The role of an ALARM Board Director is exciting, interesting and rewarding. It provides a fantastic opportunity to develop leadership and negotiation skills, functional and business skills, and great contacts. You can help shape the strategy and future of our vibrant professional association.
The Board is legally and ethically responsible for all of ALARM’s activities, including:
- Defining our vision and priorities through short, medium and long-term planning.
- Adopting an annual budget and providing robust financial oversight.
- Evaluating our performance and success in delivering our objectives.
- Establishing policies and procedures to ensure ongoing effective management.
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the day-to-day operation of ALARM. Decisions the Board makes are crucial to ALARM thriving, including: recruitment and retention of members and sponsors, development and oversight of our offering, and organisational resilience and sustainability.
What are we looking for in a Board Director?
We are looking for enthusiastic team players, willing to work at a strategic level, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You will be committed to ALARM’s ideals and have a broad knowledge of risk or insurance and have the ability to complete tasks within agreed timeframes.
Experience or an understanding of developing business plans, project management, or budget management would be of advantage; however, these skills can be developed as part of your role as a Director.
Board Director responsibilities and commitments to ALARM are:
- To understand, contribute to, and promote our vision and priorities to members, sponsors and partners.
- To act as an ambassador for ALARM, representing the Board at events, meetings and conferences.
- To be familiar with our business plan, policies and committee structures.
- To engage with sponsors and partners, including the identification of potential new sponsors and partners.
- To read and digest papers in advance of meetings to ensure active participation and to take ownership of assigned tasks and projects.
- To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of key issues our member face.
- To strictly adhere to conflict of interest and confidentiality policies.
- To act as brand guardians of ALARM and ensure familiarity with the brand and style guidelines.
- To ensure ALARM is financially sound, well governed, and effectively managing risk.
Board Director duties include:
- Actively contribute to Board meetings, providing updates and drafting papers and reports where required
- Attend and participate in sponsor renewal and review meetings
- Represent ALARM at networking events
- Contribute to industry consultations
- Contribute to guidance documents and publications
- Contribute to focus group actions and projects
- Attend regional events and national conferences, chairing sessions as required
- Judge ALARM Risk Awards entries
- Respond to queries and requests within required timescales.
What are the benefits of being a Board Director?
Being a Board Director can be extremely rewarding.
In return for your time and commitment, benefits include:
- Shaping the products, services and benefits we offer to our members and sponsors
- Gaining invaluable experience of operating at a senior level
- Working as part of a committed and supportive team
- Enhancing your communication, influencing and negotiation skills
- Making a difference to the success of ALARM
- High quality CPD opportunities
- Excellent job satisfaction
- Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses provided.
What commitment is required?
Our Board Directors are volunteers, and do not receive any financial remuneration for their time and commitment. Duties and responsibilities are conducted on their own time, or with the permission of their employers.
The following is an example of the commitment required:
- Attendance and participation at Board and committee meetings – six days per year
- Preparation for Board and committee meetings (author papers and reports, digest meeting packs) – four days per year
- Representation at meetings and annual conferences – four days per year (including two overnight stays)
- Attendance and participation at annual planning days – one day per year
- Development, delivery and monitoring of assigned projects – four days per year
- Meeting with current and potential sponsors to maintain stronger stakeholder relationships – three days per year.
Approximate minimum time commitment – 22 days per year.
Election process and eligibility
To be eligible to stand for election you must be a full, named member of ALARM. Candidates will be invited to a formal discussion with a panel of Board Directors to discuss their expression of interest and suitability for the role.