Chairperson (Voluntary Role)

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Social Enterprise in Ireland!

Socent CLG, trading as the Irish Social Enterprise Network (ISEN), is seeking dynamic and passionate individuals to join our voluntary Board of Directors and particularly as Chair. If you believe in the power of social enterprise to drive transformative change within communities and the broader social economy, this is your opportunity to contribute to a thriving and impactful movement. By supporting ISEN’s mission, you’ll play a vital role in fostering innovation, creating positive social impact, and helping to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Leading and facilitating board meetings to ensure effective decision-making and governance
• Overseeing the development and implementation of the organisation's strategic plan
• Acting as a liaison between the board and the CEO to ensure alignment on goals and priorities
• Supporting the development and review of organisational policies and procedures
• Representing ISEN at public events and meetings to promote the organisation's mission and values
• Ensuring compliance with governance requirements and legislation
• Providing leadership and support to other board members to achieve the organisation’s goals

A candidate for Chairperson should have:

1. Proven leadership skills and experience in chairing meetings or leading teams
2. The ability to facilitate strategic and management decisions at Board level
3. A commitment to the time necessary to carry out the role effectively. This is likely to be on average 6 hours a month, including meetings and other duties in the role description, but may increase at certain times in response to particular pressures
4. An understanding of the needs and workings of a small non-profit
5. A strong commitment to supporting the organisation's mission and goals

It would also be desirable to have:

• Experience in the non-profit sector or familiarity with the Irish social economy
• Knowledge of corporate governance requirements, such as the Charities Act 2009, the Charities Governance Code, and GDPR 2018

Chairperson Commitments:

• All Board members, including the Chairperson, are expected to have a working knowledge of the voluntary sector in Ireland and be familiar with corporate governance requirements and legislation
• The Chairperson is expected to lead advocacy efforts in the best interests of the organisation and protect and promote the reputation of ISEN
• The Chairperson will always contribute to the achievement of the organisation’s goals while practising the highest standards of corporate governance
• The Chairperson should be honest, fair, and independent

Board Meetings:

There are a minimum of 6  board meetings a year. Meetings are held in Dublin or online.

Application:

All applicants must confirm that they do not have any conflicts of interest or legal impediments which would be likely to interfere with their ability to play a full part on the board. In addition, they must also confirm that they can make themselves available to attend meetings and to carry out the duties of a board member.

Diversity:

ISEN is committed to diversity in appointments to the Board and Committees, in terms of: gender; age; ethnicity; sexual orientation; the inclusion of members of those native and new to the island; geography in terms of residence or place of business on the island of Ireland (including both legal jurisdictions).

The Board will make appointments, where possible, on the basis of bringing the Board towards a diverse and inclusive group.