Our current chair, Rosie MacDonald, is stepping down after six years of wonderful service and we need a person of creativity, experience and vision to make a strong and meaningful contribution to the future of performing arts on Skye and Raasay.

SEALL usually delivers over 100 performance arts events to venues across the Islands of Skye and Raasay through a year-round programme of concerts, workshops and sessions; two festivals; and two outreach programmes reaching young people and the vulnerable members of our communities.

This is a voluntary position but essential expenses will be reimbursed.

Deadline for applications, which should be sent to Marie Lewis, Creative Director, via email (marie@seall.co.uk) with a covering letter and CV attached, is Monday 30 November at 5pm.

ABOUT SEALL

SEALL is a well-established and trusted performing arts promotion charity based on Skye. For almost 30 years, we have delivered world-class performances to our remote rural communities on, and visitors to, Skye and Raasay through a year-round programme; the Skye Festival (Fèis an Eilein) in the summer; and the Small Halls Festival in November. Our community outreach programme reaches young people and the more vulnerable members of our communities, fostering wellbeing, diversity and inclusion.

SEALL is recognised by the Scottish Government as one of Scotland’s leading rural arts promoters and in 2019 we won the prestigious MG Alba Scottish Traditional Music Award for Best Community Project for our Small Halls Festival.

THE POST

The chair has a strategic role to play in representing the direction, strategy, vision and purpose of SEALL. She or he will ensure that the board functions properly, that there is full participation at meetings, all relevant matters are discussed and that effective decisions are made and carried out by the whole Board and staff.

Ensure the Board functions properly

• To plan and run meetings in accordance with the governing document
• To ensure matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner
• To bring impartiality and objectivity to meetings and decision making
• To facilitate change and address conflict within the Board
• To review governance performance and skills
• To plan for recruitment and renewal of the Board

Ensure the organisation is managed effectively

• To liaise with the creative director to keep an overview of the organisation’s affairs
• To co-ordinate the Board to ensure responsibilities for particular aspects of management eg personnel, finance, good governance, are understood and met and specialist expertise is employed as required
• To facilitate change and address conflict within the organisation, liaising with the creative director to achieve this
• To promote and champion equality, diversity and good environmental practice in all SEALL’s work
• To ensure the strategies and policies agreed by the SEALL board are met by staff, volunteers and freelance workers
• To identify potential risks and opportunities facing SEALL and the wider performing arts industry of Scotland
• To ensure the highest standards of integrity, probity and governance throughout SEALL are understood and met

Provide support and supervision to staff

• To directly line manage the creative director
• To sit on appointment and other panels as appropriate

Represent the organisation

• To communicate effectively the vision and purpose of SEALL
• To network with comparable organisations maintaining a high profile for SEALL
• To advocate for and represent SEALL at external meetings and events
• To be aware of current issues that might affect SEALL
• To represent the aims and policies of SEALL to the outside world

Qualities and skills required
Arts

• Experience of working or volunteering within the Arts sector in Scotland
• Knowledge of the operating environment for charities and other not for profit organisations in Scotland
• An understanding of the communities and the geography of the Highlands
• An understanding of the wider performing arts industry in Scotland
• An understanding of the culture, people and processes of SEALL

Organisational management and governance

• Understanding the role and responsibilities of a chair
• Understanding of the roles/responsibilities of a charity board
• Good leadership skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
• Ability to ensure decisions are taken and followed up
• Experience of organisational and people management

Please send your application by email, attaching a covering letter and CV, to Marie Lewis, Creative Director, SEALL: marie@seall.co.uk by Monday 30 November at 5pm.