Magpie Dance is recruiting a Chair or Co-Chairs to join the Board in Spring 2026, where they will contribute to overall strategy and support Magpie Dance’s CEO team. The appointed Chair will also champion Magpie Dance as an active ambassador, helping us build connections and raise our profile.
Job Description
The role of the Chair: Strategic Leadership: Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that the charity delivers its public benefit role; Ensure that Trustees fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity; Ensure that the Board operates within its charitable objectives, and provides a clear strategic direction for the charity; Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, and manage and mitigate the risks; Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the charity, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability. Governance: Ensuring that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the charity; Developing the knowledge and capability of the Board; Encouraging positive change where appropriate and addressing and resolving any conflicts within the Board; Appraising the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis; Ensuring that the Board of Trustees is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the charity effectively, and which also reflects the wider population; Working within any agreed policies adopted by the charity. External Relations: Acting as an ambassador for the cause and the charity; Maintaining close relationships with key stakeholders; Acting as a spokesperson for the organisation when appropriate; Representing the charity at external functions, meetings and events.
Job Requirements
Personal Qualities: Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity, its strategic objectives and cause; Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities; Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment; Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours. Commitment to Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. Experience: Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level; Successful track record of achievement through their career; Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees; Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders; Significant experience of chairing meetings and events. Knowledge and skills Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together.
Job Responsibilities
Trustees are appointed for an initial term of three years and are eligible for re-appointment to an additional term of three years by mutual consent. This is an unpaid, voluntary role. Trustees are expected to attend five Board meetings per year, which last around 2 hours and take place in the evenings. Meetings typically alternate locations between Bromley and central London. Trustees are also expected to attend an annual Board Away Day. Meeting dates and locations are set at the start of each year, taking into account the availabilities and preferences of all Trustees. Trustees may additionally choose to nominate themselves for one of the Board's Committees or Task & Finish groups. Each Committee or T&F group agrees its own meeting schedule and activities, and the time commitment varies according to need. Committee and T&F group work is typically conducted online via emails or videoconferencing. Trustees are also encouraged to attend Magpie Dance classes, performances, and events.
Job Title: Magpie Dance: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Salary: Unpaid
Hours:
Part time
Artform: Dance
Role: Fundraising
Contract: Temporary
Closing date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026
Location:
South East
How to Apply
For an informal discussion about the trustee role, please contact our current Co-Chairs, Chris Wicks and Jade Bassett, at [email protected] and [email protected].
To apply, please submit your CV and a brief supporting statement (up to two pages) or video/audio recording (up to three minutes) that speaks to your interest in Magpie Dance and what you will bring to the chair role. If you wish to apply via video/audio recording, please provide a link to download the recording from a file-hosting service such as Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Applications should be sent to Laura Graham, Magpie Dance’s Executive Director at [email protected]
Please also complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
If you have any access requirements as part of the application process or wish to submit your application in another format, please contact us at [email protected]
The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Monday 23rd March 2026.
Magpie Dance is an inclusive dance company based in Bromley, with a national reputation built over 40 years. Magpie Dance’s vision is
’To enable people with learning disabilities to reach their full personal, social and artistic potential through dance’.
