Advertisement for Role of Chair – The Isle of Rum Community Trust

The Isle of Rum Community Trust (IRCT) is a community owned company limited by guarantee with charitable status.

IRCT own the village of Kinloch and surrounding land and assets on the Isle of Rum in the Small Isles, and work in partnership with the island’s other owners, Nature Scot to secure a sustainable future for the island and its community.

IRCT have a Board of Directors mostly comprised of community residents, with additional Director roles being available to Nature Scot, MOWI and the Highland Council.

More information about IRCT can be found here. In recent years the Trust have undertaken several major development projects including the development of a 20 bed bunkhouse through its subsidiary Rum Enterprise, and developed 4 new houses which has brought new people to Rum and protected key services on the island. The island population is c40. It is currently engaged in projects to develop a community hub and build more new housing to continue to grow the
population.

More information about Rum can be found here.

The Chair role

IRCT have an active Board of Directors supported by full and part time staff. This team work closely together in the running and shaping of the activities of the Trust towards our goal of supporting and developing healthy community life in the village of Kinloch on the Isle of Rum. Since its founding, IRCT has often had an off-island director who has acted as an independent Chair. Day to day operational decisions are usually led by island directors and operational staff. The Trust currently employs one full time Development Officer based off island, and one part time Administrator/Company Secretary who is an island resident. We also contract two financial/bookkeeping advisors who are based on mainland. The Chair role is to lead the team of directors, staff and other contractors/advisors, ensuring robust decision making and good governance, and to provide skills to support the Board/staff team and to act generally as an ambassador for Rum and the Trust.

Directors have line management responsibility for staff. Currently, a Director also acts as Treasurer and liaises with the off-island bookkeeper and accountant.

What skills will a Chair have?

As a small organisation, this role would be excellent grounding for someone wishing to gain Board experience in community and business development. The following skills would be useful, although not essential.

1. Experience and understanding of supporting and leading a team comprising of a voluntary Board and full and part time staff

2. Experience at managing meetings, setting agendas and working in a Board situation

3. Experience of running a small business, social enterprise or community development trust

4. An understanding of accounts (noting IRCT employ a book keeper and accountant.)

5. An understanding of rural development and the issues facing communities like Rum

6. Experience of rural housing development and management

7. A good network of contacts in Scotland and the ability to act as an ambassador for Rum

We are looking for a Chair who is articulate, passionate and engaging and can represent Rum to a range of stakeholders. This includes the community on Rum. They must be able to work collaboratively and consensually.

Time commitment

The Chair role would require the equivalent of 2 days per month, but this could be spread over the month. This could include travel to Rum for which expenses would be paid. However, as is usual today, most meetings are undertaken remotely. Board meetings are held every 6 weeks or so. The Chair would be expected to travel to Rum at least 3 times a year.

The role is unpaid although reasonable travel and subsistence expenses would be paid.

For expressions of interest, please send us an email here.