Two Non-Executive Director Roles – HR & BD (Voluntary)

Minds Ahead; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000

Job description

Non-Executive HR Director (voluntary)
& Non-Executive Business Development Director (voluntary)

Owing to the continued growth and development of the award-winning social enterprise, Minds Ahead CIC, we are expanding our board of Directors. We are looking for two new volunteer Directors (non-executive) to join the existing board: HR & Business Development.

As a Director, your commitment to Minds Ahead will include participating in Board meetings (four a year). However, it is envisaged that between the meetings, the Directors will provide additional advice and guidance as needed on specific issues that arise.

Minds Ahead is an innovative Social Enterprise improving mental health across the UK’s schools, by equipping schools with the knowledge, skills and networks to make sustainable improvements. Here are some of our successes since our inception in 2017:

• Co-founded the UK’s first university Centre for Mental Health in Schools
• Researched and designed a national mental health in schools’ quality award, now used by over 2000 schools
• Designed and delivered the world’s first Master’s in School Leadership of Mental Health
• Researched, designed and launched a new role and postgraduate qualification within education, The School Mental Health Specialist
• Designed and delivered innovative mental health training programmes to over 3000 colleagues
• Working with our partners, Leeds Beckett University, we are the national quality assurance lead for all DfE-funded Senior Mental Health Leadership programmes
• Designed national mental health in schools training programmes now used across the UK and internationally
• Researched and developed a new qualification in mental health peer-mentoring
• Chaired and spoke at multiple national mental health in schools conferences
• Won several awards by Social Enterprise UK, Unltd and SE100.

We relentlessly focus on the needs and realities of schools. We know that schools and colleges, their governors, leadership, teachers and other colleagues are doing great work to improve the mental health of the next generation. We also know that schools need quality support, resources and training to improve and learn from each other.

The vast majority of our income (>90%) comes from direct sales to schools and educational professionals, who attend our high-quality courses and obtain our qualifications. We also have a small number of contracts and partnerships that secure sales-generated income. Therefore, it is vital that we stand out in a highly competitive market and can maximise opportunities to meet the emerging needs of schools.

The business plans are to maintain and build on the recent growth as we introduce a new framework of career progression and qualifications for schools. Therefore, the social enterprise requires improvements to its business development and governance structures, which the board will play a key part in securing. Minds Ahead has seen reliable growth and now employs 6 part-time colleagues, working remotely across the UK.

We are recruiting two volunteer non-executive board members:

• Business Development – we are seeking an experienced Business Development professional driven to secure growth for a small social enterprise.
  • The new BD Director will offer strategic advice and guidance to assist the organisation in securing its growth targets.
• HR Development – we are seeking an experienced HR professional, with a passion for securing a high-performing team and competence in HR processes.
  • The HR Director will support the social enterprise to achieve high performance by guiding strategic decision-making and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Principal Responsibilities

• Play a key role in helping to establish a new Board of Directors within a small and growing social enterprise.
• Support our vision and mission
• Work with fellow Directors and the Management Team to shape the strategic plan for the organisation
• Bring your experience and professionalism to inform our policies and practices
• Use your own networks to raise the profile and commit to increase networks and income to Minds Ahead
• Represent the organisation at events and meetings when required
• Ensure good Governance and accountability across the board
• Safeguard the good name and reputation of Minds Ahead
• Participate in board induction training and receive any additional training identified

These are unpaid, voluntary appointments which bring rewards other than money. All expenses directly incurred in your role as Director on official business are covered by the social enterprise.

Person Specification

We seek an individual with strategic ability who is enthusiastic about the invaluable role of mental health within educational settings. Directors will be ambassadors for Minds Ahead, helping us maximise the potential of our projects.

You will also bring:

• A commitment to the vision, mission, values and strategic aims of Minds Ahead
• A passion for the work of Minds Ahead
• An enthusiasm and ability for networking
• A willingness to give the necessary time and effort as a non-executive Director
• A commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties of Directorship

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role or are interested in applying, please email the CEO at [e-mail].