Chair

The Society is looking to appoint a new Chair to lead the Board, working with the Festival Director to deliver its ambitious vision and maintain its high quality and programming. The retiring Chair has been a critical part of enabling us to reach our current position as a leading European Festival celebrating Handel and the Board considers this a key appointment.

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Specific duties will include the following;

• Overall responsibility for the continued success of the Festival and Festival Programme.
• Secure Good Governance by ensuring the Board is in full control and aware of its obligations to stakeholders.
• Leading and managing the business of the Board: ensuring the Board functions positively, constructively and effectively with appropriate meeting agendas and well-run Board meetings in which all members are encouraged to contribute, always in compliance with applicable standards of governance and in furtherance of the Strategic Objectives.
• Strategy: Ensuring the Board allocates ample time and resource to long term strategic thinking and strategy implementation, monitoring its delivery.
• Stakeholder management: Identifying the needs of key stakeholders of the Festival, maintaining good communication with them and ensuring their needs are met where consistent with the Festival’s objectives.
• Risk management: Leading Board discussion about Risk Appetite and managing risks appropriately.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensuring compliance with the Charity Commission, Companies House and other regulatory obligations applicable in the UK.
• Board performance: ensuring the Board operates effectively and carrying out Board Reviews where appropriate.
• Board succession and renewal: ensuring a smooth and timely process of retirement and renewal as Board members are appointed or approach the end of their tenure.
• Support for the Festival Director: providing a source of advice and support to the Festival Director.
• Fundraising and development: assisted by the Board, Festival Director and staff, leading the Society’s fundraising efforts with a special focus on individual major donors to help ensure the long-term future financial security of the Society.
• Presentation: acting as the public face of the company where appropriate.
• Ambassador: act as an ambassador for LHF, attending concerts, hosting events and developing strong working relationships with key external stakeholders.
• Financial: monitor progress against LHF’s business plan and budgets.

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Person specification

Essential

• A passion for the Arts and an ability to advocate the Purpose and Values of the London Handel Festival.
• Demonstrated success in strategic leadership.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• An ability to build and retain contacts, especially donors and supporters.
• Experience as a Non-Executive Director or Trustee (preferably as Non-Executive Chair) within a similarly sized organisation.
• A strong network across the arts, business community, public/private sector.
• Able and willing to commit the time required for chairing an organisation both internally and as an external ambassador.

Desirable

• Experience of governance within the charity sector.
• Financial literacy.
• Some formal training in the role of a Non-Executive Director or Trustee is preferred, as well as a clear understanding of the difference between an Executive and Non-Executive role.

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