Being a Board Member is a significant responsibility. In this role, you’ll ensure that the Institution is governed responsibly and lawfully, in accordance with its constitution, and that all activities align with our charitable purposes.
You don’t need prior board experience, and CIBSE members at any grade are welcome to apply. What matters most is your commitment to the Institution and its values, a dedication to working on behalf of CIBSE and its members, and the ability to inspire and lead.
This is a three-year commitment that promises to be both challenging and rewarding. By the end of your term, you can be confident that your contributions to the Institution and its members will be significant.
We encourage you to review the specific responsibilities and duties of a Board Member to see if you have what it takes.
Role description and competencies
- Ensure that the Institution operates within its objectives as defined in the Royal Charter, and in the public interest
- Determine strategic options for the Institution and in consultation with Council, select those to be pursued. Decide the means to implement and support them
- Ensure that the Institution's organisational structure and capability are appropriate for implementing the chosen strategies
- Delegate authority to management, and monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies, strategies and business plans
- Determine monitoring criteria to be used by the Board
- Communicate with senior management and establish effective internal controls
- Ensure that communications both to and from relevant stakeholders and the wider Membership are effective
- Understand and consider the public interest, and the interests of stakeholders and the wider Membership
- Represent the Board on Standing Committees and act as a link between these and the Board
- Ensure relations with the wider Membership and relevant stakeholders are monitored by gathering and evaluation of appropriate information and that appropriate action is taken if required
- Review and evaluate present and future opportunities, threats and risks in the external environment relating to the Institution and take appropriate action
- Adhere to the Board Code of Conduct
- Promote the goodwill and support of the wider membership and relevant stakeholders.
The following competencies/criteria for Board Members (Trustees) are desirable:
- Be a corporate member or served as a member of Council
- Commitment to the Institution and its objectives
- Knowledge and understanding of the objectives and range of Institution activities, the role of Board and the key internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to think at a strategic level, understanding both the process of development and implementation of policy, and the implications of strategic and policy decisions on the Institution's resources
- Ability to challenge constructively
- Ability to promote the Institution in a positive and constructive way
- Leadership ability, influencing others and taking decisions as necessary
- Understanding of team member role, listening/working constructively with others
- Specific skills to enhance professionalism including presentation (technical and practical), oral communication, and interpersonal skills
- An understanding of financial reporting
- Honesty, integrity and a respect for confidentiality
- Awareness on local, national and global scales of building services engineering issues and an appreciation of how the Institution can lead or assist change for the better
- Understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of the Institution’s Board, Council, Standing Committees and Executive and the extent of their respective authority
- Be exemplary role models as leading members of the profession. Act at all times in the best interests of the Institution maintaining confidentiality where and when required
- Not benefit from their position beyond that which is allowed by the law and is in the interests of the Institution - Identify and declare any actual or potentially perceived conflicts of interest
- Not accept gifts or hospitality where this could be seen as likely to influence the decisions of the Board
- Ensure that when presenting views and interests of a particular individual, group or collective, they consider and vote in the interest of the Institution as a whole
- Respect different opinions but accept the majority view and collective responsibility
- Participate in annual board self-assessment and any training necessary to fulfil their role.
- The standard term is three years.
- Board Members are expected to attend Board and Council meetings regularly, in order to make an appropriate contribution.
- Members are required to set time aside to read and prepare for the meetings, so that they can confidently and effectively carry out their trustee responsibilities.
- They are expected to attend other Institution events to demonstrate involvement, support and be available to members and stakeholders.