VIable Corporate Services
Board Recruitment Pack
July 2015
VIable Corporate Services
Board Recruitment Pack
Contents
01
Letter from CEO
02
About VIable Corporate Services
03
Chairperson Role
04
Director Role
05
Recruitment Process
2
VIable Corporate Services
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3
01 Welcome letter from VIable Chief Executive
Thank you for your interest in VIable Corporate Services.
Strong governance is at the heart of every successful organisation and VIable Corporate
Services is committed to achieving the highest standards of corporate governance. In order
to strengthen our presence and support our growth we are recruiting for a number of
voluntary director positions as well as a Chairperson for VIable Corporate Services.
We are looking for people who are committed to making a positive change and improve the
efficiencies of third sector organisations. We are aiming to build on our board diversity and are
particularly keen to find high calibre people with strengths in:
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Finance
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Commercial skills/business development

Governance

Legal/regulation
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Strategic HR/organisation development
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Social enterprise
Preferably candidates will have some experience of non-executive board level work and
some understanding of working within the third sector combined with a commercial outlook
and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The Board is a team with a broad blend of skills and experience, supported by professional
staff. It meets up to 12 times a year to consider strategic developments and systematic
monitoring of performance. Robust discussion at meetings of the Board is encouraged,
though detailed scrutiny can often be reserved for its various committees.
Yours sincerely,
Annette Greer
Chief Executive Officer
VIable Corporate Services
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02 About VIable Corporate Services
VIable Corporate Services is a social enterprise providing outsourced corporate services and
strategic planning consultancy across the third sector.
The organisation was born out of a truly collaborative process. Two leading youth charities in
Northern Ireland, Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) and Include Youth, realised that
they could work better and smarter if they collaborated not only on projects but in accessing
much needed strategic corporate services support and also share back office services.
Combining resources meant they could access dedicated business support while at the same
time reducing costs.
VIable Corporate Services is a social enterprise with the mission to provide effective and
efficient corporate services support. It does this not only for VOYPIC and Include Youth but by
offering an outsourcing service to the Third Sector allowing clients to also access the same
quality of service whilst reducing the cost of back office corporate services through asset
sharing. Outsourcing corporate service functions can drive service excellence by freeing staff
to focus on their core objectives and delivering programmes in their local communities.
At our very foundation is the principle of collaboration which we believe is the key to the
future sustainability of the third sector. Working together, supporting each other, buying social
and looking after the things that are important to us drives us all.......together we're stronger.
Our profits as a social enterprise support the delivery of youth programmes in Northern Ireland.
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Mission
“To maximise organisational capabilities by driving sustainability and efficiencies in the third
sector”.
Our Values
VIable also operates to a set of core values which will guide our thinking and our actions as
well as the standards that we measure ourselves:

Relevance: We will ensure our skills and practices are relevant to the third sector

Quality: We will ensure that our own operating practices and external consultancy
support meets relevant quality standards.

Sustainability: Our services will be delivered to achieve long term sustainability for our service
users and our own work.

Learning: We will operate as a learning organisation so that our people, services and
processes can continuously grow and innovate.

Trust: We will ensure all services are delivered with integrity and to the highest level
of confidentiality.

