• LOCATION: Anywhere in Australia
• REPORTS TO: Board Chair
• YOUR COMMITMENT (flexibly distributed around existing life, work, etc. commitments):

The below are rough estimates based on the time expected to prepare for and complete necessary meetings and duties. These timings may fluctuate depending on organisational need and opportunity.

• Board Director: 2-3 hours per week
• Treasurer: 3-4 hours per week
• Chair: 4-6 hours per week

Directors are eligible for appointment for terms of no more than three years.

Directors are expected to maintain their position for a minimum of 12 months.

This is a volunteer role and not remunerated.

Democracy in Colour is building the power of people of colour to organise around the issues that affect us most. For migration with dignity, for great public and community services, and for diverse and accurate journalism. We are led by and for people of colour (multicultural or non-white people).

We’re looking for several non-executive Directors, as well as a dynamic, multi-talented Deputy- Chair, to help lead the organisation and drive our racial justice campaigning in Australia.

This is an unparalleled opportunity to grow an innovative non-profit from founder-led start-up to the next stage of maturity, shaping its overall strategic direction and growth as a major new presence in Australian progressive politics.

Key Responsibilities

The Board is ultimately responsible for Democracy in Colour’s overall performance and compliance.

The Board currently conducts 7 ordinary meetings a calendar year, as well as an Annual General Meeting. Board Directors typically also serve on committees whose meeting cadence is decided by the Board and fluctuates according to need and priority.

The Chair and Deputy Chair also prepare for, and participate in weekly management check-ins with senior executives, and may be required to meet ad-hoc during key moments of organisational change and advancement.

As a Director, you’ll play an important role overseeing our strategy, governance, finances, legal compliance and risk.

The Deputy Chair will also be responsible for

• Supporting the Chair in:
  • Leading the Board of Directors
  • Chairing and facilitation of meetings
  • Being the direct report of the National Director; including weekly check-ins and conducting the ND’s annual performance review
  • Provide briefings to the Board and executive on matters arising
  • Work with the National Director and Operations Director as a key point of contact between the Board and staff.
• Where appropriate - chairing committees
• In conjunction with the National Director, undertaking appropriate public engagement activities
• Be mentored by the Chair, with a view to stepping into the Chair role in future

About you

In this round of recruitment, we are seeking candidates to fill a number of vacancies on the Board. We are especially interested in hearing from those who have expertise in:

• Organisational culture and development, including volunteer management
• Fundraising and philanthropy
• Campaigning and community organising

Other desired competencies across the Board:

• Governance, including of risk
• Finance and accounting
• Racial justice
• Senior organisational leadership (prior Board or senior executive experience)
• Legal

We are led by and for people of colour (multicultural or non-white people). We are committed to ensuring that its governance represents the diversity of our communities, and encourages applicants from all intersections.

All staff and volunteers at Democracy in Colour are expected to embody our values.

The Board skills matrix outlines the desired competencies for Directors. The Board does not expect any one individual to possess all the desired skills, and selection will aim to achieve the best possible balance of competencies, lived experience and behavioural capabilities across the full Board.

Competencies

• Governance, including of risk
• Finance and accounting
• Governance, including of risk
• Racial justice
• Senior organisational leadership (prior Board or senior executive experience)
• Advocacy and influencing
• Fundraising and philanthropy
• Organisational culture and development, including volunteer management
• Legal
• Understanding of campaigning and community organising

About Democracy in Colour

Too many decisions about people of colour are made without us - from laws and corporate policies, to the social service not-for-profits who seek to ‘help’.

Through consultation with values-aligned impacted communities, through leadership development of people of colour, and through storytelling, the people of colour closest to the problems can determine their solutions.

Our campaigns and training work provides targeted, culturally safe capacity building so that people of colour can develop the skills they need to organise and dismantle structural racism. And they have the opportunity to put that into action through our community organising program where we build the political power of communities of colour.

We don’t centre the needs of white people, we can put our energy into building solidarity across the various migrant groups on this continent, from the already values aligned to the soon to be politically activated.

Please click Apply Now to submit your application.

For further information or a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Operations Director at Democracy in Colour, Izabella Antoniou, with the subject line ‘Board Director - Application’ to [email protected], using the subject line: Board Directors / Deputy Chair (Voluntary) - Flexible Location enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.