Ashford Mediation Service offers free mediation services to the community of Ashford in Kent.
Celebrating our 25th anniversary, the objectives of the Service are to provide a free mediation service to the communities of Ashford Borough, Kent in order to help citizens resolve their differences and to prevent escalation of disagreements which might result in intervention by the Police, Social Services or other public bodies.
It helps people with neighbourhood, family, intergenerational and workplace disputes as well as child access arrangement issues. The Service achieves this with the help of volunteer mediators, volunteer trustees as well as a range of sector specific volunteers.
The tenure of our present Chair is coming to an end, and we are seeking a successor.
Remuneration: The position of Chair is voluntary and is not financially remunerated. Reasonable expenses will be covered (for example, attending meetings and travel).
Location: Offices are based in Ashford, Kent. Board meetings take place virtually or in Ashford. The Chair is expected to be mainly home based but there will be occasions where travel to Ashford, Kent is essential.
Time commitment: In terms of our constitution the tenure of Chair is for a period of three years and, if re-elected, can be extended for a second term of three years.
The Chair is expected to attend a monthly management meeting, four Board meetings and approximately two social events with the executive team per year. Board members are also expected to carry out preparatory reading and maintain periodic contact with other trustees and relevant members of the management team. The Chair is also required to join additional meetings or committees (focused on finance; safeguarding; training and development; and youth mediation), which take place on an ad hoc basis.
The Chair can expect to provide between 5 and 10 hours a week in advice, guidance and mentoring to the staff, trustees and volunteers as required.
Reporting to: The Board of Trustees
Start date: March 2023 but we would hope to bring someone on board sooner to shadow the current Chair and to ensure a smooth transition when the current Chair retires in March 2023.
Appointment Brief: The Board seeks to appoint a proven leader to chair our Board of Trustees with experience in the Business or Charitable sectors who has previously served as a Chair in an organisation elsewhere or has previously held very senior management roles.
We require a good communicator with sound financial analysis skills and proven capability in business plan development and implementation, to strategically lead and oversee the affairs of the organisation and ensure that they are legal, constitutional and within the accepted practices of the Charity Commission.
The successful candidate will monitor progress against the goals and objectives of the organisation and recommend adjusted strategies should progress be less than anticipated. They are also required to manage the staff members who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the charity’s affairs.
Mediation qualifications and experience would be welcome but are not a requirement.
For information and to download the full appointment brief please visit the Work with us section of the website.
For further information about the role, please contact Sue Pitt, Chair, or Sandra Malone, Deputy Chair, on 07845 914838 or send an email to info@ashfordmediation.co.uk
To apply please send your CV to info@ashfordmediation.co.uk
Closing date for applications is the 13th of January 2023.
Ashford Mediation Service 