Collaboration: Where it is feasible we will work collaboratively and encourage those
who work with us to use collaborative responses to common needs.
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03 Chairperson Role
Role Description
Position: Board Chairperson
The Purpose
To provide leadership and direction to the Board, safeguard its integrity and reputation,
enabling Directors to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction
of the organisation. Developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance
with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines. To work in partnership with the
Chief Executive to ensure that Board decisions are acted upon and the Organisation is
managed in an effective manner.
Main Responsibilities
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Leading the Board and Chief Executive to develop business plans for the organisation.
Providing support and leadership to the Chief Executive and ensuring that the
organisation is run in accordance with the decisions of the Board and the organisation’s
governing document.
Appointing the Chief Executive and ensuring that he/she is supervised, supported and
appraised;
Liaising with the Chief Executive to draft agendas for Board meetings and ensure that
the business is covered efficiently and effectively in those meetings.
Undertaking a leadership role in ensuring that the Board fulfils its responsibilities for the
governance of the organisation.
Acting as the channel of communication between the Directors and staff, in situations
where it does not undermine the organisation’s senior management team.
Main Duties
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Planning, setting and chairing Board meetings and General Meetings.
Ensuring that the Board receives accurate, timely and clear information, in particular
about the organisation’s performance against budget and business plan; to enable the
Board to take sound decisions, monitor effectively and provide advice to promote the
success of the organisation.
Ensuring Board decisions are acted upon.
Encouraging the active engagement and involvement of all Board Directors.
Establishing a strong working relationship between the Board, the Group Chief Executive
and other senior staff.
Supporting and appraising the work of the Chief Executive.
Establish a framework for approving policies and plans to achieve the agreed
objectives.
Establish, Maintain & Monitor overall business performance in relation to business plans,
budgets, controls and decisions, taking into account customer feedback and
performance of comparable organisations.
VIable Corporate Services
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Evaluation of VIable’s competitive position and opportunities arising from the strategies
and strengths of competitors
Assessing compliance with regulatory requirements.
Leading disciplinary and appointment panels.
Representing the organisation at functions, meetings and in the press and broadcasting
media.
Acting between full meetings of the Board in authorising action to be taken intra vires
and signing cheques and legal documents in accordance with relevant mandates.
Terms of Office
Board members will serve two terms of three years and eligible for re-election for a further three
years in exceptional circumstances.
Person Specification
Essential /
Method of testing
Desirable
Knowledge and experience
Relevant Board Experience and working knowledge of the role of the
Essential
Board, directors and non-executive directors
Strategic planning and direction – ability to think and plan ahead to
At Interview /
Application
Essential
At Interview
Leadership – the ability to lead and unify a diverse team of directors
Essential
At Interview /
Accountability – the ability to accept accountability for board
Essential
At Interview
Essential
At Interview /
develop a clear vision.
Application
performance.
Team building – committed to working as a team member and the ability
to take on a personal leadership role and build an effective team.
Knowledge and experience of the third sector
Application
Desirable
At Interview
Essential
Application
Readiness to take and be accountable for decisions.
Essential
At Interview
Commitment to VIable’s mission and share its Values
Essential
At Interview
Uphold the principles of Equality and Diversity
Essential
At Interview
Observe and comply with the Code of Conduct and Code of
Essential
At Interview
Understanding of the Principles and practices of good board governance
Essential
At Interview
Confident in public, with a will to act as an ambassador and represent
Desirable
At Interview
Desirable
At Interview
Time to attend the cycle of meetings of the Board and appropriate
committees, or training events
Essential
At Interview /
Available for ad hoc discussions in addition to formal Board and
Desirable
Personal Qualities
A willingness to work as part of a team, with respect and tolerance for
others
Governance
VIable Corporate Services with a range of stakeholders
A positive and pro-active approach to the role as a Board member
Circumstances
committee meetings
Application
At Interview /
Application
VIable Corporate Services
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04 Director Role
Role Description
Position: Director
The Purpose
To carry out the functions of the Board, in particular being responsible for the governance and
strategic direction of VIable Corporate Services set in the Articles of Association. To lead the
organisation innovatively within a framework of sound governance, continuous improvement
and prudent and effective control, which enables risks to be assessed and managed.
Main Responsibilities

Safeguarding and promoting the vision, values and mission.

