Requirements for Trustees and Board members

Skills, knowledge and personal characteristics

Leadership

• Demonstrates commitment to the vision, mission and values of the organisation;
• Thinks and acts with the best interests of the stakeholders; understands their need;
• Understands the strength of the IET’s charitable objectives, and helps develop its business process and culture;
• Remains focused and provides clarity for others in changing or unpredictable circumstances;
• Creates an environment which shapes the culture of the organisation;
• Demonstrates high ethical standards and integrity;
• Offers appropriate contribution and make considered judgments.

Strategic thinking

• Contributes actively and effectively to the Board in giving firm strategic direction;
• Forecasts trends and developments that will affect objective;
• Introduces creative thinking;
• Identifies future consequences of a wide range of issues and the change management necessary to respond;
• Able to process information and find a clear way forward;
• Analyses the viability of new ideas and products in relation to both short and longer term objectives.

Decision making

• Reaches conclusions based on a rational interpretation of the information available;
• Keeps to the appropriate level of detail;
• Weighs up the pros and cons;
• Acts and reacts in a timely and flexible fashion to requests, issues, emails or other events, based on consideration of the dependent needs of others;
• Develops practical solutions; has a "can do" rather than "won't do" approach. Positive thinker; makes it happen;.
• Prepared to say "no" when necessary and to respect priorities and resource constraints.

Communicating and influencing

• Anticipates and uses the most effective approach to influence people and situations;
• Encourages and listens to the views and opinions of others;
• Presents an articulate and persuasive oral argument;
• Builds a network of effective relationships.

Representation and image

• Demonstrates loyalty;
• Promotes and safeguards the good image and values of the organisation;
• Represents the organisation at events and meetings as designated;
• Abides by the equal opportunities policy;
• Builds and manages external relationships in order to meet the needs of the organisation, its members and other stakeholders.

Business awareness

• Is competent in the use of financial reports to assist in business development;
• Keeps abreast of relevant legislative and corporate governance issues;
• Has knowledge of the engineering and technology community.

Team working

• Supports the formation of an effective partnership with the executive staff;
• Challenges freely and constructively;
• Accepts consensus decisions;
• Is individually and collectively responsible for the decisions of the Board;
• Attends and participates effectively at the Board meetings and attends or Chairs any Committee meetings as designated by the Board;
• Connected to staff and volunteers; communicates openly; shares information and knowledge; networks internally and externally; persuades rather than pushes; involves colleagues and respects them;
• Thinks and acts for the community, the team, the stakeholders and the customer ahead of themselves, works for the greater good - does not act selfishly or in own interest.

Self management

• Prepares adequately for meetings - reading papers and clarifying points in advance;
• Demonstrates enthusiasm for and commitment to the work of the Board;
• Respects confidences;
• Responds to issues requiring action between meetings.

General

• Uses any specific knowledge or experience to assist the Board in reaching sound decisions;
• Participates in other tasks that may arise from time to time as designated;
• Keeps updated about the activities of the organisation and the wider issues which affect its work;
• Should have experience in one or more of the sectors of interest to the IET.
  

Person specification

Should be able to demonstrate as many as possible of the following skills:

• Understanding and commitment to the IET and its objectives;
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship;
• Integrity;
• The ability to make good, independent judgments;
• The ability to develop policy;
• High level strategic thinking and vision;
• Ability to assess performance;
• Ability to think creatively;
• Willingness to speak their mind;
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team;
• Ability to influence, empower and where necessary lead a team.

Boards need skills and experience in the following areas:

Essential:

• Strategic leadership of a global organisation;
• Governance and non-executive directorship;
• Serving the public interest;
• Strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluating performance in commercial and non-profit organisations;
• Policy development;
• Financial management;
• Risk management;
• Influencing stakeholders;
• Public relations/communication/marketing;
• Understanding of the international engineering and technology industry.

Desirable:

• Legal;
• Diversity;
• Awareness of young persons issues.