Interim Chair of the Board

We are seeking an experienced Interim Chair with strong governance expertise to stabilise the board following a year of change and challenges.

The Interim Chair's primary role will be to enable the board to function effectively, including meeting regularly, making timely decisions, restoring robust governance, and supporting the board and staff team to deliver the organisation's mission.

By the end of the interim period, the board should be functioning effectively and in a position to appoint a permanent Chair.

About Zaytoun CIC

Zaytoun CIC is a pioneering and successful social enterprise founded in 2004 to support the resilience of Palestinian communities through fair trade. 100% of the company's profits are reinvested into furthering this mission.

Zaytoun is the UK's leading brand of fairly traded Palestinian produce with a product range that includes olive oil, Medjoul dates, za'atar, maftoul, freekeh, almonds, soap, and bath salts.

Our success has been achieved through collaboration with partners in Palestine, customers in the UK and a dedicated staff and board team. We have a focus on product quality and attention to calibrated messaging about Palestine and its rich heritage. While the operational environment is frequently challenging, the consumer response to those challenges continues to be very positive resulting in strong sales growth.

Focus of the Role

Board Leadership

• Ensure the board operates through clear authority, proper process, in adherence with good governance and agreed norms
• Chair board meetings with clarity, neutrality and authority
• Introduce a board code of conduct
• Ensure appropriate boundaries and processes between board and executive management
• Provide a steadying presence during a period of transition, strengthening trust and effective ways of working

Embedding Good Governance Practice

• Lead and enforce the adoption of practical, proportionate governance processes
• Introduce clear decision-making processes, information flows, and accountabilities
• Establish clear expectations for behaviours and ways of working
• Ensure governance arrangements are coherent, workable, and consistently applied

Stabilisation and Succession

• Support the board to stabilise and regain confidence in its effectiveness
• Create the conditions for a longer-term Chair arrangement
• Support the board in designing and overseeing a clear, transparent and governance-sound recruitment process to appoint a longer-term Chair

Experience and Expertise Required

Essential

• Substantial experience as a Chair or Interim Chair in corporates, charities, CICs, other social enterprises, co-operatives, housing, health or other regulated/mission-led sectors
• Deep practical knowledge of corporate governance, including board authority, director duties, boundary-setting and governance best practice
• Proven experience of handling conflict and mistrust on a board constructively and effectively
• Alignment with Zaytoun's mission and values
• Experience of working in trauma-informed or crisis affected environments, ideally including conflict-affected contexts. Experience of working within the context of Palestine would be an advantage
• Experience leading governance resets or stabilisation following periods of challenge or complexity
• Proven ability to build relationships and trust in complex environments
• Familiarity with employment and HR governance at board level
• Able to act with objectivity and impartiality, bringing a fresh perspective to Zaytoun's current governance challenges

Key Details