Determining the strategy and structure of the organisation by.
Ensuring the organisation operates in an effective, responsible and accountable
manner
o Monitoring organizational performance and contribute to the continuous
improvement of this position.
 To participate in the development and review of the organisation’s risk register and
ensure that controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible.
Main Duties
o
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Ensuring that the organisation’s vision, values and mission are clearly stated and can be
understood and recognised by beneficiaries and by stakeholders;
Regularly reviewing the vision, values and mission of the organisation to ensure that:
 they continue to remain valid and relevant,
 they take account of changes external to the organisation, and
 the governing documents reflect this.
 ensuring compliance with the organisation’s objects, values and its governing
documents;
Working with staff to produce, review and update business plans that meet the intended
aims and outcomes;
Establishing, Maintaining & Monitoring overall business performance in relation to
business plans, budgets, controls and decisions, taking into account customer feedback
and performance of comparable organisations.
Evaluating VIable’s competitive position and opportunities arising from the strategies
and strengths of competitors
Ensuring the organisation has appropriate structural, legal and governance frameworks;
Ensuring the organisation makes best use of its resources, and
Ensuring there are a full suite of policies covering all major aspects of operation;
Ensuring that the organisation provides for diversity and equality in its policies and
practice;
Appointing the chief executive and ensuring that he/she is supervised, supported and
appraised;
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Ensuring compliance with employment law and other relevant legislation;
Ensuring the organisation remains financially sound and that all funds are:
 used and allocated wisely;
 used only in furtherance of the organisation’s objects;
 used in accordance with the law and accounting requirements; and
 audited annually in accordance with current legislation.
Proactively and regularly reviewing risks to which the organisation is subject and taking
appropriate action based on the assessment; and
Monitoring the performance of the organisation and its assets.
Ensuring that the Board has a clear statement of its strategic and leadership role and
appropriate role descriptions;
Maintaining composition and skills mix of the Board in accordance with the
organisation’s governing documents;
Ensuring that conflicts of interest including matters relating to benefits are, declared and
handled in accordance with written policy and procedures; and
Ensuring that processes are in place for regular review of the Board performance; and
member performance.
Participating on sub committees as required.
Participating on disciplinary and appointment panels.
Assessing compliance with regulatory requirements.
Terms of Office
Board members will serve two terms of three years and eligible for re-election for a further
three years in exceptional circumstances.
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Person Specification
Essential /
Method of testing
Desirable
Knowledge and experience
Relevant Functional Experience – Professional experience in at least one
Essential
of the following areas: Finance, Commercial skills/business development,
At Interview /
Application
Legal/Regulation, Strategic HR/Organisational development, Supporting
social enterprise growth
Relevant Board Experience
Essential
At Interview /
Strategy - ability to focus on key issues and to address problems in a
Essential
At Interview
Essential
At Interview /
Application
logical constrictive manner
Corporate Governance – An understanding of the role and responsibilities
of a board member
Accountability – the ability to use personal experience and expertise to
Application
Essential
At Interview
Essential
At Interview /
assist in the consideration of the challenges facing an organisation.
Team building – committed to work corporately and effectively with
others as a member of a team
Knowledge and experience of the third sector
Application
Desirable
At Interview
Strong leadership skills
Essential
At interview
Highly developed influencing, persuading and communications skills
Essential
At interview
Evidence of a successful track record of achieving results in a senior
Essential
At interview
Essential
Application
Readiness to take and be accountable for decisions.
Essential
At Interview
Commitment to VIable’s mission and share its Values
Essential
At Interview
Uphold the principles of Equality and Diversity
Essential
At Interview
Observe and comply with the Code of Conduct and Code of
Essential
At Interview
Understanding of the Principles and practices of good board governance
Essential
At Interview
Confident in public, with a will to act as an ambassador and represent
Desirable
At Interview
Desirable
At Interview
Time to attend the cycle of meetings of the Board and appropriate
committees, or training events
Essential
At Interview /
Available for ad hoc discussions in addition to formal Board and
Desirable
Personal Qualities
leadership role
A willingness to work as part of a team, with respect and tolerance for
others
Governance
VIable Corporate Services with a range of stakeholders
A positive and pro-active approach to the role as a Board member
Circumstances
committee meetings
Application
At Interview /
Application
VIable Corporate Services
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05 Recruitment Process
Recruitment panel
Appointments will be made by the Recruitment Panel which will meet and discuss each
potential candidate. Prospective candidates must send their CV and supporting
documentation to the Board for decision.
Shortlisting and Interview
All applications will be shortlisted against the criteria for selection.
Once shortlisted each applicant will be invited to a formal interview by the Recruitment Panel.
The interviews will take place in September 2015.
Acceptance
The successful candidate will be notified by letter of his/her acceptance to the Board and will
be invited to an induction.
How to apply
To apply for a Director’s vacancy with VIable Corporate Services, please provide the
following information by Monday 31st August 2015:

A supporting statement on no more than one side of A4 explaining how you believe your
skills and experience match the requirements of the role you are interested in, directly
addressing the requirements specified in the role description.

A CV or outline of your past work/voluntary history including details of your achievements
in each role

Two referees (whom we will only contact with your prior consent). At least one must be
able to evidence your professional experience.
Please provide the above information in writing or by email to:
Annette Greer, Chief Executive Officer, VIable Corporate Services
28 Bedford Street, Room 2.7 Belfast BT2 7FE 028 90 34 7782
or by emailing to [email protected]
Additional information can be found on our website at www.viablecs.org
All applications must be received by Monday 31st August 2015.
We very much look forward to hearing from you.