Vacancies at Blue Ventures

Responsibilities

• Trustees are responsible at board and sub-committee level to provide strategic oversight and ensure we meet our charitable objectives.
• Assess proposals submitted to the programme subcommittee and make recommendations to the board if required.
• Track programme progress against OKRS, multi-year goals and strategic direction.
• Report key updates and risks to the Board, escalating major decisions with clear recommendations.
• In addition to this, our new trustee would also be on the board of trustees. The responsibilities are as follows;
• Review, approval and timely filing of all official financial and governance filings required by the charity under UK law;
• Approving the organisational strategy as presented by management, including the objectives, measures and financing;
• Approving the annual operating plan and budget, yearly performance milestones and objectives;
• Approving appropriate level policies that impact the overall governance of the organisation and the Board of Trustees;
• Regularly reviewing the performance of the organisation and the senior management team in achieving the objectives of the strategy, global operating plans, and associated budgets;
• Providing oversight of the management and mitigation of organisational risk by the senior management team; and, Managing itself to be an effective Board.
• Time Commitment
• Each subcommittee will be held four times a year. Each subcommittee has a minimum of 3 trustees on it. Meetings will be conducted online and attended by our Executive Leadership
• Team members. They will report organisational/programmatic updates to sub-committees.
• In addition to the four subcommittee meetings, you must attend four board of trustees meetings annually. Three of those meetings will be held online. One will be held in person, and travel expenses to London or elsewhere will be covered.
• A trustee is appointed for three years, and the maximum number of years a trustee can serve is six.

Skills and experience

Essential Experience and Skills

• Proven experience serving on boards, committees, or governance structures.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to challenge constructively and support executive leadership
• Experience in the small-scale fisheries, marine conservation or rural development sectors, working with institutional partners, conservation and development sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to support inclusive decision-making, power-sharing, and respectful, equitable partnerships
• Financial literacy, including the ability to interpret charity financial reports, risk registers, and annual statements
• Comfortable representing Blue Ventures externally and acting as an ambassador when appropriate
• Curious, proactive, and enthusiastic about contributing to Blue Ventures’ evolving strategy and mission
• Collaborative, open-minded, and aligned with our values and approach to community-led conservation. Competency in the country's language, e.g., Malagasy, French, Spanish, Bahasa, Portuguese, etc., is desirable.

Who We’re Looking For

• We are seeking individuals who bring passion for Blue Ventures’ mission and the ability to provide strategic guidance, support, and constructive challenge to the executive team. You will thrive in this role if you:
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to environmental and social justice, particularly in marine conservation, community-led development, and climate resilience.
• Bring integrity, independence, and sound judgment to your role as a trustee, with the ability to assess complex challenges and contribute to informed decisions.
• Are confident in offering strategic insight and oversight in a boardroom setting while maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone.
• Can constructively challenge the status quo and contribute to innovation, particularly in growth, governance, or digital transformation.
• Are a good communicator with the ability to build trust, influence others, and represent BV credibly with stakeholders and donors.

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Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on digital transformation initiatives, including core platform transformation across ERP and CRM capabilities.
• Offer assurance that BV has effective data governance frameworks in place across global operations.
• Advise on data lifecycle management, including collection, processing, storage, and disposal of data across diverse country contexts.
• Contribute to risk assessment and oversight of cybersecurity, data breaches, and legacy system vulnerabilities.
• Ensure robust policies are in place to address digital and information governance risks.
• Review and challenge business cases for digital projects, including costs, ROI, and delivery plans.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies (e.g. AI, cloud platforms, data analytics) and their strategic relevance to BV’s mission and operations.
• Champion ethical and inclusive approaches to data use, including how data is collected from and shared with frontline communities.

In addition to this, our new trustee will also be on the board of trustees. The responsibilities are as follows;

• Review, approval and timely filing of all official financial and governance filings required by the charity under UK law;
• Approving the organisational strategy as presented by management, including the objectives, measures and financing;
• Approving the annual operating plan and budget, yearly performance milestones and objectives;
• Approving appropriate level policies that impact the overall governance of the organisation and the Board of Trustees;
• Regularly reviewing the performance of the organisation and the senior management team in achieving the objectives of the strategy, global operating plans, and associated budgets;
• Providing oversight of the management and mitigation of organisational risk by the senior management team and,
• Managing itself to be an effective Board.
• Time Commitment
• Each subcommittee will be held four times a year. Each subcommittee has a minimum of 3 trustees on it. Meetings will be conducted online and attended by our Executive Leadership
• Team members. They will report organisational/programmatic updates to sub-committees.
• In addition to the four subcommittee meetings, you must attend four board of trustees meetings annually. Three of those meetings will be held online. One will be held in person, and travel expenses to London or elsewhere will be covered.
• A trustee is appointed for three years, and the maximum number of years a trustee can serve is six.

Skills and experience

• Ability to provide high-level strategic input on digital transformation initiatives.
• Understanding how digital innovation can enhance mission delivery, efficiency, and reach.
• Understand and interpret data protection and privacy laws, emphasising GDPR compliance, and their implications for international charities.
• A strong understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) the challenges and benefits of AI, as well as its practical adoption across various sectors.
• Knowledge of data protection laws and familiarity with data lifecycle management, data quality standards, and security protocols.
• Ability to assess and challenge risks related to cybersecurity, data breaches, legacy systems, and digital infrastructure.
• Understanding of digital risk mitigation strategies and policies.
• Experience overseeing or supporting digital transformation in an organisational context.
• Experience reviewing business cases for digital initiatives, including costs, ROI, and implementation timelines.
• Commitment to ethical data collection, storage, use, and AI principles.