Chair of the Board of Trustees
Role description 2025
Required qualities and experience
The role of the Chair of the Board of Trustees (the Chair) is to provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees, enabling it to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the RTPI; to support the Chief Executive and the Institute’s staff in the achievement of their work. The Chair acts on behalf of the Board of Trustees and is accountable to them.
Responsibilities
The Chair will be responsible for guarding the long-term future of the Institute by ensuring that the Board of Trustees address:
- The Institute’s strategic development, policies, and plans.
- The fulfilment of the Institute’s statutory objectives, general functions, and duties.
- The Institute’s legal compliance obligations.
- The delivery of the Institute’s services in line with targets and agreed performance indicators.
- The establishment of monitoring and review of the governance structures, systems and processes.
It is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure that the Trustees operate in accordance with best governance practice:
- Ensuring compliance, monitoring performance and maximising effectiveness at both Trustee and Board level.
- Liaising with the Chief Executive to keep an overview of the affairs of the RTPI and to provide support as appropriate.
- Facilitating change and development and addressing conflict within the Board and within the Institute and working with the Chief Executive to achieve this.
- Ensuring that the Board of Trustees delegate the appropriate authority to its Committees, Panels or Networks, the Chief Executive and other groups to enable the business of the Institute to be carried out effectively between the Trustees meetings.
- Ensuring that the Trustees receive effective and structured inductions.
- Reviewing the performance of the Board of Trustees on a regular basis.
- Ensuring that the Trustees act reasonably, in the interests of the Institute, and comply with the applicable Charity Commission Guidance and the RTPI Trustees Code of Conduct.
- Review the Strategic Plan as required from time to time in conjunction with the Chief Executive.
The Chair will also have responsibility for:
- Working with the Chief Executive and Governance Manager to plan the annual cycle of the Trustees meetings and set agendas.
- Chairing Trustees meetings effectively, seeking consensus, balancing the need for full debate on key business with the need to manage a busy agenda and reach clear and agreed decisions in a timely manner.
- Making recommendations with the Chief Executive for the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs and the composition of RTPI standing committees and sub-committees and other groups of the Board.
- Authorising action to be taken between meetings of the Trustees, as required to the extent permitted by the Royal Charter, Byelaws and Regulations.
- Appointing and overseeing the work of the Chief Executive along with the Honorary Secretary and Solicitor including chairing the Chief Executive’s Appraisal Panel.
- Line managing the Chief Executive.
- Acting on behalf of the Board of Trustees in cases of emergency in consultation with the Honorary Secretary and Solicitor and the Vice Chair.
- Consulting the People and Culture Committee regarding the Chief Executive’s appraisal.
- Reporting at meetings of the General Assembly on Trustees’ recent activities and decisions.
- Consulting Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs regarding the membership of Committees.
In addition to the above, the Chair is required to follow:
- Trustee responsibilities, behaviour and competencies
- The RTPI Trustee Code of Conduct
- Guidance as published by the Charity Commission
The Chair is a voluntary role. All RTPI volunteers:
- Act in the interests of the RTPI, irrespective of any commitments to other organisations or groups or personal interests.
- Declare any potential conflicts of interest and seek advice from the governance team, if necessary.
- Adhere to relevant RTPI policies, procedures, and behaviours.
Expected time commitments
As the Chair of the Board, you will be expected to spend sufficient time on the activities required by a Chair of a Board. This includes:
- This role is for one term of three years term from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2028.
- There will be frequent communication with Trustees and officers, on matters such as arrangements for Board meetings, reviewing and approving draft papers and reviewing and approving the draft agenda. You will work closely with the Vice Chair of the Board, who is elected by the Board of Trustees.
- The Chair will be required to attend the following six Board of Trustee meetings and four General Assembly meetings.
- The Chair will attend Board of Trustees induction/refresher training, Large Consultancies meetings twice a year and an annual dinner.
- The Chair is an ex officio member of the Finance Committee and People and Culture Committee.
- Half year and full year review of Chief Executive Appraisal Panel.
- Attendance at Regional Management Boards / National Executive Committees and other committees and panels from time to time.
- Report the business of the Board of Trustees and its Committees to each meeting of the General Assembly by way of a written report.
Required qualities and experience
As the Chair of the Board of Trustees and a Trustee, you will have the following attributes:
- Experience of leadership in a complex organisation.
- Experience of chairing boards and committees.
- A commitment to be well informed about the work of the Institute and to devote the necessary time to the requirements of the role.
- Credibility within the profession and among external stakeholders and the wider community.
- The ability to work as a member of a team and a willingness to accept a majority decision and be tolerant of the views of other individuals.
- A strong commitment to planning and the RTPI’s strategic objectives and vision.
- Active involvement within the Institute.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Impartiality, fairness, and the ability to treat sensitive information confidentially.
- Good understanding of the Institute’s work and the key stakeholders with which it engages.
Eligibility
Candidates for Chair of the Board of Trustees must:
- be a Chartered Member.
- have held a RTPI governance role for at least three of the last five years
- be supported by at least six other Chartered General Assembly Members.
- be able to demonstrate an appropriate level of experience
What support can you expect?
- Support from RTPI staff
- Induction training
- Training, briefing and guidance documents on relevant topics
- Expenses covered in line with our policy
- The Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive also provides some support for the BOT Chair.
What’s in it for you?
The chance to be part of an enthusiastic team of professionals and make a real difference to the planning profession and communities in which we live and work.
The opportunity to:
- Gain high level chairing experience and transferable skills in strategy, business planning, investment, and risk management.
- Help shape the future development of the RTPI.
- Opportunity to help steer the delivery of the objectives set out in the Strategic Plan.
- Access professional networking.
- Expand your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio.
- Understanding of the role of governance in a membership organisation.
- Learn about areas of planning outside of your expertise.
How to get involved
The Chair of the Board of Trustees is elected by the chartered members of the General Assembly.
Invitations for self-nominations are sent to all eligible members in June for terms starting the following year.
Eligible members can put themselves forward for election by completing an application form on the nominations website and a statement of willingness to accept and hold office if elected.
All applications must be supported by at least six other Chartered members of the General Assembly.
Elections take place in August/September and are on the basis of a single transferable vote (voters rank the candidates in order of preference: 1 for their first preference, 2 for their second preference, and so forth).
This is a voluntary role. The duties outlined above reflect our shared hopes and expectations but do not create any contractual obligations.