International Documentary Festival Sheffield (DocFest) is inviting applications for a new Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Sheffield DocFest is an internationally renowned charitable organisation, responsible for one of the world’s leading documentary film and arts festivals, and marketplaces, that celebrates, shares and debates non-fiction films. The festival is run by International Documentary Festival Sheffield, an independent registered charity (no. 1184849), whose purpose is to advance the art of film, education and training in documentary filmmaking in all its forms.

Now preparing for its 32nd edition, the festival welcomes approximately 2,300 international industry delegates and 37,000 public admissions from more than 55 countries around the world each year.

Having overseen the organisation through the last five editions, our current Chair is planning to step down and we are now seeking a new Chair of the Board of Trustees. This role is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual with a track record of leadership who is passionate about documentary and non-fiction storytelling, and the value and impact of the screen, broadcast, journalism and arts sectors.

The Chair will lead the Trustees on all aspects of governance and will preside over Board and sub-committee meetings. They will develop, maintain and nurture relationships with strategic partners and major stakeholders. More generally, the Chair will act as public advocate for the festival nationally and internationally.We would welcome applicants with previous experience of charity governance, cultural events, social enterprise, media, independent production, the screen, broadcast, and digital audio/visual industries, community engagement and learning & participation.

The role is voluntary, with travel / expenses covered.

For an informal chat please contact Maria Stoneman, Head of HR & Participation at recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

Deadline for applications: 9am, 15 September 2024

Interviews: 7-18 October 2024

Download the job pack here

Download the 2023 festival report here

Our 2024 Festival Report will be coming later this year.

Apply at https://www.sheffdocfest.com/about/opportunities

Key commitments

● Chair 4 trustee meetings per year and oversee additional sub-committee meetings (Trustee meetings take place in London, Sheffield and online)
● Responsible for signing off audited accounts and annual report
● Attend key events such as festival Opening Night
● Support the festival leadership team in the development of organisational strategy and/or large-scale (multi-year) bids for funding new activity
● Ensure the board has an inclusive atmosphere and active contribution from all members

The role is voluntary, with travel/expenses covered.

Desired experience and attributes

● At least 3 years experience as a charity trustee (essential)
● Demonstrated experienced leadership in the cultural sector or executive management experience in a large media, film or television organisation
● Understanding of charity finance and the ability to monitor and interpret financial data
● Track record of stakeholder engagement and building networks and connections
● Knowledge and experience of the international film festival landscape and/or international Broadcast sector
● Experience in leading strategic planning and/or organisational change
● Knowledge of a creative producer of documentary film or television
● A commitment to diversity and inclusion as a core principle

Eligibility

● You must be at least 18 years old
● You must be properly appointed following the procedures as outlined in the organisation's governing
documents. i.e. mission statement and charity commission guidelines
● You can not act as a trustee if you are disqualified under the Charities Act.

This includes if you:

➢ have an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception (such as fraud);
➢ are bankrupt or have entered into a formal arrangement (e.g. an individual voluntary
arrangement) with a creditor;
➢ have been removed as a company director or charity trustee because of wrongdoing;

● You may require a DBS check, and if required, any offer is made conditional upon the result of the check being satisfactory.

How to Apply

You are invited to apply for this role by submitting an up-to-date CV (no more than two sides) plus a statement on why you feel you are suited to the role. (Between 500 and 1500 words). Please send applications with the subject header: 'Chair of the Board of Trustee application' to the following email
recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

If you require further information (including requests for printed forms/access support. Or if have any questions or would like to discuss the role prior to applying please contact, Maria Stoneman, Head of HR & Participation at: recruitment@sheffdocfest.com

We monitor the diversity of our workforce and for the purposes of reporting to our key funders we ask that you help us by clicking on the link below to complete the questionnaire anonymously.

Equal Opps form https://forms.gle/Q1G8CyhmndZYLRU2A