GOVERNANCE SECRETARY
Remote
"An initiative for infant dignity and identity through the prevention of abandonment."Ready to Build With Us?
If you are an experienced governance professional with project management expertise and a commitment to ethical leadership, we want to hear from you.
Apply now!
To help us build BABY-I — because every infant deserves dignity, identity, and a future. BABY-I is an equal opportunity organisation. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of background.
Key Responsibilities
- Trustee Duties
- Duty of Care: Attend all board and committee meetings, review materials in advance, ask critical questions, and participate actively in strategic, financial, and programmatic oversight.
- Duty of Loyalty: Place BABY-I's interests above all personal, commercial, or third-party interests. Make decisions solely to further our mission, never for private advantage.
- Duty of Compliance: Ensure the organisation acts within its governing documents and UK law, maintaining the highest ethical standards.
Must Have
- Proven experience in UK non-profit board governance, trustee service, or corporate secretarial roles..
- Demonstrated project management track record (PRINCE2, APM, or equivalent certification preferred).
- Exceptional minute-taking, documentation, governance administration, and organisational skills.
- High ethical standards, objectivity, independence, and the ability to handle sensitive information with absolute discretion.
Role Overview
The Role
We urgently seek a Trustee Governance Secretary to join our founding Board. This is a volunteer trustee role combining board secretarial duties with strategic project oversight.
You will serve as a trustee of BABY-I, act as Secretary to the Board, and ensure all operational and strategic projects are executed in strict compliance with our mission, governing documents, and UK law. Your expertise will directly shape our governance culture, establish our administrative systems, and oversee the delivery of high-impact projects at the most critical stage of our development.
Your expertise will directly determine how robustly we are built.
Guidelines for Trustees
Time Commitment
- Board meetings: Monthly during founding phase (moving to quarterly), 1–3 hours per meeting including preparation
- Committee meetings: As needed (bi-monthly)
- Project oversight: 5–10 hours per month
- Annual strategic retreat / financial review: 2 days per year
- Governance setup: Additional 2–5 hours in first 3 months to establish systems
Under Section 178 of the Charities Act 2011:
- Not disqualified by the Charity Commission.
- Not an undischarged bankrupt.
No conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception.
- Valid DBS certificate (or willingness to apply for one).
- UK citizen aged 18 or over.
Comprehensive training and onboarding.
References upon completion of term.
DBB check support (if required).
The opportunity to build an organisation from the ground up to the highest standards of governance and safeguarding.
Direct, meaningful impact on infant dignity and the prevention of abandonment.
Term & Eligibility
- Commitment: Maximum three-year term.
- Eligibility: Even though BABY-I is not yet registered as a charity, we require all trustees to meet the criteria for serving as a charity trustee under Section 178 of the Charities Act 2011.
This ensures we meet the highest standards of governance and facilitates our future registration.
