Board Chair at Meridian Home Start

 

Remuneration: £20,000 per annum

Meetings are held at the MHS office: 4 Gunnery Terrace, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SW

The Chair of the Board plays a critical leadership role in ensuring effective governance and high standards of performance and accountability across the organisation, leading and supporting the Board and the Executive Team in delivering Meridian Home Start’s mission.

Role Description

The essential functions of the Chair of the Board are as follows:

  • Set a positive leadership culture, with strong customer focus in line with MSH’s corporate objectives and business plan.
  • Championing effective joint working across governance and executive teams to ensure alignment between MHS’s strategic objectives and RBG’s wider community outcomes.
  • Ensuring the organisation maintains financial resilience, regulatory compliance, and robust risk management
  • Chairing Board meetings and fostering a culture of constructive challenge and collaboration
  • Supporting the CEO and Executive Team, acting as a trusted advisor and sounding board.
  • Ensuring the Board holds the Chief Executive and Executive Team to account for the performance of MHS’s strategic plans, business plans and budgets
  • Championing transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement
  • Representing Meridian Home Start externally and build and sustain strong, collaborative partnerships with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and other key local stakeholders to deliver shared housing and regeneration priorities.

Person Specification

This person specification outlines the skills, knowledge, experience, core and additional competencies, and the enhanced level of commitment required for the Chair role.

We’re looking for someone who has the following knowledge and experience:

  • Experience of chairing boards and/or committees and working effectively with a wide range of stakeholder
  • Understands the regulatory and operational context of housing or similar sectors
  • Strong financial and risk acumen, with the ability to interpret complex information.
  • A track record of motivating senior teams to deliver a strategic vision
  • Senior executive experience in housing development/regeneration and place making is desirable
  • A proven ability to build and sustain effective relationships and partnerships with senior stakeholders eg local government, statutory agencies, and community organisations
  • Knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing communities such as Greenwich would be welcomed.

Also seeking the following skills, abilities and personal qualities:

  • Can lead with clarity, empathy, and strategic foresight
  • Shares our values of inclusion, community, and integrity
  • Is committed to high-quality governance and resident-focused outcomes
  • Demonstrates political sensitivity and diplomacy to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes while maintaining trust and collaboration
  • Has excellent communication skills
  • Has the necessary time to commit to the role.