Independent Chair (Hub Lead Organisation Board)

Job Title:  Independent HLO Board Chair

Location:  Birmingham based, not for profit organisation

Salary:      Voluntary role, expenses only

Duration:  The appointment would be for an initial period of up to 3 years. The term of office may be renewed once at that point for up to a further 3 years (meaning the maximum time in role would be 6 years).

Services For Education is a unique charity that uses the power of learning and music to create and build confidence amongst children, young people, adults and communities. The main areas of focus are music provision, school support and private music lessons in and around Birmingham. Our Music Service works with over 470 schools to provide around 32,000 pupils with high quality music lessons alongside offering opportunities to participate in one of our 67 ensembles, bands and orchestras. Our School Support Service provides an extensive range of consultancy and training services for schools covering key areas such as safeguarding, healthy lifestyles, assessment/moderation and school improvement.

THE ROLE

We wish to appoint an Independent Chair to:

  • Work closely with members of SFE’s Senior Leadership Team and the existing Hub Board member.
  • Lead the HLO Board in the development and implementation of our plans and build engagement with our stakeholders.
  • Chair the Hub Board, as it works alongside the SLT of SFE, to deliver the Government’s National Plan for Music Education published in Summer 2022 (The Power of Music to Change Lives).
  • To Chair the Hub Board in such a way that it demonstrates:
    o Objective, consistent, evidence-based decision making
    o Strong insight ensuring effective delivery o Independence and impartiality
    o A breadth of perspectives o Robust and transparent quality assurance processes

Desired experience/skills

  • You should be passionate about ensuring that all children and young people in Birmingham should be able to access high quality music education opportunities, regardless of their background
  • You will be passionate about ensuring that those opportunities are reflective of the diversity of the City in which we operate
  • You will have previous Board Chair experience (either of a main board or a sub-committee) and keen to bring that experience to another setting
  • You will have strong financial management skills
  • You will have experience of holding teams to account for a set of agreed deliverables against a sizeable budget and bringing an appropriate level of robust challenge.
  • You may bring experience of working implementing and overseeing commissioning arrangements for funding partners

Time Commitment

We envisage that the Hub Board will meet on 4 occasions annually, and a meeting will be required with member(s) of the SFE SLT in advance of each meeting.

  • We would anticipate that the majority of meetings will take place on a virtual platform (Microsoft Teams) although recognise that occasional meetings in person are beneficial to relationship building. It is not a requirement that the successful candidate is local to Birmingham, although a connection to the city and the region would be preferable.
  • Whilst attendance is not essential, there will always be an open invitation to the SFE concert programme which provides a powerful showcase of our activities.

Exclusions

If you are employed by a Hub Partner organisation (or a trustee thereof) then, unfortunately, the independence requirements of this role mean that you would be unable to apply.

Further information

For an informal conversation please do not hesitate to contact Sharon Bell, Chief Executive, Services For Education ([email protected]) or Richard Mabbott, Head of Music Service ([email protected])

Application information

If this sounds like the role for you, to find out more about Services For Education and our activities please visit www.servicesforeducation.co.uk.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to Lindsay Allen, HR Director [email protected] by 4.00pm on Monday 28 April 2025. We will invite shortlisted candidates to a virtual discussion with two Trustees, including our Chair, and our Chief Executive. When you receive the invitation, we will indicate the areas which we would like to explore with you during that discussion to help you prepare.

Page Last Modified:  10/04/2025 15:24