Non-Executive

How is the National Trust run? Who makes the fundamental decisions that shape our future? As a non-executive volunteer, it could be you.

As Europe’s largest conservation charity, we’re also a major commercial enterprise, employer, retailer, and a visitor attraction. There is no other organisation in the UK like the National Trust. And it’s that exceptional breadth of opportunity and challenge that makes working with us so incredibly stimulating.

Working with us in a non-executive capacity is a wonderfully rewarding experience: it’s an opportunity to have a real say in our current and future operations. In return for your time, knowledge and expertise, you’ll have the chance to shape our work as you help to grow the nation’s access to nature, beauty and history.

Whatever your area of interest, you’ll find a range of appealing non-executive opportunities here. The National Trust is here for the benefit of the whole nation and we’re keen to reflect this in our non-executive community, ensuring it reflects the breath of our work and the public we serve. The details of our appointment or election processes are clearly outlined in each vacancy.

Find out more about how we are run

Typical non-executive opportunities

Trustee

Our Board of Trustees is the National Trust’s governing body with ultimate responsibility for the leadership of the Trust and how it operates. Their role is to ensure that we have a clear vision and a strategy in place to deliver on our objectives as a charity.

Council Member

Providing guidance and perspective, appointing our Trustees and ultimately holding the Board of Trustees to account. The Council ensures the Trust is true to our founding objectives.

Committee Member

Our Audit & Risk, Investment and Senior Management Remuneration Committees provide oversight and assurance in their specialist areas and report into our Board of Trustees.

Other types of non-executive opportunities

Member of a Regional/Country Advisory Group

You’ll advise, support and challenge Regional/Country Directors and their teams to help them deliver the Trust’s strategy in the region or country in which they work.

Member of a Specialist Advisory Group

With your specialist perspective, and skills and knowledge which complement that of our staff, you’ll provide advice to assist in developing and delivering the Trust’s strategy in one of the following areas: Historic Environment; Natural Environment; Collections and Interpretation.

Interested in a non-executive volunteering role?

We have a wide range of opportunities to suit different interests, experience and backgrounds. It’s important that our governance community reflects the nation we serve. We welcome applications from people of all ages, areas and backgrounds who can positively contribute to our work. The details of our appointment or election processes are clearly outlined in each vacancy.

The principles underlying our non-executive appointments

We recognise that one of the most important means by which openness, transparency and accountability can be achieved is through the appointment of high-calibre volunteers capable of overseeing the governance arrangements of the Trust

Our non-executive roles are advertised externally, with a role descriptor outlining the skills and experience required for the role, and against which all applications are assessed. All candidates are required to submit a formal application, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Current non-executive opportunities

You’ll find more about the application process for all non-executive positions by viewing them individually here.