The Board of Trustees’ role
Our Trustees are active supporters of TRAFFIC, making their individual skills, experience and knowledge available and assisting with whatever work is required including sitting on subcommittees and advisory boards. They are required to develop and maintain a sound and up-to date knowledge of the charity and its business, including the social, economic and political
environment in which it operates and the nature and extent of its work.
The Board collectively oversees the delivery of planned results by monitoring the organisation’s performance against strategic objectives and targets.
Within the above context, we are seeking Trustees who will provide strategic guidance, expert advice, and access to relevant partners and networks in the following areas:
• Finance and/or the private sector to provide strategic guidance in targeting supply chains, building partnerships and assisting in creating philanthropic opportunities vital to the success of TRAFFIC.
• Environmental law and legal justice especially as regards to use of natural resources and the engagement of local communities;
• International trade and economic policy including linking wildlife trade with global trade;
• Sustainable development including delivering on SDGs and corporate sustainability;
• Collection, use and access of data (including innovation around artificial intelligence and big data);
• Marketing and communications to develop and amplify TRAFFIC’s messaging and support consumer behaviour change efforts.
Person specification
Your knowledge and experience
• A senior organisational leader with experience gained in other equally complex operating environments, ideally in more than one sector.
• Expertise in one or more of the priority areas listed above.
• Insight into the traits and characteristics of the global conservation sector would be useful (although experience in conservation is not required).
• Practical experience of leading, overseeing or advising on organisational development and growth would be useful, including the development of organisational cultures to meet strategic priorities.
• Experience of working as part of multi-skilled non-executive boards and of developing inclusive non-executive teams.
• Knowledge of charity governance principles and practices.
• Knowledge of communicating effectively with international stakeholder groups.
Your skills and abilities
• Strategic reach: you will be focused on TRAFFIC’s development to meet the demands of the much bigger picture.
• Astute: you will be sharp on interpersonal dynamics, have sophisticated influencing skills and be a great judge of character.
• Personally influential: you will be someone known for their compelling communication style, listening skills, excellent judgement and diplomacy.
Your personal style and behaviours
• High intellectual and analytical capacity.
• Culturally intelligent and knowledgeable on a wide range of issues.
• A trusted presence, with low ego and high personal credibility; you will bring an engaging and collaborative style that inspires openness and confidence.
• Strong organisational development orientation: you’re interested in developing our Board for the next phase of growth – to be more collaborative, more influential, more focused on results and impact.
• Undisputed personal integrity is a must: you will bring a fair, inclusive and open leadership style and your values will be compatible with those of our organisation.
• You will be sensitive to the global political, social and economic environment in which TRAFFIC is working to achieve its mission.
How to express an interest in the role
If you have questions about the appointment and would find it helpful to have an informal conversation, please contact us recruitment@traffic.org and we will be happy to arrange a call.
If you would like to apply for a trustee position, please submit the following to recruitment@traffic.org:
1. CV or equivalent biographical information;
2. Short covering letter that explains your motivation, suitability, availability and confirms that you would not be subject to any conflict of interest; and
3. If you have a disability and identify any barriers in the job description or person specification, please tell us.
The closing date is 28 February 2025. Interviews are expected to be conducted in March/April 2025. The Trustees are expected to be selected in April 2025 and attend the Board Meeting in person in Cambridge, UK on 18-19 June 2025.