BOARD MEMBER’S ROLE DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Membership of Volunteering New Zealand (includes Volunteer Centres and National organisations). VNZ is working on increasing the diversity of membership organisations.

FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

During and between meetings, Board members act in a governance role and are directly responsible to the Chairperson of the Board for the carrying out of their duties.  On some special projects, or in an advisory capacity, Board members will perform an operational role and are responsible to the Executive Director.

They also work with the Executive Director for information on matters relating to management and administration.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To plan the future direction of Volunteering New Zealand’s development, including: strategic and policy establishment; capacity development; performance management; funding compliance; and to ensure services offered to member agencies are compatible with the vision, purpose and mission of Volunteering New Zealand and are appropriate to the changing needs of the wider community.

EXPECTATIONS AND ROLE OF BOARD MEMBERS

Board members will:

• Uphold the Constitution of Volunteering New Zealand.

Board members are expected to:

• Be committed to the vision, definition and mission of Volunteering New Zealand.


• Relate Volunteering New Zealand’s role to the social, economic, cultural and environmental trends that will take it and volunteering into the future.


• Represent Volunteering New Zealand in a manner consistent with its vision, definition, mission and policies.


• Develop and maintain healthy relationships among member agencies and others with interests in volunteering.


• Regularly scrutinise Board activities and seek feedback on the Board’s performance.


• Encourage group decision-making and sense of shared purpose.  Decision-making will be by consensus wherever possible.


• Have skills and experience relevant to policy development within the voluntary sector.


• Have a sense of humour and assist in making Board meetings enjoyable.

KEY TASKS

Leadership

• Establish and maintain the vision, mission and values of Volunteering New Zealand and set the pace for VNZ’s current operations and future development.


• Decide strategy and structure including the determination of strategic options, and the means to implement and support determined priorities.


• Uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi/uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and use the Maori language with respect.
• Actively seek and respect the views of Pacific peoples.


• Actively seek and respect the views of other ethnic peoples.


• Respect and provide support and regular feedback for new and existing members of the Board of Volunteering New Zealand.

Governance

• Ensure VNZ’s structure and capability are appropriate for implementing the chosen strategies.


• Complete any tasks agreed to and report back to the Board or Executive Director as required.


• Raise ideas and concerns and suggest priorities consistent with the vision, definition and mission and current constraints of Volunteering New Zealand.


• Effectively delegate authority to management, and monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies, strategies, and business plans including financial implications.


• Be aware of and understand the policies of Volunteering New Zealand.


• Understand, respect and support the role of the Executive Director and other staff of Volunteering New Zealand.


• Act as a good employer of the Executive Director and other staff.

Accountability

• Exercise accountability to member agencies and be responsible to relevant stakeholders.


• Ensure all the organisation’s goals and objectives are addressed.


• Ensure effective use of VNZ resources - financial and human.

Participation

• Take an active interest in Volunteering New Zealand through participation in any events and subcommittees.


• Make areas of interest and expertise known by providing a profile that is available to all Board members and staff.


• Attend and participate fully and openly in the scheduled Board meetings (includes email, face-to-face and teleconferences) plus the Annual General Meeting.


• Prepare for Board meetings by reading the Board package circulated the week before.

TIME

Face to face Board Meetings are expected to be held a minimum of seven times per year with regular email discussion between and teleconferences as required.  Strategy planning, board training and the AGM are additional to this.

The expected minimum time commitment is twelve hours per month between meetings.  Meetings are 1 day and are currently held in Wellington with additional planning and training days held approximately four times a year.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Board members are expected to treat all matters relating to operations (governance, management, administration and all staff both volunteer and paid) as confidential to the organisation unless otherwise agreed at Board meetings.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Board members must avoid conflict of interest with respect to their duty of care to Volunteering New Zealand and are expected to declare any actual or potential conflict of interest (including that of any associated third party) to the Board as soon as possible.

DELEGATED AUTHORITIES
As determined by the Board, currently none

BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Term: 2 years
Maximum: 2 terms

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