Head of Board of Trustees

Do you have governance or legal qualifications?

Have you a strong understanding of governance processes and of Charity Commission requirements?

Do you have proven experience in a board or executive-level administration, legal secretary, or governance role?

We are now recruiting an experienced and talented Head of Board of Trustees Affairs to work with our Board and serve as the organisation’s lead governance professional, accountable for the integrity, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of the Board’s governance framework.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply your governance experience in a values-driven, international organisation where your work truly matters.

About the role:

The Head of Board of Trustees (BoT) Affairs holds a strategic and operational governance role, providing senior-level support to the Board and ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and constitutional responsibilities. In addition, The Head of BoT Affairs facilitates effective communication between trustees and the executive leadership team and advises on strengthening governance structures and practices and is responsible for maintaining high standards of governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic advice across all levels of the organisation

The role operates with significant autonomy, requiring independent initiative and workload planning and the ability to coordinate with other departments in IRW and various board’s stakeholders to ensure effective compliance, risk management and communication.

This role requires a deep understanding of the political and economic landscape affecting international charity operations so that it may support the BoT in decision making. This should include some knowledge of the regulatory, geopolitical and donor perspectives influencing both fundraising strategies and programme implementation across the breadth of IRW operations.

About you:

You will be a motivated, analytical professional with a strong experience in governance and a commitment to IRW’s mission and values.

You will ideally have:

• Governance or legal qualifications (e.g., Chartered Governance Institute or similar).
• Proven experience in a board or executive-level administration, legal secretary, or governance role.
• Strong understanding of governance processes, preferably in the charity or third sector.
• Understanding of Charity Commission requirements.
• Exceptional organisational, leadership, and communication skills.
• High level of discretion and ability to handle sensitive information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and hybrid meeting technologies.

Why Join Islamic Relief Worldwide

• Be part of an organisation with a clear humanitarian mission and strong values
• Use your professional skills to make a real, meaningful global impact
• Work with passionate teams across the organisation

For the full job description, please click on the Documents tab on our job page.