political and/or grassroots campaign.
- Ideally, but not necessarily, with Board experience in a not-for-profit/charitable, public sector or commercial organisation.
- Ideally, with specific experience and/or professional expertise in a particular specialism/business function relevant to Zero Hour’s work and mission, and enthusiasm to support the executive and board with guidance and thought-leadership in that subject area.
- 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.
Time commitment
- NEDs are expected to undertake a lead role where the work of the Board aligns with their professional expertise and passions, join board committees that match their area of expertise and/or interest, and, by request, support the Co-Directors in their specialist areas.
- There are four Board meetings per year, held for around two hours in the evening, and one away day annually to engage on more substantive topics. The Committees of the Board have an additional meeting in advance of every board meeting to advance their work and prepare outputs for consideration by the full Board.
- Board meetings will be held in-person and online, and will always have the ability to join remotely. When held in person, the most likely location is London but other locations are possible with the collective agreement of the NEDs. This also applies to the away day. Committee meetings are usually held remotely.
- NEDs are also expected to support and attend occasional stakeholder and/or fundraising/training events.
How to apply
If you believe that you can help Zero Hour to make a difference, we would love to hear from you. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement of the job description. We will respond to all applications and are happy to provide feedback at the end of the process to those who are shortlisted
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. If you require any adjustments to the application process please let us know.
To apply to join Zero Hour as a NED, please send the following documents via email to [email protected] by 23:59 on Monday 21st of July:
- 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, in the first instance please contact Zero Hour’s current Co-Directors, Dr Amy McDonnell and Aaron Oxley (on [email protected]) who can arrange a conversation with an existing NED as needed.
